PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23702, 9 October 1940, Page 3

PICTURE THEATRES

STRAND

{ Double Alibi,’ which is at the Strand, tells an intriguing mystery story in which there is plenty of action and excitement. Wayne Morris has the roles of a murder suspect, a detective, and a reporter, and Margaret Lindsay, William Gargau, Roscoe Karns, and James Burke lend admirable support. The second picture is ‘ Hidden Gold,’ another spirited ‘ Hopalong Cassidy ’ story. PRIZE FIGHT COMEDY. Eight of the screen’s toughest youngsters will be seen in prominent and featured roles of Universal’s ‘ You’re Not So Tough,’-which will come on Friday to the Strand. The eight are Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Bernard Punsly, Bobby Jordan, Harris Merger, David Gorcey, and Hally Chester, all of whom have appeared in the play, ‘Dead End.’ In ‘You’re Not So Tough ’ the boys will be seen as California crop workers following the harvests up and down the State. Others •in the cast are Nan Grey, Henry Armetta, and Rosin a Galli. ‘ The Kid From Kokomo,’ something new in the way of prize fight comedies, will be the associate film. Pat O’Brien, Wayne Morris, and Joan Blondell head the cast of the Warner Bros, production. A story of the prize ring and its behind-the-scenes angles, with plenty of romantic and hilarious touches, ‘ The Kid From Kokomo ’ has in addition to its headliners a number of outstanding players in its cast, which include Maxio Eosenbloom, Sidney Toler, Clem Bevans, Ward Bond. Stanley Fields. Ed ißrophy, Winifred Harris, Morgan Conway, and many other film funsters.

REGENT

A straight-forward drama, with touches of pathos and comedy, 1 The Secret of Dr Kildare,’ which is at the Regent, is excellent entertainment for all tastes. Once again Lew Ayres has the role of young Dr Kildare. HARDY FAMILY’S BEST. Further adventures of the most lovable family to appear on the screen are seen in ‘ Judge Hardy and Son,’ to be presented at the Regent on Friday. Although the film is not lucking in laughs, it contains a rather more serious note than its predecessors, and it is this note which has made it the best of the series. Mickey Rooney again takes a loading role as Andy Hardy, and, as before, contrives to entangle himself with every known variety of trouble, both romantic and financial. Other familiar faces are Lewis Stone, Fay Holden, Cecilia Parker, Sarah Haden, and the veteran character actress of stage and screen, Maria Ousponskaya, the latter convincingly displaying that she has lost none of her old ability. An elderly couple, left penniless through the selfishness of their daughter, attract the attention of the older Hardy, and while he endeavours to help them in their need a further tragic note is struck.

EMPIRE

A vigorous Western story which embodies all the best and'most entertaining features of this particular type of screen production is told in ‘ Wagons ■Westward,’ at the Empire. Chester Morris has the dual role of Thomas and

David Cook, twin brothers of widelydifferent characters. Tom' is the naturally vicious brother who becomes the head of a bandit gang in New Mexico, and David is the other who does his best to run the gangs out of the country. ‘ GREEN HELL.* Hordes of head-hunters play an important part in ‘Green Hell,’ initial Famous Productions film for universal release, which will be shown at the Empire on Friday. These savages, still found in the upper Amazon regions chosen as the locale of this film, form the menacing background for the picture. They attempt to annihilate all of the principals much in the same manner as the real head-hunters are thought to have wiped out Colonel fl. P. Fawcett and his party and two expeditions sent in search of the famous explorer. Nowhere on earth can be found a more cruel and savage people than the headhunters of the upper Amazon country, which is known as Inferno Verde (Green Hell),

GRAND

One of the most ambitious film sets ever built in a London studio was erected for the Crazy Gang’s third and latest screen comedy, ‘Frozen Limits,’ which was released at the Grand today. The set represented Red Gulch City, a mining town, ostensibly in Alaska, the place where, tradition has it, “ men are really men.” In a very confined space at the studios a small army of carpenters, with only a blueprint to guide them, constructed a set that “ breathed the very spirit ” of the Yukon. All the edifices familiar from American “ Westerns ” were present, with just that vital difference.. A long, narrow, winding street, with its rough, and unprepared roadway, stretched as far as the eye could see. The unkempt actual thoroughfare was accentuated by the tumbledown buildings on either side that represented the inevitable swing-doored saloon a la Mexico, the principal mining office, and cheap, drablooking hotel, on which a creaking sign declaimed the fact that one could enjoy a superlative bed and breakfast for just a few nidkels a night. In ‘ Young As You Feel,’ which will be in support, all the Jones Family “ cut loose.” Dad and Ma get that “ young feeling ” when the latest and funniest of the 20th Century-Fox series transplants them to the Gay White Way. Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, and the rest of the family are all present in the picture, and Joan Valerio (as Bonnie), Helen Ericson, and George Givot add to the fun.

