PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23690, 25 September 1940, Page 14

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE

An exciting story of tho pioneering days of America is told in ‘ Geronimo,’ which is at tho Empire. The largo and competent cast is headed by Andy Devine, Preston Foster, and Ralph Morgan, with Kitty Kelly and Ellen Drew filling prominent feminine roles. The production tells tho story of Geronimo, a chief of tho Apache Indians, whose chief desire is to kill as many of the white invaders of his territory as possible. BERGEN AND M'CARTHY. When Charlie M'Carthy starts snooping around—criminals beware I And Charlie is snooping all over the place in the Universal offering, ‘ Charlie M'Carthy, Detective,’ tho next attraction for the Empire, for it presents the wisecracking wooden wonder as a night club entertainer who (with Bergen, of course) finds himself hip deep in a baffling murder mystery. Bergen and M'Carthy head the east. They are starred with Mortimer Snerd, Bergen’s other playmate and Charlie’s particular “ pain in the neck.’’ Among those who talk for themselves are Robert Cummings, Constance Moore, John Sutton, Louis Calhern, Edgar Kennedy, Samuel S. Hinds, Harold Huber, and Warren Hymer. In addition to deducting, sleuthing, M'Carthy and Bergen perform several new comedy routines.

GRAND

Henry Wilcoxon is one of ’ Hollywood’s most versatile actors. Originally brought over from England to play what ho calls a “grandiloquent” role in ‘ Cleopatra,’ Wilcoxon scored so decisively with the American picturegoers that he was cast in another such role in ‘ The Crusaders.’ However, ho soon doffed his toga and coat of mail for modern clothes and has since proved that he is equally at home in all types of modem characterisations. Now Wilcoxon gives one of his best performances to date as a charming and successful doctor, who falls in love with one of the lovely guests at the Sherrington, swank metropolitan hotel for women, in ‘ Free, Blonde, and Twenty-one,’ the new Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox film, which is the feature of the new bill at the Grand. Lynn Bari plays the beauty in question, while others prominently featured in the cast are Mary Beth Hughes, Joan Davis, Robert Lowery, Alan Baxter, Katharine Aldridge, Helen Ericson, and Chick Chandler. ‘ Free, Blonde, and Twenty-one ’ was directed by Ricardo Cortez. ‘ The Spider,’ a British mystery drama, is in support.

STATE

A dramatic story of a man who is sent to prison at the instigation of his wife is told in * The House Across the Bay,’ which heads the programme at the State. George Raft appears as a night club proprietor who becomes involved in so many profitable schemes that his enemies determine to dispose of him. His wife, played by Joan Bennett, discovers that he has been evading income tax. Raft is sent to Alcatraz Prison for 10 years. GREAT ACTION DRAMA. When Walter D. Edmonds, who was raised in the traditions of New York State’s beautiful Mohawk Valley, wrote his biggest of best-sellers,' ‘ Drums Along the Mohawk,’ it was immediately recognised by Darryl F. Zanucb as one of the finest screen possibilities he had ever encountered. Accordingly the book was purchased by Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox, who proceeded to give it top importance on the This is evidenced! by the names associated with Zanuck’s production of ‘ Drums Along the Mohawk,’ the State’s coming attraction. John Ford was made director. Claudette Colbert was starred with Henry Fonda, whose family hails from the Mohawk Valley. Other names_ in the cast guaranteeing unusual playing power are Edna May Oliver, Eddie Collins, John Carradino, and Dorris Bowden. To top it all, it was decided to film the picture in technicolour so as to bring out as vividly fis possible the great action and battle scenes.

ST. JAMES

Ann Sothern again plays the part of Maisie Ravier in ‘ Congo Maisie,’ which heads the programme at the St. James. Sho is assisted by John/Carroll, Rita Johnson, Shepherd Strudwick, and J. M. Kerrigan. On tin's occasion Maisie has some amazing adventures in South Africa, and even faces death in a native uprising, only saving herself and her companions by some impromptu “ black magic.” The second film is ‘ Dangerous Fingers.’ GALAXY OF STARS. Hazel Ascot, who, at the age of nine years, is the champion dancer of England, heads the cast of ‘ Talking Feet,’ a British picture which will be given its premiere at the St. James on Friday. _ Hazel not only dances perfectly but is also able to sing well and act in a manner that augurs well for her future. Among the supporting players are such renowned stars as Mark Hambourg, William Heughan, Davy Burnaby, Enid Stamp-Taylor, John Stuart, Jack Barty, and Kenneth Kove. Mark Hambotirg is the worldfamous pianist who toured New Zealand some years ago. He presents a unique mini-piano ensemble, featuring himself and 1-t clever juveniles. William Heughan, the famous Scotch baritone, is also well known to Dunedin people, and his number, ‘ The Meeting of the Clan.’ in which he is supported by the Soaforth Highland Band, is magnificent in music and voice and picture perfect.

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 in ‘ Wuthering Heights,’ again gives a masterly portrayal as Max de Winter, a sombre Corni’shnian, and .loan Fontaine rises to inspiring heights in her delineation of de Winter’s second wife. The story is dominated by the inlluenee of do Winter’s first wife, Rebecca, who, though dead, almost succeeds in wrecking the couple’s happiness. Tier influence is transmitted through Airs Danvers, the housekeeper.

STRAND

'Two pictures which, although widely different in type, provide first-class entertainment, are tho features of the bright double bill at the Strand. Dainon Runyan’s popular story, ‘ Joe and Ethel Turp Call On the President,’ which has been cleverly adapted for the screen, forms tho leading attraction, and with William Gargau and Ann Sothcru in the principal roles, it is a particularly attractive piece of screeucraft. Tho second picture, ‘ Santa Fe Marshal,’ is another of Clarence Mulford’s Hopalong Cassidy series. DRAMA IN AFRICA. Graphic adventures of a white huntress in conflict with jungle beasts and African savages in the shadow of a flaming volcano are presented in Universal’s exciting film, ‘ Zanzibar,’ which will come on Friday to the Strand. Lola Lane portrays a daring girl explorer in the picture. James Craig, handsome screen newcomer, lias tho role of a danger-seeking young American. Tho story is based upon a fantastic but little known provision of tho Versailles Treaty which commanded that the sacred skull of an African Sultan be returned to its rightful tribe to restore peace among the natives.

REGENT

A sparkling modern comedy of a lady commissar who ignores her country’s five-year plan is the theme of ‘ Ninotchka,’ tho feature film that is attracting big audiences to the Regent. Here is Greta Garbo in one of her best pictures—and it is sufficient to show picturegoers that the famous Garbo has never abdicated from her proud position gained in the first days of the talkies. ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS. ' Juarez,’ Warner Brothers’ brilliant new production starring Paul Muni and Bette Davis, will be screened at the Regent on Friday. Tho materials of the film are .history; history dealt with in a fascinating style; but audiences will find that the added fascination of ‘ Juarez ’ lies in its cast, which boasts Academy Award winners in both leading roles. First, Muni plays one of his most forceful as Juarez, President of Mexico in the sixties. The queen of the screen, Bette Davis, plays the ti’agic figure of Carlotta, wife of Emperor Maximilian. For Brian . Aherne big things are ahead in films, if his Maximilian is a criterion. In a notable cast are Claude Rains, the brilliant John Garfield, Donald Crisp, Joseph Calleia, Gale Sondergaard. Gilbert Roland, and Henry O’Neill.

MAYFAIR

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 at the Mayfair. The millionaire is Walter Connolly, who, after years of steadily-increasing 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, supports.