PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23692, 27 September 1940, Page 12

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT

Paul Muni, Bette Davis, ami Brian Ahernc, three of the most capable stars on the screen, head a powerful cast in ‘Jaurcz,’ which is now '.at the Regent. Muni, a former winner of the Academy Award for acting, portrays Pablo Benito Jaurez, President of democratic Mexico in tho iß6o’s, and the story centres in the ruthless efforts of Napoleon 111. of France to force the little country to pay debts incurred by its previous ruler, a dictator. Muni makes the character of the President a simple but amazingly powerful one that will he remembered by all who see the film He gives it a Lincolnesque manner, and shows again the sincere and sympathetic understanding of character that was such a feature of his appearances in ‘ The Story of Louis Pasteur 1 and ‘ The Info of Emile Zola,’ Aherne and Miss Davis, in the respective parts of the Emperor Maximilian and his wife, Carlotta, .puppet rulers of Mexico, achieve new high levels of acting, and seem to have provided inspiration for the other members of the cast, which includes such notable performers as Claude Rains. Donald Crisp. Gale Sondegaard, and Henry O’Xoill.

EMPIRE

Edgar Kennedy, who appears with Edgar Bergen, Charlie M’Carthy. ami Mortimer Snercl in Charlie M'Carthy, Detective,’ which is at the Empire, literally fought his way to a place on the screen. Kennedy was heavy-weight boxing champion of the Pacific Coast in 1911-12, later playing in light opera, musical comedy, and vaudeville. Determined to try pictures, he visited the Mack Sennctt studios, near Hollywood. An altercation arose, and Kennedy was “ganged” by a half-dozen very rough labourers. When the dust of battle settled, the labourers were on the ground, nursing sore jaws. Mack Sennett. who had witnessed the bntle, immediately asked Kennedy to become one of his famous Keystone Cops. Known as “ Slow-burn ” Kennedy, the actor has appeared in hundreds of productions. He is noted’ for his portrayals of an exasperated man. In ‘ Charlie M'Carthy, Detective,’ he is seen as the “ dim-wit ” police inspector who is constantly heckled by M'Carthy during the solution of a baffling murder mystery.

STATE

Of all the possible ways there are of presenting action for the public's entertainment, the screen lias proved time and again its unrivalled power in this field. This is again indicated in Darryl F. Zanuek’s production of ‘ Drums Along the Mohawk,’ which is now being presented 'at the State. Action is not tho only highlight of ‘ Drums Along the Mohawk.’ Starred in the film are Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda, as a pair of young pioneers who settle in the Mohawk Valley and soon find themselves under the onslaught of the savage Iroquois. In tho days when torch and tomahawk spread their terror, these two braved the wilderness together. Tho film is based on the best-seller by Walter D. Edmonds. Featured in the cast arc Edna May Oliver. Eddie Collins, John Carradine, Dorris Bowdon, Jessie Ralph, Arthur Shields, Robert Lowery, and Roger Imhof. Plenty of realistic action is seen in ‘ Drums Along the Mohawk,’ this time against savage Iroquois who forced the Mohawk \alley farmers to a last stand in their thrilling battle to wrest tbe frontier from the wilderness. Filmed in technicolonr under the direction of John Ford, ‘ Drums Along the Mohawk ’ is a photographic masterpiece.

ST. JAMES

‘Talking Feet,’ the all-British film, is enjoying its South Island premiere at the St. James, after breaking theatre records wherever it has been shown throughout its New Zealand tour. The man who directed and produced this picture is John Baxter, whose ‘ Song of the Plough ’ was finally acclaimed outstanding. 1 Talking Feet ’ moves along a very different road and mingles natural Cockney humour, sweet song, and stirring Highland music with the charm of a new little English dancing champion and the skill of the famous musicians, William Heughan and Mark Hambourg. Those who remember the New Zealand tour of the pianist, Hambourg, will find the personal touch about his screen appearance and something rare in the way of musical entertainment when, under his baton, 14 pianos are iplaying in ensemble. This piano ensemble has not been attempted in a picture before. The setting is a unique one for the interpretation of Hambourg’s arrangement of ‘William Toll’; the players are all his students, and the maestro himself is hoard in solo work.

