PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23683, 17 September 1940, Page 9

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE

One of the most powerful human interest films of the year, a fascinating drama of after-prison l ie. ‘ invisible -Stripes,’ heads tne current programme at the Empire. Contrast is used to memorable effect hy drawing a parallel between the lives of two men who come out of prison on the same day. One is a confirmed criminal, and the other a one-time offender determined to rid himself of the prison stigma and go straight. ‘ GERONIMO !’ A,-violent page of the history of the United States of America is brought to the screen in ‘ Goronimo!’ the Umpire s coining attraction- It is the stoiy of one of the greatest of the Indian wars. Goronimo was an embittered Apache chief who pitted the strength of his tribe against the United States cavalry. Kllen Drew, Preston Foster, and Andy Devine have the leading roles.

GRAND

Two highly entertaining films, ‘ Charlie Olian in Panama,’ and ‘On Their Own,’ are to finish to-night at the Grand. The latest Charlie Chan film features Sidney Toler. The associate feature, ‘On 'Their Own,’ is another of the Jones family pictures. GRIPPING SPY DRAMA. ‘ 1 Was a Spy ’ will bo the main attraction at the Grand to-morrow. This great British film, on its first issue, so thoroughly deserved the packed houses which greeted it that the present reissue dining the present war is more than justified. The story tells the true emotional and factual history of the young Belgian woman, Martha M'Keuua, who was in the town of Roulers in 1915, after the Gormans had occupied it.’ She is engaged by the medical authorities to serve in the hospital, but still she is a Belgain, and helps her aunt in furtive missions. Hi” immediate superior in the hospital is also in the service. She risks the late of the thousands of soldiers whom she is among when they are caught unawares, and bombed by Allied planes. Then she and the doctor nurse chose who are left wounded. Together they make a fruitless attempt to blow up a dump of poison-gas cylinders when they first came into use by the Germans; then they nurse the Allied wounded after the first gas attack. ‘ Around the Town ’ will also bo on the programme. The picture is built round the story of a easting agent who helps an American theatre magnate in his search for British talent in London. # .

STATE

One of the season’s most delightful pictures is ‘ Fifth Avenue Girl,’ Ginger Rogers’s new starring vehicle, which is showing at the State. The now picture revolves round the hectic experiences of a working girl guest in a stately Fifth avenue home. She is hired ■ for the job by the discouraged head of the family, who despairs of ever i -rsuading his wife and children to regard him as other than a walking bank account. JOAN BENNETT STARRED, Joan Bennett has another first-class role in ‘ The House Across the Bay,’ which will be shown at the State on Friday. It is a picture which deals with those outlaws who are sent “ up the river” to ill-famed Alcatraz. Miss Bennett plays the part of the sweetheart of George Raft, who is sent to the island. She rents a just across the bay from the prison. Walter Pidgeon and Lloyd Nolan are also featured.

ST. JAMES

London’s foremost male radio and screen star, Sandy Powell, scores another hit in ‘Homo from Home,’ the chief attraction at the St, James. Hugh Herbert has the leading role in ‘ La Conga Nights.’ ANN SOTHERN COMEDY. Primarily humorous in intent, and produced with the adult observer principally in mind, ‘ Congo Maisie,’ opening at the St. .James on Friday, has Ann Sothern once again as the character, Maisie, and, as before, she makes of the character a lively and liigh.lvdiverting person. This time she ventures into the Congo country, and takes in her stride .such events as an emergency operation inquiring her services as impromptu nurse, and an uprising of savages led by native witch doctors, beating these last at their own game by feats of vaudeville magic plus a dash of vaudeville hip-flinging in approved style. ‘ Dangerous Fingers ’ will also be showing-

OCTAGON

‘ Rebecca,’ the film version, of Daphne du Maurier’s novel, continues to attract large audiences to the Octagon, where it is in its second week. Laurence Olivier, who established an impressive reputation by his work in ‘ Wuthering 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 do 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.

STRAND

Two thrilling dramas, ‘ Enemy Agent,’ and ‘ Gangs of Chicago,’ comprise the programme at the Strand this week. Richard Cromwell, Helen Vinson, Robert Armstrong and Jack Laßue arc featured in ‘ Enemy Agent,’ which tells the story ot a young man’s efforts to break up the spy activities of a gang which steals important plans of an aeroplane factory. ‘ Gangs of Chicago,’ is a powerful film.

REGENT

‘ Disputed Passage,’ which is at the Regent, lias been one of the most talked-of pictures of the past year. Featuring Dorothy Laraour, Akim Tamiroff, and John Howard in the

principal roles, tlio film gives each of these artists ample opportunity to display In's or her host. The story is from the pen of Lloyd Douglas. GARBO—COMEDIENNE. ‘ Xinotchka,’ which comes on Friday to the Regent, has as its star Greta Garbo, in the role of a comedienne. ‘ Xinotchka ’ tells an intriguing romantic story in which there is much goodhumoured satire at the expense of the Soviet system. Garbo is seen as a Bolshevist who is sent to Baris to keep an eye on three Bed agents supposed to bo selling Imperial jewels. In Baris she meets a suave young man-abont-town, who causes her to forget her Spartanlike upbringing to such an extent that she falls hopelessly in love with him. Thu ensuing complications make up a delightfully entertaining p’ot.

MAYFAIR

Shirley Temple is featured in ‘Susannah of the bounties,’ to finish tonight at the Lay fair. Margaret Lockwood. Randolph Scott, and Victor Jury are in the excellent east. A gripping drama of the west. “ Dodge. City.” is the support ng Him. Hrrol Flynn is in the leading role. LIONEL BARRYMORE BRILLIANT. ‘ On Borrowed Time,' which will head the new bill at the Mayfair to-morrow, stars Lionel Barrymore in a brilliant characterisation, Bobs Watson, Sir Cedric Harchvieke. and Nat Pendleton. It is an unusual tale of an old man and a young boy in an encounter with death, in eoutimiation of the Bumstead family series. Columbia has released 1 Blondie Take a Vacation.’ which stars Penny Singleton and Larry Sinnn.