PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23677, 10 September 1940, Page 9

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND Once more in the role of a mail scientist, Boris Karloff is still a master of horror, and ‘ The Man With Nine Lives,’ which is to finish to-night at the Grand, is well up to standard. It is at once a thrilling and chilling story, and will be relished by all lovers of such fare. The supporting film is ‘ Overland Express,’ starring Buck Jones. FURTHER CHAN ADVENTURES. The newest adventures of the wellknown Oi'iental sleuth come to the screen in ‘ Charlie Chan in Panama,’ the latest of the Twentieth CenturyFox thrillers, featuring Sidney Toler in the title role, which will bo screened to-morrow at the Grand. Featured with his in the cast are Jean Rogers, Lionel Atwil!, Mary Nash, Sen Yung, Kane Richmond, Chris-Pin Martin, Lionel Royce, Helen Ericson, and Jack La Rue. The film shows Chan on the trail of a plot to sabotage the Panama Canal. The Joneses, America’s screen family, are in trouble in their latest film, ‘ On Their Own,’ the Twentieth ,Century-Fox picture, which will be in support. They are “ broke ” —but Spring Byington, Ken Howell, George Ernest, and the rest of the Joneses beat gloom with laughs in the merriest of all their pictures. Otto Brower directed the film. Max Golden was associate producer.

STATE

Michael Redgrave is an extremely likeable young actor, and in ‘ A Window in London,’ which is at the State he is surrounded by a clever play. Peter Thomson, travelling in the train on his way to work, and noticing a man stabbing a woman in a tenement window, intrudes into two lives. The incident is explained. But the supposed explanation proves to be only a bluff. Then a story of mental torture opens out behind the pretence; and Peter finds himself sucked deeper and deeper into turbulent events. _ That is where Michael Redgrave has his great chance. GINGER ROGERS AGAIN. Ginger Rogers has another starring role without her dancing partner, Fred Astaire, in 'Fifth Avenue Girl,’ which will be shown on the State’s next'programme. She has the title role—a girl who is employed by an ageing man of wealth (Walter Connolly) to make his wife jealous so that she will begin to pay him a little wifely attention. James Ellison also has a leading role in this bright # comedy-romance.

ST. JAMES

Romantic comedy of a high standard is offered in ‘ Return to Yesterday,’ at the St. James. It is romance that is different from the usual type of such comedies, and the story is one which any audience should enjoy. The story concerns Peter and Carol, who are in love, and who are also members of a seaside theatrical company. Complications arise, as the leading < man refuses to act ■ with the leading lady. ‘ Blondie Brings Up . Baby ’ is the second film. SANDY POWELL. Sandy Powell and Hugh Herbert are the stars of the two comedies which will make up the next (programme at the St. James. Powell is seen in ‘ Home from Home ’ as a humorous convict, and Herbert is as “ fluttery ” as ever in ‘La Conga Lights.’ He is a man of many parts in this film, and masquerades as his mother, his two sisters, and his aged grandfather.

OCTAGON

Laurence Olivier adds to the, reputation he built for himself in ‘ Wuthering Heights ’ with the excellent performance in * Rebecca,’ the screen dramatisation of Daphne du Maurier’s novel of the same name, at the Octagon. Sharing the honours with Olivier is Joan Fontaine, who shows a new side to her acting ability as the young second wife of Max de Winter, a sombre Cornishman. The dominating character of the story is that of de Winter’s first wife, Rebecca, who, although dead* exerts an evil influence over the lives of the present Mr and Mrs de Winter. Most active of the influences is Mrs Danvers, the housekeeper, who was passionately fond of Rebecca, and who hates the young wife. She nearly succeeds in wrecking the couple’s happiness.

STRAND

There is an abundance of excitement at the Strand this week, where the two attractions are ‘ Devil On Wheels ’ and ‘ Stagecoach War.’ ‘ Devil On Wheels ’ is a thrilling melodrama of the motor race tracks, and Pat O’Brien, Ann Sheridan. John Payne. Gale Page, and Frank M'Hugh head the unusually strong cast. The story tells of the lure of the tracks and of the fight Of a champion driver to save his young brother from the perils of racing.

REGENT

Now in its second week at tlie Regent, ‘ Another Thin Man ’ continues to attract large audiences. Combining a first class murder mystery with riotous comedy, this third adventure of Nick Charles, the famous detective, mid his charming wife, is well up to the high standard set by the previous films. DRAMA IN CHINA. Akim Tamiroff has been chosen for the leading role of Dr “ Tubby ” Forster in tho film version of Lloyd C.

Douglas’s ‘ Disputed Passage,’ which will be shown at the Regent on Friday, and is responsible for another brilliant portrayal of the kind that has placed him to the forefront of character players. Beautiful Dorothy Lamour has the feminine lead, while John Howard makes a success of his biggest part to date. The story tells how Forster ; a great doctor, chooses a young medical student, Beaven (Howard) as his most likely successor. Their hatred of each other is mutual and bitter, and finally Beaven falls in love with one of his patients (Miss Lamour). The scene moves to war-torn China.

EMPIRE

Walter Pidgcon has the stellar role in the first of a proposed series of detective films, ‘ Nick Carter, Master Detective,’ which is at the Empire. Pidgeon makes a great success of the part, and so it would not be surprising to see him figuring in future films concerning the adventures of the redoubtable Mr Carter. MEW STARRING TRIO. Two of the screen’s newest stars make up, with George Raft, the starring trio of * Invisible the powerful drama of after-prison life, based on a book by Lewis E. Lawes, which be the next feature attraction at the Empire. Jane Bryan and William Holden are the two new stars. For each of them ‘ Invisible Stripes ’ marks an important step in their careers. For Jane. Bryan, 21-year-old, and Hollywoodborn, it marks her first star part, after a succession of lesser roles, culminating in ‘ The Old Maid,’ in which she made her small featured role so outstanding that the Warner Brothers’ studio rewarded her by placing her on their star roster.

MAYFAIR

‘ Mr Smith Goes te Washington ’ is to finish to-night at the Mayfair. The associate film is ' The Cat and the Canary,’ featuring Bob Hope aud Paulette Goddard. FANNIE HURST ROMANCE. ‘ Four Daughters,’ starring Lola, Rosemary, and Priscilla Lane, John Garfield, Claude Rains, and Fay Bainter, will head the new bill at the Mayfair to-morrow. It concerns the romances of four daughters, the plot being taken from the Fannie Hurst story. ‘Magnificent Fraud,’ which will support, stars Akim Tamiroff (playing two parts) and Lloyd Nolan. It is a drama of dictatorship in a South American republic.