PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22464, 8 October 1936, Page 15

PICTURE THEATRES

TWO OUTSTANDING MUSICALS GRAND'S FINE ENTERTAINMENT With ‘ To Beat the Barn! ’and ‘ The Kentucky Minstrels of 1935, 1 on tho now programme, the management oi the Grand has provided outstanding entertainment which cannot fail to appeal to even the - most exacting oi patrons. Youth and melody are the keynotes of the productions, and the musical offerings contained are sumcient entertainment themselves, 'the first and principal feature, ‘ To Beat the Band,’ has been appropriately named—it is a brilliant musical comedy of a typo seldom seen in Dunedin, and is more powerful in plot than is usual with musical pictures. Debroy Somers and his hand are the premier artists in ‘ Kentucky .Minstrels.’ With a cast headed by Hugh Herbert and Helen Broderick and containing such players as Ray Mayer, Kvclyn Roe, Joy Hodges, Phyllis Brooks, Roger Pryor, and the original California Collegians, a famous dance band, ‘ r l o Boat the Band ’ is well equipped with talent. Aside from the cast there is the story—a rollicking tale. Then there are tunes and a general atmosphere of hilarity and glamour. Herbert was never more perfectly cast than as the bachelor who falls heir to a vast amount of money hut cannot get it unless he fulfills a most unusual provision in his benefactor’s will. Miss Broderick, star of the New. York stage, finds herself grandly at home in a role reminiscent of her Broadway days. Eric Blore, as usual, is cast in a wav which enables him to cajole many chuckles. ‘ I Saw Her at Eight O’clock.’ one of the song hits, is sung by Fred. Keating, Johnny Mercer, and Evelyn Poe. 1 If Y’ou Were Mine,’ the picture’s theme song, is a lovely ballad. Roger Pryor introduces this one in typical Pryor fashion. ‘ Santa Clans Came in the Spring,’ a novelty number, is also sung by Pryor, and played to a “ fare-thec-well ” by the Collegians, who present something remarkably new in the way of orchestral gymnastics. ‘ Eenie, •Mcenie, Minie, Moo ’ is sung two ways in the picture, one in fast tempo and the other in a slow and dreamy vein. ‘ Meet Miss America ’ is introduced by comely Joy Hodges. A “ cavalcade of minstrelsy” is an excellent description of the brilliant allBritish production, ‘ Kentucky Minstrels of 1935.’ which is in support. This is probably the first opportunity talking picture patrons have had of witnessing an entertainment of this kind. The older generation will _ delight in the earlier sequences demoting the early days of the famous “ minstrels,” the modern will find the greatest pleasure in the spectacular concluding scenes; in which Debroy Somers band. Nina Mac M'Kinncv, Scott and Whaley, and the 11 Eight Black Streaks ” aro featured, and the children will enjoy to the full the seaside scones where Mott and Baylev go “ brisking ” on the sands. Besides the stars mentioned several other. famous English players are featured. The story starts in the good old minstrel days and concerns two of a troupe who refuse to believe that minstrel shows cannot go on for ever. What happens makes a delightful story which binds together, the many novel features the production possesses. REGENT One of the strangest and most fascinating films ever made, ‘ Things To Come,’ concludes this evening at the Regent. This picture has been as widely acclaimed in America ns in England. Adapted from the powerful book. ‘ The Shape of Thinges to Come,’ by H. G. Wells, it offers something more than ordinary entertainment. In the earlier part of the film the action that takes place before the turn of tjie century seems, at the present day, only ton likely, and the suggested conditions of 2036 are not impossible. ‘ GIVE US THIS NIGHT.’ * Give Us This Night,’ a charming musical romance, co-starring Jan Kiopura and Gladys Swarthout, will open a season at the Regent to-morrow. Bringing together as it does two of the most talented and attractive singers on the screen to-day, this film bids fair to take a prominent place among the most successful musical pictures of the year. Kiepura won fame as a singer in Europe, while Miss Swarthout hails from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The appealing story deals with the meeting and romance of a young Italian fisherman and a talented young singer already on the way to fame. The girl is so impressed with the fisherman’s voice that she sees he is given his chance. An elderly and wealthy composer helps the young