PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 24328, 17 October 1942, Page 3

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON Graphically blending thrilling action, romance, and drama, ‘ The Saint Meets the Tiger,’ with Hugh Sinclair and Jean Gillie in°the co-starring roles, comes to the Octagon as first-class entertainment. At its initial screening yesterday it was very well received. Easily one of the most exciting, films to come out of a British studio in recent years, the new Saint feature, like all the others in this brilliant series, is based upon Leslie Gharteris’s internationally famous novels. Simon Templar, known and feared by criminal elements as The Saint,” is told by a dying man of a mysterious gang leader, ‘‘ The Tiger,” who is responsible for a daring gold robbery. Hampered bv the activities of Scotland Yard, who believe he is involved in the crime, ‘‘ The Saint ” nevertheless succeeds in tracking down the headquarters ot the gang._ How lie finally reveals the identity of “ The Tiger,” regains the stolen gold, and wins the affections of a charming girl who shares his intrepid ' adventures provides an abundance of thrills in the story. REGENT Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore, as Drs Kildare and Gillespie, grapple with new medical problems in ‘ The Doctor and the Debutante,’ latest of the Kildare series, now showing at the Regent. A young interne gels in trouble saving a life in a zone supposed to be that of another hospital, and the two doctors, with the aid ot a debutante accident victim whose life had been saved, finally save the day for the doctor and his sweetheart, a hospital nurse. A dramatic plea to the hospital board, a delicate operation, an accident in which a night club sign falls on the victim, and Ayres s restoring of a smothered baby before the eyes of" anguished parents are dramatic highlights. Regular Kildare favourites in the cast include Alma Kruger, Walter Kingsford, Frank Orth, Nell Craig, Mane Blake, George H. Reed, and Eddie Acuff. The picture introduces a glamorous new acting discovery in Ann Ayars, a young concert singer. She is beautiful, a graphic actress, and possesses a striking voice. Other newcomers in the picture are Robert Sterling, who plavs the young interne iu the case, Jean Rogers, as his sweetheart, and Barry Nelson, who has a striking role as a delirium patient. EMPIRE Conrad Veldt is providing another of his cinematic surprises in ‘ Nazi Agent,’ a picture which astonished the audience at the Empire during its initial showing yesterday. In the film he plays a dual role as twin brothers; one a gentle, kindly man, the other a ruthless leader of a sabotage ring in a great city. So utterly dissimilar are the characters that it is difficult to believe them to be tile same man. The story deals with a sabotage leader who enmeshes his kindly brother iu his plots. There is a quarrel in which one brother accidentally shoots the other, and on the saboteur’s death his brother takes on his identity, to carry out a masquerade that breaks up the ring. The romance is between Veidt as the masquerading brother and Ann Ayars, new Hollywood glamour discovery, who plays a girl enmeshed in the spy plot, and who alone realises the good character behind the masquerade. Veidt plays his two characters with infinite attention to detail, and Ann Ayars proves her worth as a dramatic actress. Dorothy Tree provides an unusual characterisation as the good brother’s secretary, who is in reality an agent of the spy ring. STRAND Universal new Hugh Herbert comedy, ‘ There’s One Born Every Minute,’ vies with Republic’s ‘ Cowboy Serenade ’ at the Strand this week. Also on the excellent programme is episode 2 of the thrilling serial, ‘ Gang Busters.’ The whole entertainment is of outstanding merit. In the ‘ Cowboy Serenade ’ Gene Autry, famous Western star, again proves his worth as an actor, when, as head of the Cattlemen’s Association, he breaks up a dangerous gambling ring after many breath-taking adventures. The film is full of song hits, romance, and stirring action of the rangeland. ‘ There’s One Born Every Minute ’ has not a serious foot of film in the entire picture. It can best be described as a barrage of laughs. In addition to the star (Herbert), the cast contains Tom Brown, Peggv Moran, Guy Kibbee, Edgar Kennedy, Gus Schilling, Catherine Doucet, and Elizabeth Taylor. MAYFAIR A star combination that proved itself so successful with its first appearance is again in Dunedin. The lovely blonde, Madeleine Carroll, and stalwart Stirling Hayden, who wore so well paired in ‘ Virginia,’ are showing at the Mayfair to-night in their costarring Paramount teclinicolour film, ‘ Bahama Passage,’ which is based on Nelson Hayes’s best-selling novel, ‘ Dildo Cay.’ The picture is of outstanding merit, and without doubt will prove a major attraction during its season here. ‘ Gas Bags ’ is the supporting feature. It is an excellentlyportrayed English comedy. ST. JAMES ‘ Florian,’ now showing at the St. James, is a dramatic story of the pomp, colour, and gaiety of Imperial Austria in its most opulent period, between 1910 and 1914. In brilliant array are depicted royal functions, spectacular ballets, colourful peasant festivals, the review of the magnificent Lippizan horses—all the gaiety of a happy land. Then comes the collapse of the empire—the cataclysm of war and revolution and its readjustment aftermath. In its essence ‘ Florian ’ is the saga of a superb horse, regal champion of the royal hue of Lippizans, bred for the Imperial house of old Austria, and the great part he played in the lives of a group of people. Robert Young plays the hero with romantic dash, and Helen Gilbert plays the duchess with dignity and charm. But the most remarkable member of Hie cast is Florian himself, the white stallion of the Imperial stables. STATE Another of the well-known Hollywood extravaganzas. ' Tim Goldwyn Follies,’ is the main feature at the State this week. From the radio world Goldwyn has recruited Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Kenny Baker, who is already known to screen audiences, and the irrepressible comic, Phil Baker, and his accordion. From the screen come the suave Adolphe Menjou, those mad, merry, Ritz Brothers, who have never been funnier, Andrea Leeds, the lovely young actress of ‘ Stage Door,’ and Jerome Cowan. From grand opera he has brought ns the lovely star. Helen Jepson. and the talented newcomer, Charles Kulluianu, both of whom make a triumphant screen debut. From the world of dancing we have the gorgeous Zorina, who proves talented as an actress as well as a dancer, and George Balanchine's famous American Ballet. From musical comedy comes frantically funny Bobby Clark, who finds a perfect "foil for Ins peculiar brand of humour in little Ella Logan, Then, of course, there is the usual dazzling aggregation of gorgeous Goldwyn Girls, supplemented by a dozen of Hollywood's loveliest and most" talented lap dancers. GRAND Another of the popular Mike Shayne film, ‘ The Man Who Wouldn’t Die,’ is the principal attraction in the current programme at the Grand. Marjorie Weaver, the feminine lead, engages Mike Shayne to unmask her would-be murderer, and tor this purpose Shayne masquerades as Marjorie’s husband. A gripping story is unfolded in which comedy and witty dialogue are frcelv interspersed. The supporting film is ‘ The Perfect Snob,’ a romantic comedy, with Lynn Bari and Cornel Wilde.