CRYSTAL PALACE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21387, 1 February 1935, Page 7

CRYSTAL PALACE

"HERE COMES THE NAVY" "The Circus Clown," which is having an extended season at the Crystal Palace Theatre, will be presented finally to-night. The picture contains many laughs, many thrills, and some human interest. Joe E. Brown, himself no mean trapeze artist and clown, takes the leading role, others in the cast being Patricia Ellis and Harry Woods. "Here Comes the Navy," an uproarious comedy-drama of life on and Off a big battleship in the United States Navy, will be presented at the Crystal Palace Theatre to-morrow, and witn the inimitable comedians, James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, and Frank McHugh, as the principal characters, the audience is kept in laughter from start to finish. Gloria Stuart is the heroine, and supplies the touch of romance needed to relieve the ruggedness of the hard living American sailors. Life in the American battle fleet is shown in detail in this picture, and great warships and aeroplanes are seen in action. The picture was filmed for the most part on board the giant battleship, U.S.S. Arizona, and when the American Pacific Fleet engages in manoeuvres dramatic incidents of naval warfare are seen. Enlisting in the American navy as a common rating, Chesty O'Connor (James Cagney) at once finds the stern discipline of the sea irksome to his free and easy mode of life. Matters are not improved when he finds his avowed enemy, Biff Martin (Pat O'Brien), the chief petty officer in charge of him. Chesty falls in love with Dorothy (Gloria Stuart) without knowing that she is Biff Martin's sister. His resentment against those in authority turns his shipmates against him, with the exception of Droopy (Frank McHugh), who sticks to his disgruntled friend through thick and thin. Droopy's droll humour and unconscious witticisms are responsible for much of the laughter this bright picture provides. At last Chesty proves his worth m a dramatic scene when the powder in the main gun turret of the Arizona ignites. He is transferred to a naval dirigible, where he rapidly makes progress. Another high-light of the picture occurs when the dirigible is about to land in a strong wind at the airfield at Sunnyvale, California. The ground party have just taken hold of the landing wires preparatory to mooring the airship when a gust of wind suddenly lifts it into the air again. Three men are pulled, up at the end of the wires. Two of -them crash to their deaths, but the third manages to cling on. "Here Comes the Navy" is as refreshing as the ocean breeze, combining an excellent story with real action shots of the various units of the American navy. Box plans are now open at the D.I.C.