PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23368, 11 September 1939, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

STRAND

That a simple and human love story, honestly portrayed, can be first-quality entertainment of sweeping dramatic power is demonstrated by the performances of Andrea Leeds and Joel M'Crea in Universal’s ‘ Youth Tates a Fling,’ which is now at the Strand, in addition to top-flight performances by every member of the cast, the Joe Pasternak production is a notable directorial achievement for Archie Mayo, who lives up to his reputation as “ the director with the human touch.” Miss Leeds, as the heroine, turns in a fine portrayal. As the romantic girl who sells wedding gowns and dreams of the day she herself will be a bride, she sets a high mark in the simulation of desperate young love M'Crea, as the adventurestruck Kansas farm boy, _ makes the most of his greatest role since 4 Wells Fargo.’ In Streets of New York,’ which supports, Jackie Cooper plays j the role of a newsboy.

GRAKD

' I’ve Got a Horse,’ starring Sandy Powell, is now being featured at the Grand. Sandy Powell, the famous Yorkshire” comedian, is in his biggest and best screen role in the hilarious story of the turf, ‘ I’ve Got a Horse.’ Sandy is a bookmaker who becomes a racehorse owner when he accepts a horse as “stake money,” and the lucky punter loses, leaving him with the horse on his hands. So he decides to race the animal. The second feature, ‘ Bank Holiday,’ is an exoellentlvdirected cross-section of this essentially English Institution. RICHARD DIX RETURNS.

There is plenty of excitement, drama, and romance in. 4 Twelve . Crowded Hours,’ the attraction to open on Wednesday at the Grand. Exciting incidents' follow each other in quick succession, and a pleasing if somewhat tempestuous romance runs through the plot. Richard Dix, one of the finest exponents of “ he-man ” roles in films today, has the mate lead, and Lucille Ball, who has had a rapid rise to stardom, makes, a charming heroine. The story concerns a two-fisted reporter who sets himself the task of smashing a “ racket ”in his native city. Needless to say, he meets plenty of opposition, and, when one of his articles is responsible for sending an innocent man to gaol, he arouses the antagonism of the girl in the case.

STATE

According to Director John Ford, ‘ Submarine Patrol,’ the State attraction, tells the incredible story, for some strange reason overlooked until now, that has lain neglected in the navy’s archives for some 20 years. It is the story of the wartime “ Splinter Fleet ” —those tiny, oft-ridiculed wooden patrol boats, designed to clear the U-boat-in-fested lanes of the Atlantic, and some of them manned by the sorriest crews of civilian odds and ends ever to board a fighting ship. The players’ dramatic characterisations, under Ford’s masterful direction, are what give * Submarine Patrol ’ its real punch. Handsome Richard Greene is seen in the role of the young social registerite who joins up as chief engineer, and who promptly falls in love with Nancy Kelly (a promising newcomer to films), whose father ,is the skipper of a munitions freighter which Greene’s shin is assigned to convoy across the Atlantic. Others in the cast are Preston Foster, George Bancroft, Slim Summerville, Joan Carradine, Joan Valerie, Henry Armetta, Warren Hymer. Douglas Fowley, J. Farrell MacDonald, and Maxie Rosenbloom.

EMPIRE

Murder amid 10,000 books is the novel situation around which was woven the exciting mystery picture, ‘ Fast and Loose,' starring Robert Montgomery and Rtfsalind Russell, and now at the Empire. The picture, a sequel to last season’s mystery hit, ‘ Fast Company,’ relates the adventures of Joel Sloane, rare book dealer, who becomes involved in a series of murder mysteries which, as an amateur detective, he inherits for solution. Montgomery plays Sloane and Miss Russell portrays Garda, his wife, who shares in the thrills of his work. As the setting for the mystery, studio artisans constructed the upper and lower floors of a mansion that filled two of the studio’s largest sound stages. Outstanding among the sets is a great library, the main walls formed by book shelves that reached to the high ceiling and filled with 10.000 books rented from several of the finest private libraries in the West. The mansion represents the home of Reginald Owen, wealthy book-lover, from whom Sloane seeks to purchase one of the world s rarest books, a purchase which motivates the crimes. Edwin L. Mann directed ‘ Fast and Loose.

ST. JAMES

Cecil de Mille, with his flair for detail and vast panoramic effects, has made an outstanding action film in ‘ Union Pacific,’ which is transferred for an extended season to the _ St. James. Besides being a well-sustained narrative, dealing with the building of the great Union Pacific railroad 1 , the film reflects the energetic and imaginative approach of America to colossal enterprises. There have been a number of major offerings depicting, in part,

this particular phase of .America’s pioneering development, hut none has so well suggested the magnitude of tha task which provides this picture’s Vitalising and historic subject. Th» atmosphere of the film is excellent. Tha railroad, with the seething and heterogeneous mass of humanity that helped to build it, becomes somethingvery _real, particularly in such scenes as where experiments are made at the , es ’ but end successfully. Joel M Crea does an excellent job, also Barbara Stanwyck.

REGENT

After an absence from the screen for many months Elisabeth Bergner returns in her fifth British film, 4 Stolen Life, which her husband. Dr Paul Lzinner, directed from a manuscript by Margaret Kennedy, author of Escape Me Never,’ one of the star’s greatest successes. ‘ Stolen Life ’ is at the Regent. It has humour, comedv, drama, and a touch of tragedy It "is of interest to note that r Stolen Life brings together again the same group of people' who were associated with f Escape Me Never 3 —namely. Miss Bergner, Dr Czinner. Margaret Kennedy, and_ Captain Richard Norton, who was in charge of production of the new subject. Elisabeth Bergner has a dual role in the story, which ia a new departure, for her. Michael, Redgrave, the brilliant English actor, is her leading man, and Wilfrid Lawson, who played “ Doolittle ” in 4 Pygmalion,’ also has an important part. The supporting programme is notable for a glorious presentation of Wagner’s overture ‘ Tanhauser,’ by the National Philharmonic Orchestra, and a male choir of 50 voices.

MAYFAIR

Outstanding entertainment is contained in the bright double bill which is being screened at, the Mayfair. Ronald Column plays the role of Francois Villon, dashing poet of mediaeval Paris in - 4 If 1 Were King,’ which is the principal feature. Humphrey Bogart, George Brent, and Gloria Dickson head the cast of the gripping drama of the war against radketeers in the United States ia 4 Racket Busters,’ the associate feature. ‘ -