AT THE PICTURES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 16 October 1942, Page 4

AT THE PICTURES

Majestic. now showing: Mickey Koonc\ and Judy Garland in merry musical romcdy "Babes on Broadway.'* Aided by a large supporting cast featuring Fay Bainter and such youthful song and dance artists as Virginia Weidler. Ray McDonald and Richard Quine, the stars Judy Garland and Rooney deliver an evening m excellent entertainment for which this comedy is built. Dealing with the scores 01 youngsters who yearly invade Broadway to fight for their "break"' on the stage, it covers a wide panorama of theatrical life. The musical interludes cover a wide lati- • tude of dances and song numbers ranging from such old-timers as George M. Cohan's "Yankee Doodle Dandy" to such brandnew numbers as "How About You" and Hoe Down." Featured are the imitations done by Rooney and Miss Garland— Rooney doing Harry Lauder, and end mg up with a brilliant take-oil' on the fiery Carmen Miranda. Judy also scores with her impersonations of Blanche Ring. Fay Templeton and Sarah Bernhardt. State, screening to-night: ".loan of Paris." starring .Michele .Morgan. Paul Henrcid. Thomas .Mitchell. Laird Crcager and May Robson. This packs a double in- | tcrest; tirst. because of its timeliness; second, because of its deeply moving, dramatic story. The fascinated spectator watches the grini procession under the dragnet of the German secret police. It is in such a setting that a tender romance develops between Paul, the Free French leader of an R.A.F. squadron shot down over the occupied territory, and Joan, simple and lovely poor French girl servin' - as a bar-maid in a Paris resort frequented by Nazi police and soldiers. The boy is desperately striving to reach the Paris head of the secret British Intelligence, in ’ order to get aid for himself and his companions. who hope to escape and rejoin their commands. The girl throws herself w holeheartedly into the cause of the man whom she has quickly learned to love — and the Gestapo trail them both. There is tremendous suspense. Against the shadows of stark realism the romance between Joan and Paul weaves a pattern of lighter tone; hope mounts; tragedy stalks, while love waits. And the soul of tortured France is revealed. Regent, to-night 7.45. Saturday p.tn.: | Double feature, phis at all sessions "Riders ! of Death Valley” episode 12. "A riot of ) activity" is the descriptive phrase for 1 Riot Squad." an unbroken succession of : tense situations and Thrilling incidents. Richard Cromwell and Rita Quigley head the cast and contribute romantic moments to a picture which is basically a fastmoving story of villainy and intrigue. A young doctor is pressed into service as the official physician for a mob of gangsters. and his fiancee breaks her engagement to him when it appears that he lias become an actual member of the gang. In reality, however, he has kept the police informed of the band's activities, and the climax finds him taking his life in his own hands to outwit the gangsters. A couple j of Uncle Sam's fighting sea dogs are mistaken for a pair of society sailors in "Duke of the Navy.” Ralph Byrd and Veda Ann Borg are co-starred. Put up in one of the nation's best hotels, with everything j "on the house,” the boys find life pretty hectic when the tips expected are more than their combined monthly salaries. Further complications arrive when "the general." phony soldier oi fortune and sports- ; men. convinced that the boys are wealthy j playboys, interests them in a fake treasure hunt. In order to pay for their share of 1 the expedition, the boys are forced to return to their ship and borrow 2000 dollars from their comrades, and arc then resolutely followed by the sailors who wish to keep an eye on their investment.