PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23686, 20 September 1940, Page 12

PICTURE THEATRES

ST. JAMES

Placed in the African jungles, ‘ Congo Maisie,’ which is at the St. James, combines adventure, thrills, and comedy with the problems of scientists battling the superstitions of the natives and brings into vivid relief a cross-section of the lives of four everyday people. Outstanding among the problems of the jungle is the straightforwardness and honestv of the tawdry showgirl, Maisie, who through her own integrity brings happiness to the scientist and his bride. Regardless of locale, Maisie is Maisie. Her quick thinking is as sharp in the Congo as it is at Forty-second street and Broadway. The same tricks that held audiences in her showgirl days hold the warring natives spellbound. Set to the modern 1940 standard, it is a story of a girl whose principles and ideals are as sturdy and permanent.as Time itself. ‘ Dangerous Fingers,’ a British drama, is the associate film. It is melodramatic in type and dealing with the war between society and crime.

OCTAGON

With Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine heading a cast of outstanding players, and with a story filled with drama, suspense, and mystery, David O. Selznick’s latest production, ‘ Rebecca, 1 is the film version of the bestselling novel of the same name by Dahpne du Maurier, now showing at the Octagon. Laurence Olivier, who last year made a tremendous hit as the hero of 1 Withering Heights,’ plays the role of Maxim de Winter, the socially prominent owner of Manderley, the vast Tudor estate where most of the action unwinds. The acting throughout is brilliant, the settings excellent, and the photography outstanding. There is a brief but interesting supporting programme, in which the major place is held by a new ‘ March of M ime ’ entitled ‘ News Fronts of the War. 1940.’ This production deals .in graphic fashion with the collection and distribution of news by the Associated Press of America.

STRAND

‘ Joe and Ethel Turp ' Call on the President,’ which is at the Strand, is the story of Joe and Ethel, who decide to go to see the President of the ■United states to get the postman’s job hack after he has been fired for destroying a letter. Lewis Stone proves to be a very nice President, and complies with their wishes after they tell him the story of Jim, the postman, which is re-enacted in retrospect. Jim’s crime was committed to keep from an elderly dying woman the news that her sou had been killed in a prison break. The fact that Jim had loved this woman from the time they both were young, and had protected her in his naive way through years of widowhood gives a heart-tugging appeal to the story. ‘ Santa Fe Marshal,’ one of the Hopalong Cassidy series, is the other film on the programme.

REGENT

‘ Xiuotchka,’ which brings Greta Garbo to the Regent to-night, is firstxate entertainment, and has opened out still wider vistas of success for the usually tragic Swedish star. Garbo convincingly portrays a stern-faced, hard-bosomed follower of Stalin, whom love turns into a human. She is different to the parbo who died in paroxysms of coughing or assumed regal aloofness at the expense of human feelings. The plot shows how a Russian emissary is sent to Paris to obtain the jewels which had once belonged to a grand duchess, but fails in her mission because she falls in love with a French aiobleman, the plaything of the aforesaid grand duchess. She returns to [Russia, but linds escape when she is sent on another mission, and she finds it is her lover who has engineered the whole thing. Apart from Garbo, who 5s brilliant, praise must be given to Melvyn. Douglas’s excellent acting as the amoral French nobleman, and to the three Russian commissars, played by Sig Rumann, Felix Bressart, and ’Alexander Granach. The whole thing eparkles with wisecracks, satirical touches, and well-turned situation, and is one of the best pictures of the year.

