PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23698, 4 October 1940, Page 9

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND Seldom lias such an absorbing ami tense drama been brought to the screen as ‘ A Woman is the Judge.’ the notable film that heads the now doublefeature programme at the Grand. Featuring a trio oj' notable players in Frieda Inescourt. Otto Kruger, and Kochello Hudson. ‘ A Woman is the Judge ’ tells a dramatic story of a woman jurist who is suddenly facen with deciding the late of lien - own daughter, who ;s accused of murder, Miss Jnescoiirt is brilliantly east as a noted woman judge who has carved out a successful career for herself alter an unfortunate marriage with a criminal, whom she has left, together with her haby daughter In the middle of Ins trial, a racketeer makes use of the fact that one of the girls working for him is the judge’s daughter, ami he decides io blackmail her. The associate feature is 1 Outlaws of the I’rairie.’

STATE

Each of Dr A. J. Cronin’s sensational novels lias bad a motive; almost all attacked, openly and convincingly, some grave public injustice which resulted in exploitation and misery for thousands of tho world’s ordinary people. In ‘ Tho Stars Look Down,’ at the State, tho dangers faced by the British coal minors 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 tho mine owners, the plight of the miners could be greatly alleviated. Michael Redgrave is cast as the young scholar, ex-miner, whose aim in life is to gain a political position sufficiently prominent to make men listen to him and learn about tho minors’ hardships. Margaret Lockwood is Jennie, his selfish and worldly little wife, who all but ruins his chances and career. The bestremembored of the novel’s characters, Jow Gowlan, is played by Emlyn Williams, who gives a fine portrayal of the attractive scamp. Tho film will be accompanied by the latest ‘ March of Time ’ issue. It deals with the Pope’s efforts to secure world peace, despite the fact that Italy is at war.

ST. JAMES

In a role said to eclipse such memorable characterisations as ‘ Little Cicsar ’ and ‘ Five Star Final,’ Edward G. Robinson, is at the Sf. James in ‘ Blackmail,’ a tale of a wronged man who dedicates his life to revenge. Ruth Hussey, who recently scored in ‘ The Women,’ and 1 Maisie,’ enacts his wife in the new production, with Gene Lockhart cast in one of his rare villainous parts, and little Bobs Watson, of ‘ On Borrowed Time ’ fame, playing Robinson’s eon. Although Robinson also is seen on the wrong side of the law in ‘ Blackmail,’ it is Lockhart who is guilty of the crime for which Robinson was sent to prison nine years before the story opens. Having escaped and set up a new life as an oil well shooter under an assumed name, Robinson is recognised by Lockhart, who blackmails him while professing friendship and pretending to mail to the police a confession to the crime. Tho story draws towards one of the most dramatic climaxes in screen history as Robinson grabs Lockhart by the collar, forces from him an hysterical confession, tho harrowing climax being ended by a logical conclusion. Tho support is ‘ Blockheads,’ a Laurel and Hardy comicly.

OGTAGDN

Sonja Henio lias amazed movie-goers often in the past with her sensational artistry on the ice, hut now the blonde champion pulls a new surprise out of the hat and emerges in her latest Twentieth Century-Fox film ‘ Everything Happens at Night/ as a fullfledged, expert dramatic actress. Boasting a timely and danger-spiced story filled as well with gay and romantic touches, this new film presents Sonja with two leading men, Ray Milland and Robert Cummings, _ and the result of their collaboration is a screen treat indeed. ‘ Everything Happens at Night/ will be shown to-night at the Octagon. Included in the cast are Maurice Moscovieh, Leonid Kinskey, Alan Dinehart, and Fritz Feld. The screen play is a timely story centred on Dr Hugo Norden, a political refugee hiding in a Switzerland Alpine fastness. A great European democrat and fighter for freedom, Dr Norden was supposedly assassinated in Warsaw, but from his hideout is releasing to the world Press sensational inside stories of Europe’s stormy politics. These revelations are anonymous, but from their content and

style editors begin to suspect they are from Norden’s pen. To check on this, the Paris office of a New York paper sends Robert Cummings to Switzerland, where lie meets Ray Milland, a reporter from a London sheet on the same assignment. If either can prove Norden is alive it will be the biggest story for many years

