PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23697, 3 October 1940, Page 6

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE

Somethin'? now in the way of detective mysteries is brought to tile .screen in ‘ Charlie McCarthy, Detective,’ which is to finish to-night at the Empire. The sleuth in this instance i.s none other than the clapper clammy motivated by the one and only Edgar 'Bergen. UNIQUE DUAL ROLE. The problem of heredity versus environment is effectively treated in Republic's ‘ Wagons Westward,’ which will come to the Empire to-morrow. David Cook and Ids twin brother, Tom, are raised in different environments after the death of their father, who is killed in an Indian fight. David, brought up by bis mother, becomes an honourable and upright law-enforcement officer. Tom, who journeyed to New Mexico with his uncle, becomes a tough-going scoundrel, as evil and lawless ns his brother i.s good. Complications arise when David Cook receives orders from his superiors commanding him to capture his outlaw brother, Tom, dead or alive. Chester Morris is starred.

TENSE PRISON DRAMA

CHARLES STARRETT WESTERN SUPPORTS The story of a woman judge who resigns from the bench at the peak of her career in order to defend her daughter, accused of murder, Columbia’s ‘ A Woman is the t Judge ’ heads the new bill at the Grand with Frieda Inescort, Otto Kruger and Rochelle Hudson in the major roles. In support is another of the Charles Starrett outdoor dramas, entitled ‘ Outlaws of the Prairie.’ Superb characterisations of Frieda Inescort, Otto Kruger, and Rochelle Hudson make Columbia’s ‘ A Woman is the Judge ’ one of the most dramatic films in recent months. An engrossing story of a woman jurist suddenly called upon to decide the fate of her own daughter, accused of murder, the new attraction is a moving story of the machinery of the law, and of the people who become enmeshed in its relentless coils.

The fine portrayals ancl s engrossing detail with which ‘ A 'Woman is the Judge ’ abounds lend force and drama. A noted woman jurist, Mary Cabot, is honoured in her community for the fairness, courage, and intelligence with which she metes out justice. ‘ A Woman is the Judge ’ opens with Mary Cabot at the height of her career on the bench. . Suddenly she resigns. She takes over the apparently thankless task.of defending a young girl accused of murder, and successfully wins the underworld waif’s acquittal. lichind the judge’s sudden renunciation of her career is a story of tense and emotional conflict.

Rochelle Hudson’s performance as the girl is marked with brilliance and sincerity. Kruger is restrained as the prosecuting* attorney in _ love with the woman jurist, and Frieda Jncscort as Alary Cabot proves anew her flair for roles of emotional depth. Charles Starrett, Columbia’s virile cowboy star, is seen in ‘ Outlaws of the Prairie. ’ A story of the old West when notorious outlaws warred against law and order, ‘ Outlaws of the Prairie ’ strikes a now note in screen entertainment of this type. Music plays an important part in the telling of the story and in the building of the dramatic climax. Starrett portrays a grim, fastshooting, hard-riding Hanger, who, as a boy, saw his father killed and was himself maimed by a blood-thirsty renegade. For years he has carried the villain’s initialled bowio knife as a reminder to seek out the man and gain revenge—-which he docs in a thrilling finale.

STATE

Darryl F. Zanuck’s production, ‘ Drums Along the Mohawk,’ is to finish to-night at the State. Filmed in tho latest technicolour, with Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda in the starring roles, this entertaining picture is replete with action and excitement. CRONIN REALISM. Each of Dr Cronin’s sensational novels lias had a.motive; almost all attacked, openly and convincingly, some grave public injustice which resulted in exploitation and misery for thousands of the world’s ordinary people. In ‘ The Stars Look Down,’ coming to-morrow to the State, tho dangers faced by tire British coal miners are' graphically depicted, but the drab and heart-breaking existence is all the more realistic as the film, like the novel, shows how, but for tho avarice and callousness of the mine owners, the plight of tho miners could be greatly alleviated. Michael Redgrave is east as the young scholar, ex-miner, whoso aim in life is to gain a political position sufficiently prominent to make men listen to him and learn about the miners’ hardships. Margaret Lockwood is Jennie, his selfish and worldlv little wife, who all but ruins his chances and career.

