PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23678, 11 September 1940, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

STATE

‘ A Window in London,’ which heads the programme at the State, tells a dramatic and exciting story of the strange adventures which befall a young man when, while passing a block of tenements in a train he sees what ho imagines to be a murder committed inside one of the rooms of the building. He jumps out of the train window and summons tho police, only to find that the occupants of the building were theatrical players rehearsing a dramatic scene. ANOTHER ROGERS TRIUMPH. Affording her an unusual opportunity to display her talents as a comedienne and dramatic actress, RKO Radio's ‘ Fifth Avenue Girl,’ the State’s coming attraction, presents Ginger Rogers in the title role. The lovely star portrays the part of an unemployed working girl who becomes s involved in the marital problems of a wealthy family. The manner in which she solves their troubles and finds romance at the same time, provides tho basis of the absorbing plot. Her sharply etched and strongly human characterisation is said to be one of the finest things she has yet done on the screen. Walter Connolly, Verree Teasdale, James Ellison, Tim Holt,. Kathryn Adams, and Franklin Paugboru have prominent supporting roles in this Gregory la Cava production.

ST. JAMES

‘ Return to Yesterday,’ which is the attraction at the St. James, is romantic comedy, which has met with general approval. Peter and Carol, members of a seaside theatrical company, are in love. There are complications when the leading man refuses to carry on in his part. ‘Blondie Brings Up Baby,’ the other film, is another addition to a happy series. SANDY POWELL COMIC. A favourite the world over, by virtue of his unique comedy radio recordings, 1 Can You Hear Me, Mother,’ Sandy Powell has already starred in two screen comedies. His ‘ Home From Homo ’ will be shown at the St. James on Friday. This time ho takes the role of a convict who is glad enough to remain in person out of the way of his domineering wife, who continually nags'him to find work and not to lie in bed half the day. When Sandy is pardoned and has to go home the trouble starts all over again, especially as he has collected an out-of-work violinist and a glamorous cabaret star on the way. ‘ Homo From Home ’ also includes in the cast Rene Ray, Roy Fmerton, Kathleen Harrison, and Norma Varden. With Hugh Herbert playing seven different roles and fighting to “ steal ” comedy scense from himself. University's musical farce, ‘La Conga Nights,*’ will provide hilarious support.

OCTAGON

• Rebecca,’ the film version of Daphne du Manner's novel, continues to attract large audiences to the Octagon. Laurence Olivier, who established an impressive reputation by his work m ‘ Wuthoring Heights,’ again gives a masterly portrayal as Mas de Winter, a sombre Cornishman, and Joan Fontaine rises to inspiring heights in her delineation _of the role of de Winter’s second wife. The story is dominated by the influence of de Winter’s, first wife, Rebecca, who, though dead, almost succeeds in wrecking the couple’s happiness. Her influence is transmitted through Mrs Danvers, the housekeeper, who was passionately fond of Rebecca, and hates the young wife with a virulence that casts a blight upon the household. There is a good supporting programme, in which major place is held by a new March of Time entitled ‘ News Fronts of the War—--1940.’

, STRAND

Pat O’Brien and Ann Sheridan head the east in 1 Devil on Wheels,’ one of the features at the Strand It is a thrilling tale of motor racing and the efforts of a man to save his younger brother, a daredevil youth, from the perils of the sport. Bill Boyd is starred in ‘ Stage Coach War,’ the other film. It is a fine outdoor adventure story. espionage thriller. Attempts by foreign spies to secure plans for one of America’s most closelyguarded military secrets, highly-publi-cised aeroplane bomb-sight, form the dramatic theme of Universal’s timely screen play. ‘ Enemy Agent,’ which is coming to the Strand on Friday. Although the story is described as fictional, it shows how enemy spies might train employment in the giant aircraft factories of Southern California, and then carry on sabotage while trying to steal blue-prints of the bomb-sight and advance warplane designs. ‘Gangs of Chicago ’ will be the associate picture, and Lloyd Nolan, Barton Maelane, and Lola Lane are the stars.

