PICTURE THEATRES REGENT

Evening Star, Issue 23689, 24 September 1940, Page 10

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT

What happens when three* Bolshevist agents are entrusted in the French capital with the serious business of selling the Russian Crown jewels is the theme of ‘ Ninotchka.’ the film at the Regent. Here is Greta Garbo cast in one of the best pictures of her lifetime. This is the first picture in her long career in which she has taken part in comedy. MUNI STARRED. A turbulent but .significant period in the history of Mexico forms the background for the magnificent production, ‘Juarez’ (pronounced “war-ezz”), a picture which, it is claimed, is destined to bo one of the greatest films of all time. Paul Muni plays the name part in this engrossing portrayal of the life work of a great patriot, who liberated Ids beloved country from the yoke of an oppressor. Bette Davis gives tlio leading feminine portrayal opposite Paul Muni, and Brian Aberne is also east in a main role. ‘ Juarez ’ will be presented at the Regent on Friday.

EMPIRE

Andy Devine, Preston Foster, and Ralph Morgan head the east and most of the action in ‘ Geronimo,’ at the Empire. Kitty Kelly and Ellen Drew provide the romantic interest, and Monte Blue makes a brief reappearance as an Indian interpreter. • CHARLIE M'CARTHY, DETECTIVE.’ It is Edgar (Slow-Burn) Kennedy who suffers most under the slings and arrows of Charlie M'Cartby’s thorny wit in Universal’s ‘ Charlie McCarthy, Detective.’ which will come to the F.mpirc on Friday. Kennedy is east as a “ dimwit ” police inspector who is constantly heckled by M'Carthy during the investigation of a mysterious murder which Charlie subsequently solves. Charlie’s enemy, bucolic Mortimer Snerd, is also annoyed., Constance Moore, formerly a top-line radio singer, has been under contract to Universal studios for the past two years, and has sung in but two pictures. In 1 Charlie M'Carthy, Detective,’ she is cast as a night club entertainer, partner with Bergen in his act. She is the romantic interest of the story.

STATE

With George Raft and Joan Bennett sharing stellar honours, and a strong supporting cast, featuring Walter Pidgeon, Gladys George, Lloyd Nolan, and June Knight, Walter Wanger’s 1 The House Across .the Bay ’ is at the State. The new film production is based on an original story by Myles Connolly, and the central figure in the picture is Brenda Bentley, played by Miss Bennett, a young girl confronted with the problem of adjusting her life to a strange fate when her husband is sent to prison for income evasion. A strong supporting pi ,ramme is also shown, ‘DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK.’ All the adventure and romance of the settling of America is brought to the screen in the technicolour film, ‘ Drums Along the Mohawk,’ which will be the next attraction at the State. A fine east includes Claudette Colbert, Henry Fonda, and Edna May Oliver.

ST. JAMES

That amazing young person, Maisie Ravier, undergoes some extraordinary adventures in South Africa in ‘ Congo Maisie,’ which heads the programme at the St. James. The .supporting picture is ‘ 'Dangerous Fingers.’ a thrilling story of a master criminal. HOME STARS. ' Talking Feet,’ the attraction coming to the St.’James, has Cockney comedy and laughs galore. Mark Hambourg. the world-famous pianist, well known by his New Zealand recitals, and 14 of his specially-selected pupils, plays 14 pianos simultaneously and introduce a number of popular themes. In addition, William Heughan, the Scottish baritone, sings a number of popular melodies. Associated with him is the band of the Second Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, and Dagenham Girl Pipers, who portray ‘ The Gathering of the Clans,’ which will live long in the memory of those fortunate enough to see this film. The final scene, portraying the decks of a battleship with big guns firing, is both stirring and thrilling, being amply supported by little Hazel and the band of the Royal Marines. This famous baud led the procession of ‘ Sailor Heroes ’ of H.M.S. Ajax and H.M.S. 'Exeter in London recently.

STRAND

William Gargan and Ann Sothern, a lively, life-like, and lovable back-chat-ting couple, give the film version of Damon Runyon’s ‘ Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President,’ which is at present being shown at the Strand, just the pace required to make it worthy entertainment. Jim, the mailman in part of Brooklyn, in love with a charming woman with a worthless son, writes beautiful letters to her, which she thinks are from her white-headed boy. The second picture is ‘ Santa Fe Marshal.’ another Hopalong Cassidy story.

OCTAGON

Against a background of mystery and eel-mess, David 0. Selznick’s production of ‘ Rebecca,’ best-selling novel by Daphne du Alaurier, is now in the third week of its season at the Octagon. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, ‘ Rebecca ’ has Laurence Olivia and Joan Fontaine in the starring roles.

MAYFAIR

GRAND

‘ I Was a Spy,’ the sensational drama of espionage in the last war, is to finish to-night at the Grand. Conrad Veidt, Madeleine Carroll, and Herbert Marshall head a strong cast. The second picture is ‘ Around the Town,’ an entertaining vaudeville production. TWO GRIPPING THRILLERS. ‘ Free, Blonde, and Twenty-one,’ the new Twentieth Century-Fox film, will he screened at the Grand to-morrow. Lovely Lynn Bari, Mary Beth Hughes, Katharine Aldridge, and Helen Ericson head the brigade of beauties, whijo

the “ leading men ” in their lives are portrayed by Henry Wilcoxon, Robert Lowery, and Alan Baxter. Joan Davis provides plenty of comedy as the Hotel maid, and Chick Chandler is her ardent taxi driver boy friend. A distinguished doctor, played by Wilcoxon, falls in love with Lynn, and his assistant, Robert Lowery, “ falls for ” Alary Beth. But the young doctor has not enough money or time to spend on her, so the little blonde stops out with a dubious young man she knows nothing about (Alan Baxter), thus involving Lynn, Wilcoxon, and Lowery, as well as herself, in a murder mystery which is not solved until Lynn recruits Joan Davis and Chick Chandler as a pair of matchless amateur sleuths. Trains seem to he the most favoured inspirations for film backgrounds. ‘ The Spicier ’ will be the associate film. This is a train thriller, featuring a heartless rogue—the leader of a jewel thief gang, who traps his acquaintances into his net and stops at nothing, not even murder.

Glamorous and spectacular is ‘ Lady of the Tropics,’ which is to finish tonight at the Mayfair, depicting as it docs the mixing of races in a love drama that has an extraordinary turn. ‘ Unexpected Father.’ the second film, is an hilarious comedy. GINGER ROGERS COMEDY. A millionaire’s one-man rebellion forms the laughter-packed theme of ‘ Fifth Avenue Girl,’ RKO Radio’s new starring vehicle for Ginger Rogers, which is to open at the Alayfair tomorrow. The millionaire is Walter Connolly, who. after years of steadilyincreasing neglect on the part of his family, hires Miss Rogers to pose as a gold-digger. Legion of Lost Flyers,’ starring Richard Arlen and Andy Devine, will support.