PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22462, 6 October 1936, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT It is not often that the public _ of Dunedin lias the opportunity of seeing such a magnificent production as that of Alexander Korda, working with H. G. Wells, in the amazing film ‘ Things ot Come,’ now showing at the Regent. To the technical marvels of the film are added outstanding photography and very fine acting. The opening scenes show a city enjoying Christmas Eve, in spite of war rumours, and then, with a terrible suddenness breaks in the air raid that opens hostilities. Several decades of barbaric war follow, until finally the world is ruled by ruthless “ pocket ” dictators, an excellent burlesque on some well-known modern leaders. Then conies the arrival of monster aeroplanes, a band of airmen and scientists bent on reconstructing the world.. The final act of the drama is cast in a huge underground city amid the turmoil that accompanies the first firing of the “‘ space gun.” The huge cast is headed by Raymond Massey, Ralph Richardson, Margaretta Scott, and Sir Cedric Hardwieke. A Walt Disney coloured cartoon, 'Mickey’s Polo Team,’ is included in the excellent supporting programme. 1 GIVE US THIS NIGHT." To all lovers of singing ‘ Give TTs This Night,’ the next attraction at the Regent/ will have a tremendous appeal. For here is singing such as can be provided only by such grand voices as those of Jan Kiepura and Gladys Swarthout. There is romance, colour, and comedy, too, in this latest Paramount production. One remembers ‘ Tell Me To-night ’ as one of the first musicals in which crooners were replaced by voices of real quality, and Jan Kiepura is the first tenor who took the picture world by storm. Miss Swarthout' made her screen debut in ‘ Rose of the Rancho,’ in which film her beautiful voice was heard to great advantage. These artists are opera stars at the height of their fame, and together in 1 Give IJs This Night ’ they present a feast of song that will delight all music-lovers. In the balcony scene from ‘ Romeo and Juliet ’ they are magnificent. Fine actors as well as singers, they make of the simple story of the film an absorbing romance, with just the right ingredients of drama and comedy, and in addition they are both handsome and of attractive personality. Alan Mowbray provides the major element of comedy. 1 Give Us This Night ’ is a story of a fisherman who becomes an opera singer, an opera singer who loved him, and a composer who loved them both, EMPIRE The latest Laurel and Hardy comedy, ‘ The Bohemian Girl,’ .is at present screening at the Empire. This is a most unusual production, for the reason that the inevitable comedy of the famous pair is superimposed on the story and music of Balfe’s delightful opera. The story is burlesqued to a certain extent, but in outline it is the plot of the opera. Antonio Moreno, Jacqueline Wells, Mae Busch, James Finlayson, William P. Carleton, and, lastly but far from least, four-year-old Darla Hood, who essays the role of Princess Arline as a child, interpret their respective roles in a convincing and entertaining manner. Stan and “ Ollie ” are happy-go-lucky members of a gipsy band. The latter’s wife, Mae Busch, is enamoured of Antonio Moreno, a dashing and romantic nomad. But so is the gipsy queen, and right here is where the complications start. To prove her love for “ Devilshoof,” Mae, as Mrs Hardy, kidnaps v the baby daughter of Count Arnheim when he Hogs Moreno for skulking about the grounds of his palace. Leaving the baby with her henpecked husband, she induce “ Devilshoof ” to elope with her. There is an outstanding associate programme with the ‘ Bohemian Girl/ including ‘ The Hit-and-run Driver.’ ST. JAMES The Cosmopolitan comedy 'Page Miss Glory,’ with Marlon Davies in the stellar role and a supporting cast composed of more than a score of Hollywood stars and featured players, is being presented by Warner Bros, at the St. James. Based on the sensational Broadway stage hit by Joseph Schrank and _ Philip Dunning, with the screen version written by Delmer Daves and Robert Lord, ‘ Page Miss Glory ’ was assigned to Warner Bros.’ ace director. Mervyn le Roy, who selected such stars as Dick Powell, Pat O’Brien, Mary Astor, Frank M'Hugh, Lyle Talbot, Patsy Kelly, Barton Mac Lane, Allen Jenkins, and Hobart Cavanaugh for the leading roles. Miss Davies and Dick Powell sing a duet specially written for the production by Hollywood’s leading song hit producers, Warren and Dubin 1 Page Miss Glory ’ is said to be the finest of Miss Davies’s stellar vehicles, and the charming star herself is declared to have risen to even greater heights in her portrayal of the naive country hotel chambermaid who became “ Dawn Glory,” America’s outstanding beauty. The plot is described as being hilariously funny, but a charming romance runs through the humour. STATE Fred Astaire, who would most certainly qualify as a professor of the modern dance, should ho able to teach a very comprehensive course on the “ do’s ” and “ don’ts ” of romance also after his present co-starring musical with Ginger Rogers, ‘ Follow the Fleet.’ at present in an extended season at the State. The debonair master of terpsichore portrays a sailor whose courtship ot a Sau Francisco entertainer contrasts the worst possible blunders a suitor could concoct with those romantic niceties that are dear to the hearts of all women. But every nicety is followed by an amazing blunder, until the romantic climax of this melodic romance of the navy on shore leave, so that the AstaireRogers love-making is fireworks from beginning to end. Also as tempestuous is another romance between Harriet Hilliard, R.K.O. Radio’s muchheralded singing discovery, and Randolph Scott, which becomes a triangular affair through the enchantments of Astrid Allwyn as a San Francisco “ play girl.” The two heart tangles are interwoven with novel results when Astaire and Rogers essay the roles of co-cupids. Irving Berlin provides seven melodies for the film. ' JACK OF ALL TRADES.’ Jack Hulbert gives a very bright performance in the amusing Gaumont-Bri-tish comedy ‘ Jack of All Trades,’ which is to commence a season at the State on Friday. The prominent British comedian lias a cheerful air about him which radiates good nature and cheerfulness, and it is seldom that be lias had such wide opportunities to display his abilities as an entertainer as in his present film. Farce and comedy are both introduced into the story with distinct advantage, and the climax is one that will keep an audience in roars

of laughter. Robertson Hare gives one of his finest performances in the role of the staid employee of a banking firm. Gina Malo makes a delightfully vivacious heroine, and her song and dance numbers with Jack Hulbert provide some of the brightest interludes in a very entertaining film. STRAND ‘ Stars Over Broadway/ a Warner Bros.’ musical spectacle, is the principal attraction at the Strand, with an all-star cast, including Rat O’Brien, James Melton, Jane Froman, .lean Muir, Frank M'Hugh, and Frank Fay. The plot concerns the rise and fall, the loves, the lives, and the struggles of Broadway radio aspirants with an inner glimpse of the hidden portals of the broadcasting stations. There is a large variety ot musical numbers, including new and catchy airs by Harry Warren and A 1 Dublin, famous song writers, and selections from the compositions by Schubert, Verdi, and vonj Flotow; One of the most thrilling tales from the pen of Harold Bell Wright, ‘The Mine With the Iron Door,’ provides excellent support. Combining mystery, romance, and comedy in pleasing proportions, ‘ The Mine With the Iron Door ’ promises to have a highly successful season. Richard Arlen has the chief role, and a cast including Cecilia Parker, Henry B. Walthall, Stanley Fields, and Spencer Charter also distinguishes itself. 6CTAGON William Powell encounters the most baffling mystery of his career in 1 Star of Midnight/ a romance with a modern New York setting, now screening at the Octagon. As compensation fer tile difficuty of the case he has Titiantressed Ginger Rogers as his assistant in clue tracing. Based on a magazine storv by the late Arthur Somers Roche, the sophisticated _ mystery drama unites Powell and Miss Rogers on the screen for the first time. The plot centres about the weird disappearance of a beautiful woman and the mysterious murder of a newspaper columnist which ensues. _ Supporting Powell and Miss Rogers is a strong cast, including Ralph Morgan, Leslie Fenton, Gene Lockhart, Russell Hopton,. and J. Farrell MacDonald. ‘Hooray For Love/ the accompanying attraction, brings an entirely new and entertaining treatment of the theatrical story to the screen. The show within a show includes specialities by Bill Robinson and Jeni Le Gon, dusky dancers. Maria Gambarelli, and “ Fats ” Waller. The cast, headed by Ann Sothern and Gene Raymond, includes Pert Kelton, Thurston Hall, Georgia Caine, Lionel Stander, and others. GRAND With Walter Abel and Margot Grahame co-starred R.K.O. Radio assembled an unusually strong and wellbalanced cast