NEWS OF THE CINEMA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 301, 27 September 1940, Page 3

NEWS OF THE CINEMA

PRODUCTION PARS. A modernised adaptation of the famous French play “Damaged Goods,” is perhaps the most amazing life drama ever presented dealing as it does with the seriousness of venereal disease. For the Ashburton season children under 14 years of age Avill definitely not be admitted. * * * * Action-drama in Avliich the camera records some of tlie most astounding tricks ever screened is the chief attraction in Universal’s mysterv-love story, “The Invisible Man Returns.” Vincent Price, title character and Nan Grey share the romantic interest. Sir Cedric HardAvieke, John Sutton, Cecil KellaAA'ay and Alan Napier are in the cast. * * * * “Mr Motto’s Last Warning,” is .sixth in the series of 20th Centurv-Fox pictures dealing with the adventures of J. P. Marquand’s Oriental sleuth.

Tavo film favourites of other days, Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels, recently entertained 509 heroes of the Dunkirk evacuation avlio Avere. in a hospital in London.

“ BALALAIKA.” FULL OF MELODY AND THRILLS. Blazing a musical trail from Retrograd to Paris over the strife-torn Russia of the Czars, the screen operetta, “Balalaika,” presents Nelson Eddy and Ilona Massey, HollvAVood’s newest singing star, in a thrilling, colourful and romantic musical drama. It tells a tale of romance between a Colonel of the Cossacks and the daughter of a revolutionist in the midst of social upheaval, and gives an opportunity for an expensive musical programme that ranges from Russian folk songs to a loA'e song by Franz-Lehar, comedy songs by Herbert Stothart, and GA r eu the operatic version of a Rimsky-Kor-sakoff ballet suite. “Balalaika” is based on the Lonlon stage musical success by Eric Maschwitz and is heralded as one of the most stirring and colourful musical films of the year.

“ ANOTHER THIN MAN.” LATEST OF POPULAR SERIES. Its story topping both preceding pictures of tlie “Thin Man” series for hilarious moments and intriguing mystery, “Another Thin Man’’ brings Nick Charles, that ace sleuth of the screen, and Iris witty wife, Nora, to Ashburton shortly. William Powell and Myinii Loy, re-united as the “Thin Man” pair excel in the sort of merry, marital banter, half-quizzical and half tender, with which the picture provides them, and this time there is a Junior Thin Man, the new baby of the Charles family, who is good for almost as many laughs as his ninible-witted parents. For bizarre thrills and excellent characterisations the picture, steps ahead of its predecessors, “The Thin Man ’ and “After the Thin Man.” A first-rate cast supports the stars, including Virginia Grey, Otto Kruger, C. Aubrey Smith, Ruth Hussey, Nat Pendleton, Patrie Knowles and Tom Neal. Asta. the waggish little wire-haired terrier who was inseparable from the “Thin Man” pair earlier in the picture series, is present again and Nick Charles jnr., is played by eight-months-old William Poulsen, an outstanding juvenile screen find.

By M Spotlight.”

“ THE LADY VANISHES.” England scores heavily Avitli “The Lady Vanishes.” Here is a film which any HollyAVOod producer might have wished'to make, but perhaps of all producers, only Alfred Hitchcock could have given it intensity, lightness and humanity. There is nothing unusual in the train mystery; it has been done a thousand times. Therefore, it is an accomplishment to achieve a train mystery Avith an entirely now angle, Avith people so natural. The story Avorks up to au admirable climax, a. climax in Avhicli there is a shooting scene which any Hollywood producer might envy, and -still it.is all done in the Hitchcock manner. It is all English, all quietA'oiced, almost matter of fact. Alfred Hitchcock excels at this class oi Avork, but it is doubtful if be has ever ‘provided finer entertainment in the true sense of the Avord, and the photography is one long delight ‘for the, eye. The players are all to abe commended. Michael Redgrave is utterly unlike the typed manly hero of the screen. His understatement is masterly, and his casualness perfectly fits the role of Gilbert.

ASTA’S FIREPLUG. Of the several thousand props that have been used in the series of “Thin Man” pictures, starring William PoAA-ell and Mvrna Lov, the only one which has lasted through all the productions, including the latest, “Another Thin Man,” is Asta’s fireplug. A bright red portable reproduction of the real article, it Avas bought in the first picture as a gag Christmas present for Asta, dizzy Avire-haired terrier of Nick and Nora Charles, the “Thin Man” pair. The gag created such gales of laughter among audiences everywhere that the red fireplug automatically became a trademark for Asta. It appeared in the second picture and slioavs up again in “Another Thin Man.”

BACK FROM THE WAR FRONT. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer star, Robert Montgomery, has returned to America from the war front, where he was driving an ambulance for the American Red Cross. Montgomery volunteered in this capacity upon the completion of his role in the M.G.M. British production, “Busman’s Honeymoon,” and was actually, in Paris during Nazi air-raids upon this city. He left France shortly before the French collapse. Montgomery will star next in “I Had a Comrade,” which will ho produced either in England or America. Tlis re-cently-completed “Busman’s Honeymoon” was actually started before the outbreak of war, and was postponed until M.G.M. resumed British production early this year. In the interim, he made “The Earl of Chicago.”

Movie fans get a new and highly colourful idea of Hollywood in Walt Disney’s “Mother Goose Goes Hollywood.” In this special short feature, released by R.K.O. Radio good-natured caricature runs rampant as practically every Mother Goose character suggests a silver screen celebrity. It is filmed in technicolour and screened on “The Roaring Twenties’ 5 programme.