STRAND

Graphic adventures of a while 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 is at the Strand. Lola Lane portrays a daring girl explorer in the picture. James Craig, handsome screen newcomer, has the role of a danger-seeking young American. . The story is based in fantastic, but little-known, provision of the Versailles Treaty which commanded that the sacred skull of an African sultan be returned to its rightful tribe to restore peace among the natives. Blending historical fact with fiction, the .story turns the spotlight upon, one of the most weird themes ever brought to the screen. A very bright) and most amusing little comedy, ‘ Blondio,’. the support, js based on the famous comic strip of nation-wide publicity in America. Tt is so “ possible,” even the troubles and complications’ brought about by the scatterbrained Arthur Lake ns Dagwood Bumstead, for 'which Lake is a born natural.

OCTAGOH

Continuing to attract capacity houses although it is in its fourth successful week. ‘ Rebecca,’ the attraction at the Octagon, is undoubtedly one of the outstanding films of the year. With Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine heading a cast of outstanding players and with a story filled with drama, suspense, and mystery, David O. Selzniek’s latest pro-

duetion, ‘ Rebecca ’ is a film that should be seen by all. ‘(Rebecca ’ is tho film version of the best-selling novel of the same name by Daphne du Manner. Lauronco Olivier, who last year made a tremendous hit as the hero «t ‘ Wutliering Heights,’ plays the role of Maxim do VV in ter, the socially prominent owner of Maudorley, the vast Tudor estate where most of the action unwinds. The acting throughout is brilliant, the setting excel lent, and the photography outstanding. There is a brief but interesting supporting programme, in which major place is held by a new ‘ March of Time.’ entitled ‘ Now Fronts of the War—l9lo.’

GRAND

Well-known places in London form tho background for ‘ The Spider,’ the thrilling story of murder and detection which is at the Grand. Heading the cast are Derrick du Marney and Diana Churchill, who play the role ol the Slivers, tho former a rising detective at Scotland Yard and the latter his charming wife. Together they set about capturing the “ Spider.” a mysterious crook, who specialises in bank and jewel robberies. Silver discovers that a theatrical (inn seem to be involved, and plants his wife there as a secretary, and she is able to discover many interesting facts about the two partners of the firm. One of them is murdered on a night express, and the leading lady is seriously injured as the two go north to open a now show. The second film is ‘ Free, Blonde, and 21,’ an excellent production, in which drama and comedy are well mixed. The story concerns tho lives of some girls in a women’s hotel.

MAYFAIR

Walter Connolly and Ginger Rogers have the leading roles in ‘ Fifth Avenue Girl.’ the entertaining comedy which i.s to finish to-night at .the -Mayfair. The second picture is ‘ Legion of Lost Flyers,’ an exciting story of the air. FOREIGN LEGION EPIC. ‘ Beau Geste,’ R. C. Wren’s gripping novel concerning the adventures of three brothers after the theft of “ Blue Water,” a famous jewel, in the Foreign Legion, lias been transferred graphically to the screen. It will open to-mor-row at tho Mayfair, with Gary Cooper, Ray Millaud, and Robert Preston in the leading roles. Another of the thrilling Clarence E. Mulford Westerns. ‘ Pride of tbe West,’ will star those three favourites, “ Floppy,” “ Windy,” and “ Lucky ” in support.

GREEN ISLAND

William Boyd, as Hopalong Cassidy, rides once again in ‘ Renegade Trail,’ to open to-morrow at tho Municipal. This thrilling Western, one of the most action-packcd of all the Clarence E. Mulford adventure pictures, shows Hopalong shooting it out with the outlaws as romance and red-blooded adventure ride side by side. ‘ Never Say Die,’ hilarious comedy, will support.