PICTURE FILMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 169, 29 April 1943, Page 6

PICTURE FILMS.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. Commencing to-night, at 7.30, and Friday at 2 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.— Double feature: Joe E. Brown in ‘Shut My Big Mouth” ; second feature, "Madame Spy,” with Constance Bennett and Don Portefi Plus "Sea Raiders,” episode 5. Joe E. Brown returns to the St. James Theatre screen this evening in Columbia’s "Shut My Big Mouth,” a laugh-loaded comedy of the wide open faces. Hailed by Hollywood as a rodeo of roars, in which the cavemouthed comic appears as a timid fool who cleans up a dangerous hand of range renegades, "Shut My Big Mouth’ ’ also serves to introduce one of the screen’s loveliest and most talented new-comers, Adele Mara. "Shut My Big Mouth’ ’ presents Joe E. Brown in one of his most delightful roles . . . or, if the truth must be told, in two of his most delightful roles. The dual nature of his performance lies in the fact that he appears as a timid tenderfoot suddenly appointed Marshal of tho aptly-named frontier town of Big Bluff.. His sole assignment being the capture of Buckskin Bill, Marshalhating renegade, the great mouthpiece naturally looks for a way out. The complications which make “Shut My Big Mouth” one of the gayest mirthquakes in years are brought to joyous life by the top-flight cast headed by' Joe E. Brown, with Adele Mara, Victor Jory, Fritz Field, Joan Woodbury, Don Beddoe, Lloyd Bridges and Forrest Tucker. Charles Barton directed, and Robert Sparks produced "Shut My Big Mouth.” "Madame Spy,” the Universal adventure drama of modern espionage, brings Constance Bennett to the screen in a role admirably adapted -to her beauty and her dramatic abilities. It is almost a dual role that is portrayed by Miss Bennett. She is an undercover Federal agent, and at the same time she is the bride of a famous newspaper man and deeply in love with her husband. She is, however, compelled to keep from him the fact that she is engaged in counter-espionage. Out of her dilemma come the complications of the story, and they load the lovely spy and her husband into a series of adventures that maintain increasing suspense and excitement. Opposite Miss Bennett as the newspaper man is Don Porter. Supporting players, alt of whom are excellently cast, include such veteran performers as John Litel, Edward S. Brophy, John Eldrecjge and Nana Bryant.