NEXT CHANGES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21120, 22 March 1934, Page 17

NEXT CHANGES

I « THEATRE ROYAL THRILLING PLOT IN "CAPTURED" Very rarely a motion-picture producer hits upon a new theme in cinema entertainment, and when he does so he instantly arouses attention This is the case with "Captured" the Warner Bros.' production which will start on Saturday at the Theatre Royal. This film is based upon Sir Philip Gibbs's famous novel. Fellow Prisoners and while practically all the action takes place in a German prison camp, it is not, strictly spea.ung, a war picture. It is rather an unusual! \ stirring story of two close friends who loved the same girl; and although this idea in itself is by no means novel, it becomes distinctly so when the friendship and jealousy of the two leading men arc concentrated within the grim walls of a prison camp■ wuh the woman in the case hunJieds niiltis away. . . The r e arc four brilliatn , !n ••r-miii'-od"—Leslie Howard, Douguis Fairbanks. Jun., Paul Lukas. and Margaret Lindsay. Howard is a masiCi of his craft," and is said to surpass evervthir.g he has done before in his characterisation of the English olncei who linds that his best friend a Uv low-prisoner, has stolen the lo\ e of Ills wife. Paul Lukas is the German ofiicer in charge of the camp; ana Margaret Lindsav is the wife in Ln„Jand'who sets the vivid drama on its course to a sensational climax. MAJESTIC THEATRE "THE IT Hl-: RAISERS" "The Torch. Singer" iChuiocUc Colbert.! and supporting programme will be shown ih-.ally on Saturday night at the Majestic Theatre. The startling significance of the term "fire-raisers" is vividly shown m tnc stirring drama of that name which wdl come to the Majestic Theatre on Monday. The him is an excellent example of the ability oi a playwugnt to select a subject calculated to excite tho" public imagination at any season. Life is a succession of dramatic hapnenin" 1 -' comic and tragic, great and small' The despoilings of the tire fiend are alwavs one of its great tragic happenings, and when as has freouentlv been the case, there are criminals so inhuman as to invoke its aid to <-i»i tf v their linancial greed, a dramatist can serve a useful purpose by eirccting attention to an ofl.Cial sysipm of supervision so loose as to permit of such operations. The story of "The Fire Raisers' cioes not pre,„nd to be an actual occurrence, although the theme of this clever Gau-mont-British screen play was inspired hv Wave irregularities recently exposed in British courts. All of the major roles are effectively portrayed. Leslie Banks makes a very convincing study of Bronton, the ambitious, somewhat shady fire assessor who overreaches himself and becomes involved with a crooked financier who is nothing less than a ruthless fire-raiser. Anne Grey is delightful in the leading femihine role. Box plans are at the D.I.C.

CIVIC THEATRE 1)01 BI.E FEATURE BILL Only two days remain for patrons to witness the "Rome Express' at present being shown at the Civic 1 heatre. With a fascinating and gripping story and cnc of the most distinguished easts which has ever appeared in a British production, "Home Express" is an attraction everyone should see. Two very different British films comprise the excellent double feature programme which will have its initial Christchurch presentation at the Civic Theatre on Saturday. The first, "Should a Doctor Tell." is a modern problemplay in which a prominent medical man refuses to divulge consulting room confidences when called upon to do so in court, as he considers such confidences sacred. A conflict between professional principle and parental love ensues, when he finds that his son's fiancee is a former patient. The leading roles are filled by Anna Neagle. the star of "Flag Lieutenant," Norah Baring, and Basil Gill. The second picture, "That's My Wife." is a fast-moving comedy in which Claude Allister, who appeared so successfully in "Three Live Ghosts," and Frank Pettingell, the Yorkshire comedian, have the principal roles. Box plans for this outstanding entertainment will open at the Civic Theatre this morning at 10 o'clock, where seats may be reserved at no extra cost. ST. JAMES' THEATRE MARIE DRESSLER AM) POLLY MORAN IN "PROSPERITY" ••Gold Diggers of the musical production starring Aline McMahon, Warren William, and Dick Powell, will conclude its season at, the St. James' Theatre to-morrow night. Give Mario Dressier and Polly Moran something to fight about, and amusing comedy is the inevitable result, 'lhi-; time thev appear as mothers-in-law battling over the lives of their married children, in "Prosperity." v ich will begin a return season at the St. James' Theatre on Saturday. In "Prosperity," the heroines of "Polities" and "Caught Short" have as many battles as ever, but the battles are louder and funnier Then. too. there is a dramatic twist m the story, and Marie Dressier is responsible for some effective "straight" character acting. "Prosperity" deals with two widows who are friends in a small town until their children get married. Each tries to regulate the new family. Polly goes bankrupt, there is a run on the bank. Marie gets a job in a grocery store and figures out a way to put it on a paying basis by "trading," their battles cause the youngsters to get a divorce —and then everything crashes. The comedy highlights are a scene in which Marie Dressier and Polly Moran break up the formal wedding party of their respective son and daughter, and various occurrences in tin; joint home of the in-laws in which broken dishes, carpet beaters, mud, and even castor oil have a share in providing hilarious situations. Box plans are at the D.I.C.