EMPIRE

A drama dealing with the sotting of [North America’s western plains is told in ‘ (Jeronimo/ tho new film being presented at the Empire. Employing Preston Foster. Ellen Drew, Andy Devine, Gene Lockhart, William Henry, Chief Thunder Cloud. Ralph_ Morgan, Marjorie Gateson, Kitty Kelly, and {hundreds of others, the story of the Apache Indian war lord has a “ chase ” in almost every reel. Indians chase a wagon train, a stage conch, an ammunition. train, ranchers and settlers, and the soldiers in return chase tho Indians. The great Apache chief, who for years held off the entire American army in the period immediately after the Civil War, is shown in all his barbaric splendour. No painted-up “ paleface ” plays the part, but a real redskin warrior. Chief Thuntlerland. Towns are swept out of existence, wagon trains attacked, and units of the ■army ambushed in the authentic strip

of the gory and dangerous nineteenthcentury west. Ralph Morgan scores a success as the disciplinarian General Steele, sent without adequate suppplies to bring the great chief under control. As the crafty, scheming Government agent who builds up a lucrative trade in selling arms and munitions to the Indians, Gene Lockhart is most convincing.

GRAND

Heading the programme at the Grand is a reissue of ‘ I Was a Spy,’ one of the most successful of all the espionage dramas that have been brought to the screen. It is adapted from the reallife adventures of Alarthe APKenna, the Belgian spy. The film is brilliantly directed, and is presented by a particularly strong cast of actors. The associate feature, which is in pleasing contrast, is 1 Around the Town,’ a comedy of the vaudeville revue type. Both films are British productions. Madeleine Carroll has the leading role in ‘ I Was a Spy,’ and many consider that it is her best role. -She takes the part of a nurse who, working in,a base hospital, uses her position to gain information from enemy sources. There is only a slight story interest in ‘ Around the Town.’ Vic Oliver and Irene Ware head the cast.

STATE

Emotional drama and thrills are in store for filmgoers when they witness Walter Wauger’s new film production, ‘ The House Across the Bay,’ which will he shown to-night at the State, with George Raft and Joan Bennett heading an imposing cast. This new picture not only introduces a new romantic team composed of Raft and Aliss Bennett, but it brings the beautiful Miss Bennett forward in one of her most varied and exciting roles to date. ‘ The House Across the Bay ’ is the story of Brenda Bentley, a beautiful and alluring woman, who is left in a hostile world when her husband is convicted for income tax evasion and sent to a Federal prison in San Francisco Bay. This role, which is outstandingly dramatic, gives the alluring Miss Bennett wide scope, as she is seen as a singer and dancer in addition to her dramatic opportunities. In one sequence of the film she sings and dances ‘ Chula Chihuahua,’ her own interpretaton of the South' American rhumba, and later introduces 1 I’ll be a Fool Again.’ This, of course, is a radical innovation for the actress, who in the past has confined herself to the more sedate measures of ballroom dancing. Aliss Bennett, impersonating Brenda Bentley, therefore presents a composite picture of a whole group of women.

MAYFAIR

A distinctly unusual story is told in 1 On Borrowed Time,’ to finish to-night at the Mayfair. The second feature is entitled ‘ Blondie Takes a Vacation.’ COMEDY AND ROMANCE. Hedy Lamarr and Robert Taylor make a brilliant team in the principal roles of ‘ Lady of the Tropics,’ which will head the new bill at the Alayfair to-morrow. It is a thrilling romantic drama. In support will be seen the riotous Universal comedy, ‘ Unexpected Father,’ which stars Baby Sandy, Alischa Auer, Shirley Ross, and Dennis O’Keefe. Auer is left unexpectedly with a friend’s baby.

GREEN ISLAND

‘ Submarine Dl,’ a melodrama dealing with the exploits of undersea boats, is to open to-morrow at the Municipal. The picture is authentic as well as stirring, for it wa s made with the complete co-operation of the United States Navy. Pat O’Brien and George Brent aro co-starred, and in the cast are such well-known troupers as Frank M’Hugh, Doris Weston, (Regis Toomcy, Henry O’Neil, and that brilliant newcomer, Wayne Morris. Walt Disney’s ‘ Ferdinand the Bull,’ screen version of the bestseller, ‘ The Story of Ferdinand,’ will support.