CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21639, 25 November 1935, Page 5

CITY THEATRES

*PEG OF OLD DRURY" It:Is difficult to decide,whether-.the most' pleasing, feature of Teg of Old Drury," wfcdeh began -at • the Civic Theatre on Saturday evening, is the vivacious and.absorbing story, so brilliantly actfed by Sir Cedric Hardwicke and-Anna'Neagle, or the remarkably authentic and interesting picture that it gives of eighteenth century Eng- > land.' For both reasons the film' is an outstanding one, and-makes imperative claims "on the attention of everyone ; who appreciates being offered a fine blend of sheer entertainment, striking and picturesque photography, and accurate representation of the life of other times. The .eighteenth i century had a colourful, spectacular' character, described best by its own word "elegance,", which makes it to modern eyes the ideal setting for a j romantic and highly dramatic story. 1 Every advantage is taken of such a, setting in this film, and the remark- | able career of Peg Woffington comes to life amid a vivid succession of' scenes depicting the splendour and sometimes the crudity of the London, of 200 years ago. As a fictitious story i it would be.unrivalled entertainment,' but there is added satisfaction and fas- | cination in knowing that everything J /is very much as it must have actually I 'happened. I The story opens quite appropriately ; In Dublin market in 1743, w here Peg, amid the shouting, and noise, and bustle, is dancing with typical spright-1 liness and abandon for the entertainment of the populace. Her- lover, Michael, asks her' to marry him, and, then leaves for England, where she isl to follow later. It is not long before tshe is away for London herself to find ►Hum. The events move with skilful : rapidity in the opening of the picture,, , and so clearly and vividly that the ] audience has, after a few short scenes, { a well-defined picture of the back- '■ ground from which Peg rose to become, one of the most famous actresses of her day. She is soon seen, deserted by her. lover, at the door of the Drury lane theare, seeking admission in order to see David Garrick, the greatest actor on the stage, whom ] she has watched at the theatre with wonder- and admiration. She naturally flnds> some difficulty, but an ingenious IJtQe trick, suggested by the fondness, of the manager, Mr Rich, for his cats," enables her to gain entrance; and with the first difficulty overcome! her career is assured. She attracts Garrick's notice, and gradually rises j higher, and higher in her profession. ! It would be difficult to imagine al better choice for the part of Garrick than Sir Cedric Hardwicke. He not only resembles Garrick in appearance, but bis ability as an actor is well equal to the difficult task of portraying" Garrick" in real life" and oh the stage. The glimpses of the eighteenth century manner of playing Shakespeare are exceedingly interest- . ing. Even more so, perhaps, are the visits to the famous club at the Cheshire Cheese where Garrick meets with the other notable men of the time, Dr. Johnson, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and other well-known figures. There are some delightfully amusing scenes when Peg is made the first woman member of the club; and her famous exploits here and at the Vauxhall Gardens, where, dressed as a man, she fights a duel with her former lover, make excellent material for a picture of this kind. Miss Neagle takes the part exactly as it should be taken; it is hoped that the producer, Mr Herbert Wilcox, will hold to his intention to star her in further picture? with Sir Cedric the combination is producing pictures that are doing great credit to Bjtitish studios. There is a thoroughly amusing Lan-j casiure comedy as a support

THEATRE ROYAL TWO GOOD DRAMAS In these times when screen production has reached such, a high standard arid every- day new films are being completed all over the world it must be-ver* hard to discover stories that are not merely the same old theme. The"'maln film at the Theatre Royal this-week, "I Believe in .You," is notable in that its story is quite an unusua 1 one; but it is also notable for the great chances it affords the cast for-good acting. Those who see it wiuV to a certain degree, come away bewildered, for the peculiar climax makes one think more than most films —but at the same time, it provides entertainment of' a very different nature.