fisherman, but complications arise when the composer discovers that his_ new-found friend is in love with the girj. The solution of this triangular affair is neatly worked out. Benny Baker supplies much of the comedy, while Phillip Merivalo, the well-known London and American stage star, makes his film debut as the composer. EMPIRE Laurel and Hardy, two of the most popular comedians on the screen, arc at their best in ‘ The Bohemian Girl,’ the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, which commences its second week at the Empire to-morrow. As members 'of a gipsy band entrusted with Ibo upbringing of a little girl who has been kidnapped from her parents, they have ample scope for their inimitable clowning, and not since they appeared in ‘ ffra Hiavolo ’ have they given such thoroughly amusing performances. The beautiful music of tbo original opera has been retained in the score, and the film is as much a success from the musical point of view as it is as a comedy. Jacqueline Welis and Antonio Moreno also give outstanding portrayals, and there is a largo cast of supporting players. An entertaining selection of shorter films also is shown. STRAND James Melton and Jane Froman, two newcomers to the screen, aro the principals of ‘ Stars Over Broadway,’ the main film on the Strand programme concluding to-niebt. Dealing with the lives of successful radio stars, it is an excellent vehicle for the introduction of bright songs and spectacular dance numbers. ‘ The Mine with the Iron Door,’ in support, with Cecilia Parker and Richard Arleu as stars, is a story of a treasure hunt in Arizona. TWO EXCELLENT FEATURES. The double bill, commencing at the Strand to-morrow, contains features of widely differing appeal. ‘ Timothy’s Guest,’ by the author of ‘ Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.’ is a really delightful tale of a hoy’s quest lor a mother for his little sister. The hoy has uou Quixote always before bun

as h.is hero, and this trait is cleverly woven into the story. The children are victims of baby farmers in a city saloon, but they manage to make their escape by giving a false alarm of fire, and finally they aro given .shelter in a farmhouse in tin; country. Here a soured and elderly spinster seems a most unpromising proposition as an adopting mother, but sho gradually melts and all ends happily. Al Jolson and the Yacht Boys appear in 1 The ringing Kid,’ the second film on the excellent programme. A bright now musical picture, it grips the interest from the very first scone. The popular comedian, Edward Everett Horton, has a major part, and ho further enhances his reputation. Cab Calloway and his famous hand also lend added interest to the film. ST. JAMES Marion Davies is the loading lady in ‘ Pago Miss Glory,’ which will have its final presentation at the St. James this evening. The story tells of the troubles which befall a chambermaid when through unusual circumstances sho is forced to masquerade as the most beautiful girl in America. Patsy Kelly, Pat O’Brien, and Dick Powell are in tbo supporting cast. ‘THE GARDEN MURDER CASE.’ An entertaining mystery drama, with the renowned Philo Vance striving to find a solution, will be presented tomorrow at the St. James, with Edmund Lowe taking the role of the famous detective. ‘ The Garden Murder Case,’ aa the film is titled, has plenty of thrilling situations to hold the spectator’s attention, but at the same time embodies some light-hearted romance and a thin vein of humour. Commencing with the mysterious death of a young jockey taking part in a gentlemen riders’ race, the plot becomes deeper when two more people are struck down, both being close associates of the unfortunate young man. One of the richest families of the United States is involved in the tragedies, and several of the household arc suspected. Virginia Bruce, a -young society girl, is among those suspected, but she attracts the attention of Vance, who seeks a solution of the crimes in order to clear her name. Among those who figure in the supporting cast are Nat Pendleton, in. one of his typical roles as a rather dumb police sergeant, Benita Hume, and Douglas Walton. Throughout the film the action is swift, and the players all give convincing performances. STATE ‘Follow the Fleet,’ concluding tonight at the State, is the latest and best of the Ginger Rogers-Fred Astaire musical productions. It shows a marked improvement on previous films of its type, the dancing and singing scenes being particularly good. Irving Berlin has supplied the music, and his tun'es are gay. The story, full of romantic nonsense, with Astaire as the pressing suitor and Miss Rogers as the coy maiden, is set to a nautical background. . ‘ JACK OF ALL TRADES.’ The unvarying popularity which he commands and his wonderful ability to amuse is well instanced in Jack Hulbert’s latest picture, ‘ Jack of All Trades,’ which will open its Dunedin season at the State to-morrow. Jack can well lay claim to be one of the screen’s most popular comedians, and every performance adds lustre to his fame. ‘ Jack of All Tracies ’ is a brilliant comedy, and never, has Jack Hulbert been seen to better advantage. To increase the entertainment value of ‘h film, Robertson t Hare and Gina Malo are thrown in for good measure, and the three combine to provide laughs and romance. No Jack Hudbert film would be complete without its budget of new songs and dances, and the star’s admirers will like his several attractive numbers, which include ‘ You’re Sweeter Than I Thought You Wore,’ ‘ Where There’s You There’s Me,’ and ‘ Tail Your Tootsies.’ Robertson Haro is, as usual, the rather bewildered little man who is forced through many awkward situations against his will. He is at the top of Ins form in company with Jack Hulbert. The charming Gina Malo plays the part of Jack’s sweetheart. OCTAGON ‘Star of Midnight,’ featuring the popular actor, William Powell, heads the double feature programme concluding at the Octagon this evening. It is a delightful comedy drama of a sophisticated nature,‘in which Powell has the assistance of Ginger Rogers in the feminine load. The second film is a bright feature of theatrical life, ‘ Hooray For Love.’ It has Ann Sothern and Gene Raymond as its stars. DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME. Myrna Loy heads the cast of ‘ Wings in the Dark,’ which will be shown at the Octagon to-morrow. Cary Grant is coupled with Miss Loy in the romantic leads of the picture as an airman who is a scientist and adventurer. His life is devoted to making flight safe through the perfection of instruments for blind flying. On the eve of a transatlantic flight which will prove the complete success of his experiments he is blinded by an accident. Despairing of ever recovering his sight and disdaining charity, he retires to a cabin in the woods to brood. But‘Miss Loy, who loves him, persuades him tossreturn to his work, even furnishes money, which he believes is coming from a series of articles on aviation which he is publishing. Just as his experiments are nearing completion the aeroplane is recovered by the company from whom ho bought it. Then Miss Loy, in a final desperate effort to help 'them, undertakes a flight from Moscow to New York for an enormous purse, in a. final gripping climax Cary Grant goes aloft to bring Miss Loy down when she is fogbound above the landing field at the end of the flight. An accident restores iiis sight, and the two lovers are happily united. The associate feature is ‘ Rngglcs of Red Gap,’ starring Charles Laughton. MAYFAIR A light-hearted romance of carefree law-breaking, with moments of high drama, ‘ Red Salute,’ now showing at the Mayfair, has not a dull moment. It cannot be classed as a “ crazy ” film, for the story moves logically towards a final scene; but the wild adventures of the enlisted man and the Comnmnistic-ally-incliued daughter of a general follow the plan of no previous picture. The story is briefly that of the daughter of a general in the American army who becomes infatuated with a “ student ” (subsequently found to he in foreign pay) who is disseminating the doctrine of destruction and reconstruction around the State universities. Her father manages to get her into an aeroplane bound for Mexico, and she finds herself in that hospitable country with a capital of five dollars. How she crosses the border again in a Government car driven by a soldier, wrecks the car. captures a caravan and an ox-sol-dier, and finally gets back io ’Washing-

ton, forms the highlights of the filmBarbara Stanwyck, as the general s daughter, has a sort of sophisticated innocence about her acting which gets the most out of her role. As the enlisted man, Robert Young also gives a convincing portrayal. The third of the tno which goes k through all the hectic adventures entailed in a race through a State patrolled by watchful military and police is Clift Edwards, who is at his best. 'There is an allraclivc and varied supporting programme.