ST. JAMES

An appealing story convincingly told, makes ‘ Talking Feet,’ to finish tonight at tho St. James, an outstanding production. Flazol Ascot, as a small girl whoso efforts to raise funds for a hospital aro both novel and amusing, heads the cast LAUREL AND HARDY AGAIN. Against it spectacular background of oil well fires, a tensely dramatic theme, Edward G. Robinson is said to play one of tho greatest roles of his career in ‘ Blackmail,’ which opens to-morrow at the St. James, it is a vital, different, sympathetic role, one that, when coupled with Robinson’s portrayals of racketeering gang leaders and ruthless gunmen, finds him emerging one of the most versatile actors on tho screen tot,lay. Although ho is once more on the wrong side of prison bars, ho is there for a crime he did not commit. The heavy is Gene Lockhart, curiously enough nearly as well known for his kindly or comic roles as Robinson is as a killer. Robinson is east as an oil well shooter who nine years before bad escaped from a prison camp after being sent there for a crime committed by Lockhart. Laurel and Hardy are featured in another hilarious farce, ‘ Blockheads.’ the associate feature.

OCTAGON

1 Hoboeca,’ the outstanding screen version of Daphne du Maimer’s brilliant novel, will finish to-night at the Octagon. Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine arc starred. HENIE’S BEST. Story value and acting performances are counted on in ‘ Everything Happens at Night ’ more than in any of Sonja Henie’s previous five (productions. It is a completely different type of story for the famous skating star and queen of the ice. It is a timely talc of modern intrigue, with the added attraction of Sonja’s artistry on silver blades and slippery skis. Hay Midland and Robert Cummings are featured as Sonja’s leading men in the attraction which opens to-morrow at the Octagon. The east includes Maurice Moscovich, Leonid Kinske.v, Alan Diuehart, and Fritz Feld. Never has Sonja had a part as demanding upon her new-found ability as in ‘ Everything Happens at Night.’ As the daughter of a famous European statesman hiding in Switzerland from his enemies, she aids her father in revealing to the world the sensational inside story of the new international intrigue.

STRAND

An exciting story of the tropics, ‘ Zanzibar,’ is' to finish to-night at the Strand. Lola Lane and James Craig are starred. Tho associate film is ‘ Blondie,’ featuring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. MYSTERY AND CASSIDY. ' An unusual new mystery film, Universal’s ‘Double Alibi,’ co-starring Wayne Morris, Margaret Lindsay, and William Gargan, opens to-morrow at the Strand. Morris, who rose to stardom in his prize-fighter roles in 1 Kid Galahad ’ and other pictures, essays the triple role of a detective, a newspaperreporter, and a widely-sought murdersuspect. The performance is said to be one of the best of his career. Hard riding and smoking guns will be another attraction at the Strand, when “ Hopalong ” Cassidy comes back with his pals, “ Lucky ” and “ Speedy,” in his latest action-packed Clarence FI. Mu 1 ford Western, Paramount’s ‘Hidden Gold.’

REGENT

‘ Juarez,’ Warner Brothers’ brilliant now production, starring Paul Muni and Bette Davis, is to finish to-night at tho Regent. It depicts the only widespread efforts on the part of a European Government to infringe upon an independent nation’s liberty. POPULAR SERIES CONTINUED. More thrilling adventures with voting Dr Jimmy Kildare are revealed in ‘ The Secret of Dr Kildare,’ third of tho popular scientific detective seried, which comes to the Regent to-morrow.. This film embodies tho type of entertainment that has strong appeal. As in the other pictures, Lionel Barrymore is the crusty, hard-boiled physician who is at heart one of the most sentimental of humans, while Lew Ayres, as his assistant and the apple of his eye, works his way in and out of difficult situations and his superior’s good graces all with the best of intentions. Supporting players new to the ‘ Dr Kildare ’ series include Lionel Atwill as the millionaire father of the “ mystery patient,” Helen Gilbert (recruited from the “ Judge Hardy ” family), and Sara Hadcn playing a fanatical nurse.

MAYFAIR

’ Oklahoma Kid.’ which is the feature film now at the Mayfair, marks a return to tho screen of James Cagney after a long absence. It combines thrills and action. Beginning as an outlaw in a newly-risen Western town which is over-run by graft and lawlessness, Cagney becomes a stalking Nemesis when his father, standing for mayor, is framed on a murder charge. This film is not just an ordinary Western, and to say that it is just a superior Western is not doing it justice. The supporting picture is Paramount’s thrill-filled action romance, ‘ King of Alcatraz,’ featuring Lloyd Nolan, Gail Patrick, J. Carroll Naisli. Harry Carey, Porter Hall, and Robert,, Preston.