TALKING PICTURES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 264, 20 August 1936, Page 8

TALKING PICTURES

CHATS ABOUT THE CINEMA.

WILLIAM POWELL IN ‘ESCAPADE’

(By “ Spotlight.”)

Stars, romance, music, gaiety, laughter and drama all mingle in a new and unique blend of screen entertainment in “Escapade,” a. new romance of Vienna that comes Saturday next to the St. James Theatre. It captures Continental flavour and music, and: puts them on the American screen in a story with unusual dramatic twists that keep the audience in a constant state of surprises. Through the deft handling of the story every entertainment value from laughs to tears, from drama to music, is packed into a .single evening’s entertainment. Directed by Robert Z- Leonard, the new Motvo-Gold-wyn-Maver picture, which stars V illiam Powell and introduces Luise Rainer, brilliant Vienna stage star, to American audiences as his leading lady, has a notable cast. Frank Morgan, of “Affairs of Colni’’ and “Naughty Marietta” plays the jealous doctor and blonde Virginia Bruce of “The Mighty Barnum” and “Times Square Lady,” his flirtatious wife who gets Powell into a multiplicity of comical complications. Mady Christians, European star of “The Waltz Dream,” is his jealous sweetheart, and- Reginald Owen plays the absent-minded musician lover. Ihe story deals with a debonair and lionised artist, played by Powell, who falls in love, through complications over a painting of another man’s wife, with the demure companion of a countess. With a jealous doctor, a former sweetheart and a flirtatious wife on his hands ho tries to balance the whole structure while progressing on a rocky road' to true love. Through flirtation he paints an unconventional picture of the doctor’s wife. Through mistake it goes to the publisher. He hunts a model to pass for the original as an alibi, falls in lovo with heir, and a. jealous former sweetheart interferes.

“Ths Widow from Monte Carlo.” “The Widow from Monte Carlo,” heralded as one of Warner Bros.’ most hilarious comedy romances of the year, conies to the St James Theatre on Tuesday, August 25. The picture is based on the rollicking play by! lan Hay -and A. E. W. Mason, and concerns the highly spiced adventure and love affair of a Duchess, a warm blooded South American beauty who has married into an English family of the nobility, and whose search! for diversion after the death of her husband shocks her highly proper British “in-laws.” A gay and debonair major who runs across the Duchess in a gambling palace at Monte Carlo is largely responsible for the series of exciting and romantic adventures the two pursue together. At Margate, the English Coney Island, they gel mixed up with ail American crook and are nearly caught by the policeAnother scandal is narrowly averted when the somewhat vulgar wife of a/ wealthy marmalade manufacturer steals a letter the Duchess has indiscreetly written the major. But the American crook gets the letter hack and the Duchess' breaks off her engagement with the stuffed shirt diplomat and flies to the arms of the gallant major. Warren William and Dolores Del Rio have the romantic roles with Colin

Clive playing the part of the discarded diplomat and Louise Fazenda that of the newly rich woman. Others in the cast include Herbert Mundin, Olin Howland, Warren Hymer, Ely Mel.von, E. E. Clive, Mary Forbes, Viva Tattersall and Herbert Evans. Arthur Grcville Collins directed the picture from the screen play by F. Hugh Herbert.

“Next Time We Love,” starring Margaret Sullavan, opens on Tliursday, August 27, at the St. Janies Theatre. Based on the novel by Ursula. Parrott, the film-has been produced by Universal as a modern romantic drama with settines in New York, Russia, Siberia, China, Rome and Switzerland. The story concerns a young couple', impulsively married, who try to pursue individual careers. The 'husband s wanderings- around, the world, the wile’s longing, the loVo of another man for the wife, the tempestuous conflict of emotions against a background of threatening world upheaval, combine to make the narrative a stirring recital. There is a play within a play, portraying Margaret Sullavan as the star of a hit on Broadway. The dialogue, preserving the rich qualities of the novel, has been given new treatment by the director, Edward H. Griffith, according to advance Hollywood bulletins. The cast includes, besides Miss Sullavan, James Stewart, who has appeared in ‘‘Rose Made,” Ray Mill and, remembered for his work in ‘‘Gilded Lily,” ‘‘The

Glass Key,” and “Four Hours to Kill,” Grant Mitchell, popular favourite of more than 200 screen hits. Anna Demetrio, who scored in ‘ A Night at the Opera,” and “The Crusades,” and Robert McWade, another outstanding actor in countless successes. The picture was photographed by Joseph Valentine, who did the camera work for “Seventh Heaven.”

