CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21133, 7 April 1934, Page 18

CITY THEATRES

♦ THEATRE ROYAL FINE DOUBLE BILL An outstanding double-featured programme will be offered at the Theatre Royal to-day. The major attraction will be the hilarious comedy, "You Made Me Love You," which has been screened with conspicuous success at the Plaza Theatre during the last week. Supporting this bright show will be an appealing drama. "Ladies They Talk About," in which Barbara Stanwyck tajjes the leading role. Stanley Lupino and Thelma Todd are the life and soul of "You Made Me Love You," a delightful musical comedy. The theme, that of a song writer in search of a wife, and his efforts to take her by storm, has one chance in several millions of being possible, and for that reason the product ion is practically one long laugh. Lupino, of the rubber neck and goggle eyes, talks, throws himself round, and makes love in the most amazing and admirable manner, and though the laugh is against him in most nf the ludicrous situations, it is with him at the end. A background of fun is furnished by a capable cast, included among whom arc .lohn Loder, Gerald Rawlinson, .lames Carew, and Charles Mortimer. Barbara Stanwyck is starred in "Ladies They Taik About." It is a story of women in prison—of their lives—their thoughts -their hopes, and loves, written by a woman who was sentenced to San Quentin prison, in California. A unique attachment that blossoms into a glowing romance is unfolded. It involves the love of a stalwart young evangelist for an attractive girl bandit. Barbara Stanwyck plays the part of the bandit, a new type of role for her, while Preston S. Foster appears as the evangelist. Box nlans are at the D.I.C.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE

NOKL COWAHP PLAY "Cavalcade," tlic magnificent talking screen version of Noel Coward's great stage play of the same name, will conclude its season at St. James' Theatre to-night. It is a story of how world events alToct the home and the family. The east includes Diana Wynyard, ('live Brook, Beryl Mercer, Herbert Mundin, Una O'Connor. Irene Brown, Frank Lawton, and Merle Tottenham. Good supporting films are also screened. As the Liberty Theatre will be closed for alterations next week, the entire new programme which will open at that house on Saturday -"Man Against Woman" (Jack Holt) and "Two-fisted I,aw" (T.'m McCoy) will be screened al St. James', starting on Monday. UIJKKTY THEATRE \ "MAN AGAINST WOMAN" AND "TWO-FISTIJI) LAW"

Two thrilling action dramas —"Man Against Woman," starring the popular Jack Holt, and "Two-fisted Law," in which Tim McCoy has the leading role—-will comprise the double bill al the Liberty to-day. On Monday this programme will be 'transferred to St. James' Theatre, allowing the Liberly to be closed down for reconditioning. In "Man Against Woman." a modern comedy-drama. Jack Holt is supported* by Lilian Miles in the leading feminine role, and Walter Connolly and Gavin Gordon. first-class acting, bright dialogue, and novel setlings make this production one of the best Jack Holt has yet made. II has a good plol and. in addition, includes many comedy sequences. The courageous fight of a young ranchman to get his own home, illegally stolen from him by a band of killers, and to protect the girl he loves, is featured in "Two-Fisted Law." Tim McCoy's latest Western drama for Columbia. Gun-play, swift riding, and excellent characterisations by a group of outstanding players make this easily the best Tim McCoy Mm of the year." Together, "Man Against Women" and "Two-fisted Law" constitute a really worth-while programme, and one 'with particular appeal for those who like vigorous cinema entertainment. Box plans arc at the D.I.C.

TIYOLI "VOLTAIRE" "Voltaire," featuring George Arliss. which is said to excel the great actor's memorable "Disraeli" in magnificence, interest, and dramatic appeal, begins the third week of its successful season at the new Tivoli Theatre to-day. Produced with a magnificence never before equalled in an Arliss production, "Voltaire" marks the high water mai k of the star's career. The story is based on a single dramatic incident, in Voltaire's career during the long reign of King Louis XV. of France. Voltaire has been calico the father of the French Revolution, and the incident upon which the film is founded was actually one of the contributing causes of the greatest governmental upheaval of the age. An outstanding cast supports (he star. Doris Kenyon lends her beauty to the role of Madame Pompadour, and Margaret, Lindsay plays Nanette. Oulstanding "shorts" complete the programme.

I CIVIC I "TIIK IU.AKNKY STONI?;" 1 At all times Tom Walls is popular, but. it. is doubtful if he- has ever before received such unanimous praise as for his work in the British and Dominions' attraction, "The Blarney Stone," now showing at Ihc Civic Theatre. This brilliant comedy-drama will enter upon its second week today. Unlike many pictures in which Walls has previously appeared, "The Blarney Stone" is not all comedy. There is romance, drama, and pathos in the story, and Tom Walls shows convincingly that his reputation docs not. han?', *on his laugh-producing powers alone. As Tim Fitzgerald, an Irish landowner. Walls- is called upon to adopt an Irish bro'iuo. which he dots in a manner that makes his witticisms doubly acceptable to the car of the picture-goer. Supporting him is Anne Grey, whose performance as Lady Braethorpc is pet-feel. The action is set in an Irish district not 20 miles from Cork, and in London. The story concerns Tim Fitzgerald, who has more than Inordinary share of Irish charm and luck owing to the fact that his parents took him as a small child to kiss the famous Blarney Stone. How he escapes from the hands of Scin Feiners to rising to fame in the financial world and being charged with a crime committed by a friend is all told in this well-constructed and humorous plot. Four excellent supports precede the main feature. Box plans are open at the theatre, where seats may be reserved at no extra cost.