John Boles is also in the film, but his part is a very small one when compared with that of ,Miss Ames. Boles is really at his best in a lighter type of entertainment, but as a rich roan who tries to show Miss Ames that her supposed friends are in truth just useless wasters, he is all that can .be desired. Another man who has an important part is .Victor Jory. He really has a much greater opportunity than John Boles. He is a worthless social agitator, who when fleeing from the police, is saved by Miss Ames. The other attraction, "Black Sheep," is a-story of the workings of criminals and card sharpers aboard a great liner bound for New York.

PLAZA **THE KEEPER OF THE BEES? Admirers of Gene Stratton Porter's books will need no encouragement to Visit "the new programme at the Plaza : —the film story of this noted authf r's book. The Keeper of the Bees." But for the benefit of those who are'doubtful of the suitability of this book for filming, it must be said, that Christy - Cabanne has directed the story very successfully for Monogram Pictures. Those who saw the first screenings at the Plaza yesterday must have been ~ wejl pleased with the film for many . '.' - Seasons. ,The photography is splendid, . fh&dialdgue witty, and the acting very Spod indeed. The original story is altered only enough to turn it into a i successful screen play, and the interesting descriptions of bee farming are cut down in such a way that tht-v re-main-interesting but are short enough | tp-'-fit neatly into the complete action . of the screen story. t. -The four stars, Betty Furness, Emma |... punn, Edith Fellowes, and Neil Hamilk~ J 0 * 1 play their parts sympathetically ;W «nd yet without allowing the picture .• ,' to become - sentimental—and this is -;- quite an achievement with a Stratton !';- Porter story. &# '. ' ■:•■ |g;, LIBERTY I MUSICAL ROMANCE ,"- a gay and tuneful musimcorporates / the gingiaiid dancing, is at.the «&&&H The. principal fi»unne,»Fred* AstaSre, and ogeretr. Miss sings f' ;Jeronie Kernes ,f. finest &£Astaire and; Miss Roger* peetacular new/dance nunv: lilting tunes ofcother Kern a,jsll-«tar r a>nce bandar*an the best of - the screen;' ind nighkdub., entertainers.: under • Asjtaire's -leadership, wit of iPWfitert *s /fee of *ars in the tiOerole, Ralph Jiy»- opposite 'Misjsj Clarke 'Marjp rPxevost E&uofiEtopwv ! ■/,

_ . V; MAJESTIC,. . «SURDER , Df- THE FLEET* All the thrills that could be desired are to be found in "Murder in jthe Fleet," which .is having a season at the- Majestic Theatre. The Majestic &as- acquired a ; reputation >for showing good "thrillers." and this .week's programme-is no exception to the rule. Thrill follows thrill from beginning to end.,and*the audience is left in doubt until the final curtain. - ! The action is set aboard one of Ame[rica's largest and newest cruisers, the .Carolina, which has been chosen for [ the installation of a new electric firing control device. Delay, .follows, delay, in the preliminary stages, until, when' I the mechanism finally reaches the ves- ] sel, the crew have only 24 hours in which to install the apparatus. And then' an unseen agency again gets to work against their progress. ,A winch slips, seriously injuring a man; ani other is shot at the formal welcome to a visiting statesman, and drops dead at his feet; and a third is stabbed in the back with a bayonet And yet the work has to be pressed on, the men straining to finish at the allotted tune, with the thought of death and treachery in their midst. The picture is brought to a fine climax, which is as thrilling as one could wish to see-rthe hero in battle royal with a madman, and the madman striving to ignite a magazine of guncotton and blow the vessel to pieces, During the whole time, the harassed commander has to contend with the presence on board his ship of some dozens of visitors, whom he has had to aetain. and, last but not least, the ambassador of the rival, power, and his inquisitive and elusive secretary. The cast is worthy of the picture, and is a notable one. It is headed by Robert • Taylor, opposite whom plays . Jean Parker.

The supporting programme is a good one, and, as well as the customary newsreels, includes a , short comedy, and a coloured cartoon. Then there is the ever-popular Fred Argyle, who presents his Brevities in his usual strain. A feature of the stage offering is an Eastern magician act by Wing-Fan-Sun, and there is also an exhibition of tap-dancing.