STATE

In ‘ The Stars Look Down,’ at the State, the dangers faced by the 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 the avarice and callousness of the mine owners,'the plight of the miners could be greatly alleviated. Michael Redgrave is cast as the scholar, ex-miner, whose 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 his wife. SHIPBOARD COMEDY. When an adopted stowaway baby “ scuttles ” the navy’s war games and runs a romance ragged, there can be only one result—fun! That is exactly what will be offered in the action-packed laugh riot, ‘ Sailor’s Lady,’ starring Nancy Kelly and Jon Hall, at the State on Friday. In the Twentieth Century-

Pox : film the laughter gets off to an early start when sailor Jon comes home to sweetheart Nancy and discovers that she has adopted “ Skipper.” Supporting these two stars in their grand performances is Joan Davis, gyrating wildly and forcing laughs at her usual fast rate. Others featured in the funproduciiig cast are Dana Andrews, Mary Nash, Larry Crabbe, Katharine Aldridge, Harry Shannon, and Wally Vernon.

ST. JAMES

Edward G. Robinson is given a new and more attractive role in ‘ Blackmail,’ at the St. James. In this story he is cast as an innocent man who has escaped from prison only to be returned through treachery to a convict camp. He is forced to endure all manner of torture and privations in the camp, and all the time he is filled with a burning desire for revenge. Laurel and Hardy appear in ‘ Blockheads,’ which is an hilarious comedy. FORMBY’S RISE. It was due to the enthusiasm of a Lancashire picture exhibitor that George Formby, who will be seen .at the St. James on Friday in * Come On. George,’ was induced to go into the movies, 'for the theatre proprietor noted the way film fans, all oyer the country had taken to Grade Fields—herself a native of Lancashire —and considered Formby a good “ bet.” Formby however, had Ids own point of view. He was a picture fan himself, and has his own favourites, just like thousands of other fans all over the country, and he was also *a bit critical. He used to go and see comedies made by comedians. Inwardly he yearned to do something in front of a movie camera. His chance came sooner than expected. Gene Autry, Smiley Burnett, and, > June Storey are the featured players in 1 Colorado Sunset,’ which will be in support.

OCTAGON

Sonja Henie, Maurice Moscovitcfa, Ray Milland, and Robert Cummings are a brilliant quartet in * Everything Happens at Night.’ at the Octagon. Much of its appeal is the attractiveness of three people who dally with love in romantic surroundings. This film is easily one of the brightest in which Sonja Henie has appeared. GREAT DRAMA. Possessing all the elements that go to make a great drama, ‘ My Favourite Wife,’ starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, is one of the brightest, breeziest comedies ever filmed. This picture will be introduced to local audiences at the Octagon on Friday, After an enforced sojourn of seven years on a tropic island, Ellen (Irene Dunne) returns to find that Nick Arden (Gary Grant) her husband, has that day had her declared legally dead and has married Gail Patrick. She determines to break up the honeymoon and to get Nick back. When he meets her he is completely flabbergasted, but realises that he still loves her, and decides to tell his second wife. Events happen all too quickly, but the husband and his first wife are finally reunited. With Cary Grant as the husband, Irene Dunne a* his first wife Gail Patrick as h : s second wife, and'Randolph. Scott as the personable scientist, the fun follows thick and fast. /

MAYFAIR

Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable, and Jeanette Macdonald have easily the finest roles of their careers in the epic

‘ San Francisco, ’ which returns to in* edin once again, and is now a ho Mayfair. : This remarkable filn -ils the story of the events leading .i> to the disastrous ■ earthquake, and then, with gripping realism, reproduces that great upheaval.