Screen’s Greatest Character Actor. Without doubt Conrad Vcidt has proved himself to he' the most capable actor of strong character parts on the screen to-day. A strange fascination- can be felt as the star forces —there is no better word —his, personality upon the film. No one knows better than he the art of “living” the part, creating an atmosphere that is so real that a vivid impression is immediately created upon his witnesses. Veidt is more than an actor he is a sincere creator of illusion, and tin-rein lies the secret of his screen popularity. In his latest film for Gaumont-British, “King of the Damned,”, he proves again his versatility. In “The Passing of the Third Floor Back,” he was a saint, gentle yet compelling. Here, as “Convict 83” lie proves how possible it is for a man to rise above the horrors of his environment and achieve the heights of clean power—and happiness. He makes “King of the Damned” more than a thrilling drama of men; he sweetens and makes it more human with the portrayal of his love for “Anna,” capably played by Helen Vinson. None could resist the sight of the convict’s dogged adherence to his grim duty; none too, could help sympathising with the lovers, and rejoicing in their ultimate happiness. It is difficult to hazard Conrad Veidt’s future after so many varied successes. Apparently no field is too wide' for him to conquer; no characterisation too difficult for him to portray. In the hands of a skilful director, as he is in “King of the Damned” with such a polished partner as Helen Vinson, he achieves the heights of genius. “King of the Damned” opens at the' Majestic Theatre to-night and will be again scre'cn tomorrow.

“You May Be Next!”

The dramatic last-ditch battle between organised crime and the nation’s law enforcement agencie's, notably the so-called G-men, provides the thrilling theme of the amazing story unfolded in Columbia’s “You May Be Next!” which will he showing at the Majestic Theatre starting ne'xfc Saturday. Featured in the large cast are Ann Sothern, Lloyd Nolan, Douglas Dumbrillc, John Arledge and Berton Churchill. The story, a powerful dramatisation of one of the most daring rackets ever conceived, details the plot of a supercriminal who is able to extort a king s ransom from the nation’s broadcasting companies by threatening to effectively jam every legitimate broadcast. The government, too, takes a hand when the amazing plot threatens the operation of radio compass stations and the transmission of signals between ships of the United States fleet. Lloyd Nolan, as Neil Bennett, a young radio engineer, recently discharged bv the leading broadcasting company, is suspected of the incredible crime when he suddenly disappears. Douglass Dnmhrille, the' real culprit, holds Nolan a prisoner in his cafe, where Ann Sothern, Nolan’s sweetheart, sings her to'rcli melodies each night, ignorant of her lover’s presence. Taking advantage’ of a chance opportunity, Nolan manages to get word through to a friend of his who ultimately arranges the apprehension of the real criminals and the release' of Nolan. To insure authentic radio technicalities, Columbia. Studios engaged the services of a radio technician to assist Director Albert Rogell. The' completed scenario. moreover, was first submitted to the

Federal Board of Radio Communications who pronounced it perfect in every technical detail. Albert S. Rogell directed the film from a screen play by Fred Niblo, jnr., and Ferdinand Reylier.

“Fog Over ’Frisco.” Associate feature on the programme next Saturday and Monday, August 22 and 24, is Be'tte Davis and Donald Woods in “Fog Over Frisco.” One thundering climax topping another in this seething sizzling story of the Barbary coast . . . where society’s spoiled babies hunt adventure and find damnation.

Paramount’s all colour masterpiece, “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine,” which stars Sylvia Sidney, Henry Fonda, and Fred Mac Murray, has established popularity records in every centre in which it has been shown. Little need he said of this picture’s great success in America, England and Australia, but of local interest is the fact that it has just concluded an excellent four weeks’ run at the Embassy Theatre, Auckland, and in Wellington it played for two weeks at the Majestic Theatre and was then transferred for another week to the Opera House. It has yet to he released in the South Jsland of the (Dominion, and it seems assured of a grand reception in all centres.