STRAND

Wayne Morris. Margaret Lindsay ami William Gargan share stellar honours in Universal's ‘Double Ahbi.’ a new kind of mystery picture, which is being shown at the .Strand. ,Morris plays an unusual triple role its a murder suspect, a detective and a newspaper reporter, while Miss Lindsay likewise is a reporter and Gargan her lovelorn editor. Appearing in supporting loles are such well-known players as Koscne Kants, Robert Kmnietl Kean, James Burke, William Pawley, Frank .Mitchell and Wade Bolder. “ Hopalong ’’ Cass.dy’s quicktrigger thinking clears an innocent man of guilt in a highway robbery plot; his harking six-guns and Hying fists clear the way for justice in the hardriding. claim-jumping frontier west of 1 Hidden Gold,’ the supporting feature.

REGENT

Young Dr Jimmy Kildare sets out to save a beautiful girl who would rather die than reveal the secret which would save her, in a gripping drama of mystery, romance, and medical wonders in ‘ The Secret of Dr Kildare,’ third of the scientific detective series, which will be shown at the Regent to-night, with. Lew Ayres as the young doctor and Lionel Barrymore as the veteran Dr Gillespie, his scourge and mentor. The new picture deals with a weird mental maiady of a beautiful heiress, which medicine fails to solve. Ayres turns detective to trail the mystery down to the machinations of a fanatical nurse and a quack doctor. Ayres in the title role is convincingly earnest, and yet injects whimsical lightness into many of the picture’s episodes. Barrymore is perfect as the irascible old diagnostician and indulges in comedy of a Mark Twainish nature when ho takes part in a game of dice with his coloured servant. Lionel Atwill, Helen Gilbert, Nat Pendleton, and Laraine Day head the supporting cast. EMPIRE ' Wagons Westward,’ a new Republic frontier story of epic proportions, had its first local screening at* the Empire this afternoon. Chester Morris acquits himself outstandingly in a difficult dual role, in which he was called upon to portray an upright and honourable young Government agent, and his twin brother, n thorough-going scoundrel and rogue. Morris, whose engaging screen personality has made him a longtime favourite with film-goers, displays new depth and sincerity in his current role, which stamps him one of filmdom’s outstanding dramatic actors. Ona Munson, whose marked talent was recently displayed in ‘ Gone With the Wind,’ delivers a top-flight performance as Julie, the supervisor of the dance-hall girls in the Bonanza Cafe. The fragile and lovely Anita Louise •makes the most of an unforgettable role, in which she sacrifice%her life to the vainglory of the man she blindly adores.

MAYFAIR

There is an abundance of swift action in the programme to finish to-night at tho Mayfair, where the two attractions arc, ‘ The Oklahoma Kid,’ and ‘ King of Alcatraz.’

CLARE BOOTHE SATIRE. Clare Boothe’s magnificent satire on women, entitled ‘ The Women,’ will come to the Mayfair to-morrow with an imposing list of stars—Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland, Paulette Goddard, Joan Fontaine, and Virginia Weidler. ‘ Mystery of the White Room,’ released by Universal, is a “ Crime Club ” thriller, starring Bruce Cabot, Helen Mack. Constance Worth, and Joan Woodbury.-

GREEN ISLAND

Shall the lihid belong to the wheatgrowers, who bring food crops from the soil each year, or to the hydraulic miners, whoso terrific streams of water tear away the hillsides and ruin the adjacent farming lands? This situation forms the basis of ‘ Gold Is Where You Find It,’, a magnificent Warner Bros.I Cosmopolitan production, made with I the newest technicolour process, comI ing to the Municipal to-morrow. _ Costarred are George Brent and Olivia de Havilland.