PLAZA "THK GUARDSMAN" The talking; version of Fcrcnc Molnar's sparkling Viennese comedy, "The Guardsman," will open at the Plazj 'J'hcalrc to-day. It is a diverting tale of an actor who is insanely jealous of his wife. He disguises himself as a dashing Russian guardsman and makes love to her, hoping that she will repulse his overtures and thus prove herself faithful. He is only too successful in his flirtation, but when he upbraids his wife for her inconstancy, even threatening to kill her, she manages to turn the tables en him Yffy neatly. The stars of the picture are the New Yuri; celebrities who made a great success of this play on the Broadway stage. Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Needless to say, the lines by Molnar, the distinguished Hungarian playwright, are brilliant. They have a sophisticated Continental flavour approaching the daring, but never going ever the boundaries of good taste. The excellent supporting east indues Holand Young. Zasu Pitts. Maude Eburne. and Herman Bing. Reside:; the stars the best performance is given by Holand Young, as the critic, the innocent bystander. /,asu Pitts gels a great deal of comedy out of a maid's role, and Maude Eburnc .'nd Herman Bing score in the respective roles of the "stage mama" and the creditor. The major item on the supporting 1 programme will be "King Cole," Walt Disney's charming Silly Symphony in colour. Box plans arc at the D.I.C.

CRYSTAL PALACE "lIAPI'Y EVER AFTER" Novel entertainment of high quality is olTercd by the Gr.utnont-British musical romantic comedy, "Happy Kvcr After." which wi!' start at the Ciystal Palace to-day. Combining charm of story in novel settings wilh superb technique. Eric Pommcr, the producer, has made a film which should long be remembered. Set in the carefree atmosphere of happy-go-lucky Berlin. "Happy Ever Alter" strikes a note which will find an echoing chord in the hearts of entertainment, lovers the world over. Pommer has excelled himself in this production, and it is a worthy successor to the screen triumphs of the past. The cast is a brilliant one. consisting of Lilian Harvey. Jack Hulbert, Cicely Courlncidgo, and Sonnie Hale. The wistful charm of lovely Lilian Harvey has never been shown to greater advantage, and supported by the jolly, robust humour of the Hulbcrt-Hale team, the joyous result can be imagined. The deft handling of fantasy and reality in this fascinating film is exceedingly clever, and this fact is impressed on the mind as the film unreels. Paul Martin, the director, undoubtedly enjoyed his subject, and the result is a film in a class by itself that can be appreciated and enjoyed by ativ audience. Box plans are at the D.I.C.

(iliAN'I) Few novels of recent years have attained the popularity of J. B. Priestley's "The Good "Companions," which has sold already its thirtieth edition, and is well into its three hundred thousandth copysales. The British film version has also proved extremely popular. It will begin a return season at the Grand Theatre to-day. Box plans are at the D.I.C.

MAJESTIC THEATRE i "I'M NO ANGEL" j Mac West is the star of the Pnra- | mount picture, "I'm No Angel," which will start at the Majestic Theatre on Monday. Miss West soared to great heights of popularity, and revolutionised feminine styles as the result of her last film, "She Done Him Wrong " In "I'm No Angel'' Miss West gives a splendid performance—she portrays a colourful character, Tira, a carnivaldancer, who becomes a New York sensation. On her rise to fame and fortune she attracts any number of men, tinally ending up besieged by a society millionaire. She sings four sensational songs, dances the "midway"--a spectacular variation of the shimmy which, we are told, she herself originated-—wears lovely clothes, and sparkles with wit in an hilarious couriroom scene. She is supported by a capable cast, including Cary Grant, Kent Taylor, Kdwarc! Arnold, and others. Box plans arc at the D.I.C. REGENT THEATRE "FRIDAY, THK 13111" There arc seven separate stories in the Gainsborough Picture. "Friday the 13th," and a cast of more than 20 stars and players. The film will open at the Regent to-day. The main characters of the stories meet in at omnibus. After an accident to the bus, which results in the death of two of the characters, the story goes back and a section of the life 'of these characters leading up to their meeting is shown. Thus they cease to be impersonal figures and become live entities, the rescrccning of the bus sequence at the conclusion of the film being filled with emotional interest. The all-star character of "Friday the 13th" is amply demonstrated by an enumeration of the east, which represents the biggest assembly of British players made in any picture. „ :ssie Matthews heads the cast as Millie, the non-stop variety girl; Edmund Gwenn and Gordon Harker as city men, Sonnie Hale is the conductor of the London bus which figures in an accident involving many of the characters. Eliot Makeham is a shipping clerk, with, as his wife, Ursula Jeans, who has a lover, D. A. Clarke-Smith. Emlyn Williams plays the role of a blackmailer, with Frank Law ton as his victim; May Miller is Joe of the Caledonian Market. Robertson Hare is a timorous husband who adventures in Hyde Park with Leonora Corbett, his wife being played by Martha Hunt. The cast is completed with Cyril Smith. Muriel Aked. Alfred Drayton. Percy Parsons, Hartley Power, Mary Jerrold. and Belle Chrystall. I