REGENT

The celebrated Nick Charles and his j^ ora —this time supplemented by a Nickic, jun.—are seen in their third polished detective comedy-drama, ‘ Another Thin Man,’ which is having an extended season at the Regent. William Towel! and Myrna Loy, ot course, handle the leading roles, and with their usual aplomb. drama of a doctor. Dorothy Lamour, Akim Tamiroff, and John Howard share dramatic honours in ‘ Disputed Passage,’ an exciting story about the problems of medical men, which is scheduled to have its local premiere on Friday at the Regent, in her first genuinely dramatic role, Miss Lamour plays a young American girl brought up in China who comes to America to make her home. Her vital love for Howard, who portrays the brilliant young surgeon, runs afoul of Akim Tamiroff a world-famous neurological surgeon, who believes in the stern dedication of a physician's life to science. This trenchant attitude provides the focal point unon which the story revolves when Tamiroff persuades Miss Lamour that her projected marriage to Howard will bring his career to defeat. Others in the east are William Collier, sen.. Gordon Jones, Kcye Luke and Paramount s budding starlet, Juditu Barrett.

EMPIRE

Rapid-fire action and excellent characterisations mark the first of what bids to be a popular series of films, ‘ Nick Carter, Master Detective,’ which is being shown at the Empire. The title role is filled by Walter Pidgeon, who scores a signal triumph in the part of the super-sleuth. AFTER-PRISON LIFE. ‘ Invisible Stripes,’ a drama of afterprison life, based on a book by Lewis E. Lawes, .will be the next feature at the Empire, starting on Friday. George Haft, Jane Bryan, and William Holden are starred, with Humphrey Bogart, Paul Kelly, Lee Patrick, and Henry O’Neill • heading tho supporting east. George Raft plays the role of the convict trying to go straight, and Bogart is the criminal who realises that there is_ no hope for the man who wears invisible stripes. William Holden, the star discovery of ‘ Golden Boy,’ plays the young brother, and Jane Bryan, who received such wide acclaim for her featured role with Bette Davis -in ‘ The Old Maid.’ plays the boy’s sweetheart, later his wife. Flora Robson, prominent English star of stage and screen, plays the workworn mother of the two boys; Lee Patrick is. the hard-boiled sweetheart of Bogart.

GRAND

A fiendish plot to destroy the Panama Canal and trap the fleet in the wrecked locks is the challenge faced by the famous Earl Derr Diggers sleuth in 4 Charlie Chan in Panama,' which was shown at the Grand to-day. The latest of the Twentieth Centnry-Fox.jjictures, With Sidney Toler in the title. Tote. fea-r turea Jean Rogers, Lionel Atwill, Mary Nash, Sen Yung, Kane Richmond, Chris Pin Martin, Lionel Royce. Helen Ericson, and Jack la Rue in the supporting cast. The depression came late to the Jones Family, but it hit hard.. Dad’s laid np, their home is gone, and they have onlv their trailer and family car in the Twentieth Century-Fox film, * On Their Own,’ which is in support. But you cannot keep a good Jones down, and when the depression threatens to whip the whole family—well, they trade their ear and trailer for a bungalow court and end up having more fun than ever. In their usual Jones Family roles are Spring Byington, Ken Howell, George Ernest,'June Carlson. Florence Roberts, and Billy Mahan. There is a strong featured supporting oast, and the picture was-directed by Otto Brower. Max Golden was associate producer.

MAYFAIR

< Four Daughters,’ starring Lola, Rosemary, and Priscilla Lane, John Garfield, Claude Rains, and bay Bamter, heads the new bill at the Mayfair. It concerns the romances of four daugliters, the plot being taken from the Fannie Hurst story. Magnificent Fraud,’ which supports, stars Akim Tamiroff (playing two parts) and Lloyd Nolan. It is a drama of dictatorship in a South American republic.