TIYOLI THEATRE aki.iss in "voi.taihk" The picture "Voltaire." winch will be the opening attraction at I Ik* to-morrow nighl, and in which Mr George Arlis.- i* .-tarred by Warner Br us. | is based on a .-ingle dramatic incident in the life of the French poet, philosopher, and firebrand, whose intlammatorv writing* hi lped to precipitate the French Revolution. In this the actor and the producing company followed the pattern established first ::i the stag-' and screen play by "Disraeli." which also centred about one event in the career of the lint ish state-man. The life of a really great man offers a!me:-t too much material l.ir 1 in* dramatist. Louis X. Parker, who wrote "Disraeli" originally, at the request of Mr Arliss, almost gave it up because of a superabundance of material available. Profiting from that experience. Mr Arliss insisted that "Voltaire" be modelled along similar lines and confined to the dramatisation of one incident. The one best adapted for the .screen was the Calas case, the injustice of which Voltaire interested himself in for al nost eight years. For s.-reeu purposes, the time was shortened, and the locale was changed to suit the dramatist's purposes, but. fundamentally the picture is based upon an actual incident in Voltaire's hectic career as agitator and reformer. Doris Kenyon has the role of Madame Pompadour and Margaret Lindsay that of Calas's daughter. Others in the cast include Theodore Xewton. Reginald Owen. ■ nd Alan Mowbray. Box planare at the D.I.C.

CRYSTAL I'A LACE "I.OVK'S OLD SWEET SON(l" A direct and itTCM.sliblr appr.il to the romantic side of human nature is made in "Love's Old Sweet Song," which will start on Saturday at the Crystal Palace Theatre. Aided by the magic of music, charming personalities in the artists, and beautiful scenes from the English countryside, the producer lias demonstrated the remarkable possibilities of modern films in bringing an audience face to face with a story that, rings true from beginning to end. There is nothing strained or artificial about "Love's Old Sweet Song." It is just a simple tale of the old-fashioned type in which the inevitable villain is a real villain and the hero is cast in thoroughly heroic mould. In a satisfying linale villainy rcsps its just desserts and the hero the reward that all lovers court.

There are no false notes, no artiiiciulities, no straining ai'.er impossible eifects: just a clean, wholesome love storv thai h:*.s the n.-mal problems and which cn is as happily as all such stories should end. 11 1 film provides Joan Wyndharn with the opportunity of displavini; her talent as a vocalist. Her role is that of a yutin,.; professional singer who. while on holiday in the country, captivates a yuun,; ;arn:er. Jimmy CroM. with hi I ]' >inj>im; "Ix-ive's Old Sweet Son",." 'file

scou* i-relly half-brother of her friend anu manager. Paul Kingslake, howi ver, insinuates himself into her a licelion and secretly mai'iKS hei, leaving Iris Sinclair, with whom he has been having an affair, in th - lurch. But tiUit is not the end of the story. Box plans arc at the D.I.C.