for its thrilling mystery film, ‘ Two in the Dark/ concluding this eveningat the Grand. Convincing performances in ‘ The Three Musketeers ’ —Abel as d’Artagnan and Miss Grahame as Milady do Winter—made logical the new teaming of this brilliant pair. The other film is ‘ Here Comes Trouble/ a delightful mixture of comedy and adventure, in which most of the action takes place on board a liner. The principals are Arline Judge and Paul Kelly. . TWO OUTSTANDING FILMS. In ' To Beat the Band/ in which Hugh Herbert afid Helen Broderick have leading parts, Hugh Herbert is named as the heir to 69,000,000d0l by an eccentric old aunt. It commences at the Grand to-morrow. She stipulates, however, that her nephew, who is in Jove with a blonde debutante, Phyllis Brooks, must marry a widow within three days. Roger Pryor, a disillusioned young man, is persuaded to alter his mind at Herbert’s penthouse while hem on suicide. Herbert, who wants both the object of his affections and the fortune, enters into a compact with Pryor. But he overlooks the connivance of his woman lawyer, Helen Broderick, Fred Keating, a dance band performer, who is also named in the will, and even his loyal but stupid butler, Eric Blore. Nina Mae M'Kinney, the famous coloured artist, plays an important part in the last sequences of the British Dominions release ‘ Kentucky Minstrels of 1935/ the associate film, when she sings ‘ I’m in Love with the Band ’ to the accompaniment of Debroy Somers and his band. Miss M'Kinney born in New York City 23 years ago, and is recognised in the States as being one ot the leading coloured singers and cabaret artists. She first went to England in February, 1933, to star in variety at the Leicester Square Theatre. She had previously appeared in the Hollywood films ‘ Safe in Hell ’ and ‘ Halleluiah.’ Her first film in England was ‘ Kentucky' Minstrels of 1935/ but she has since starred with Pan! Robeson in. ‘ Bosnmbo.’ She is petite, with dark hair and eyes. MAYFAIR An outstanding programme is at present being screened at tl/e Mayfair. The accomplished Loretta Young is featured in an entirely new role in ‘ The White Parade/ which is the principal attraction. This unusual film has for its background a nurses’ training school in America, and throughout an interesting story runs a romance between Miss Young and John Boles, who also gives a polished performance. Others in the cast are Dorothy Wilson, Jane Darwell, and Frank Conroy. Of a vastly different type is the supporting film, ‘ The Charm School.’ which features Jack Oakie, Joo Penner, Ned Sparks, and June Langford. It is a musical comedy of the gayest type, and contains several attractive song numbers and dance ensembles. ' RED SALUTE.’ Barbara Stanwyck and her leading man, Robert Young, go through a series of exciting and hilarious adventures as a pretty, socially prominent college girl and a young private soldier who find themselves stranded across the Mexican border and make a breakneck dash for home, in ' Red Salute,’ Edward Small’s rollicking Reliance comedy', which will be shown at the Mayfair Theatre to-morrow. The story, which Humphrey' Pearson and Manuel Seff adapted from an original by the former, runs the gamut of comedy, romance, and thrills, and offers Barbara her first comedy' role. Hardie Albright, Ruth Donnelly, Cliff Edwards, Gordon Jones, Paul Stanton, Purnell Pratt, Arthur Vinton, and Nella Walker are also prominent in the cast of this Harry’ M. Goetz presentation. Sidney Lanfield directed ‘ Red Salute ’ for release thorugh United Artists. LAURIER, PORT CHALMERS ' Grand Exit/ a dramatic production of fire investigators, starring Edmund Lowe and the beautiful Ann Sothern, is the current attraction at the Laurier, Port Chalmers. Lowe portrays the role of Tom Fletcher, a happy-go-lucky ladies’ man, albeit one of the most intrepid of insurance company private fire

detectives. Investigating a series of mysterious blazes of incendiary origin, Lowe finds his suspicions unwillingly directed at lovely Miss Sothern, whose presence has always been noted at the scene of the blazes. His heart having been won by the fair Miss Sothern, Lowe risks everything on a strategic ruse to trap the real criminal. How Lowe discovers the “ firebug’s ” identity, the manner in which he operates, and the motive for his crimes, provides the basis for the thrills and drama, which, despite its underlying theme of death and destruction, contains a light and flippant romantic comedy vein. The balance of the large cast includes Onslow Stevens, Robert Middlemass, and Wyrley Birch.