REGENT "NAUGHTY MARIETTA" Occasionally motion picture producers succeed in placing before the hardest judges and sternest critics—the public—the perfect entertainment To earn such a pleasing and satisfying title the entertainment must be of a standard capable of drawing capacity houses to a theatre for some time. Such a film is "Naughty Marietta," how enjoying a return season at the Regent Theatre. The film combines the simplest of themes with the wealth of glorious singing in the finest possible >; manner* , Jeanette- Macdonald, one of the screen's favourites, and Nelson Eddy, a comparative new. comer to the screen, have the leading roles, and they not only prove that they are great singers, but great actors as well. With her rich coloratura soprano voice, Jeanette Macdonald won a warm place in the hearts of picturegoerslong ago, but she has never been seen or heard to a better advantage than in "Naughty Marietta." Nelson Eddy,- a famous American operatic singer, possesses a powerful baritone voice and besides singing a number of solos, combines perfectly with Miss Macdonald in a number of duets. Indeed of such a high standard is the singing and acting .that the stars nearly compete another, arid it would be a hard task to differentiate between their respective characterisations. New supporting features include a Laurel -and Hardy comedy, "Going Bye Bye," and a Fitzpatrick colour travelogue of Los Angeles.

iU MAYFAIR * . "THE INFORMER" A man's horror of his own deed, and his endeavour to escape from himself and the vengeance that he knows must fall on him, form, the story of "The Informer," a film based on Liam O'Flaherty's novel of the Irish rebellion of 1922, which is at the Mayfair Theatre. It is one of the most remarkable films yet made, for the way it conveys the atmosphere of fear and despair, and its revelation of character. Prom one aspect the story is a study of the depths to which hunger and despair will drive a man—depths where loyalty to a friend and to companions is forgotten, and the one thing left in the mind is the desire to escape at all costs, to seize anything that may give a chance to crawl above the dead level of poverty. This is what happens to Gypo Nolan (Victor McLaglen). He has a friend, Frankie McPhillip, who has served with him in the war, who has been his com-panion-in the Irish Republican army, and who is wanted by the Black and Tans for murder. He is himself down and out, discredited both with the police and the revolutionary organisation. There is a reward, of £2O for the capture of McPhillip. Gypo's girl, Katie, is forced to the streets for a living, and by chance says that £2O would buy passages for both of them as emigrants td America. This seed, sown in Gypo's brain, drives him on to inform against his friend. McPhillip is killed defending himself, and thereafter the film tells the story of the night Gypo spends trying to escape from himself and to find Katie. In the end the revolutionaries kill him to preyent him from making further revelations to the hated police. Such a tale is simple enough, but in the film it is made a revelation Of the character of the one man, Gypo, by Victor McLaglen's acting, and of the ruthlessness of revolution by the skill of the production.

tivoli «<PUBLIC HERO NO. 1" If the nolice in the United. States could continue to suppress criminals as effectively. an-m[speedily as they, seem to do in "Public Hero No. 1. MffUra now at the Tivoli Theatre, that country would surely become one of the.most law-abiding ta the world within .a .year. That is ™ a impression this picture gives one, for no criminal who is not a Poland they usually, are not-would want to IStaSSta Federal service with the Imaz&g ramifications that it is shown to have at its disposal The film has a merit, in America which is not so obvious in this counted As propaganda it to excellent material but propaganda against crimels'not so timely here as it is in the United States; yet this Picture does not-need any P«bUc-spirited motive to commend it. It can stand by reathe thrilling-entertainment it offersT Although there was. shown hfchristehurch some a filnV on much -tho same lines—''GM&°MteHero No. 1" loses none 3-dfffatttecttotbqn Uiat account. , . ' lS'fimVlffi"lie audience with, a Federal detective "who is < nffibus jgang almost single-handed, aKwe amount of suspense and. adventure that ts t provided should be enough, for anybody.^ The supporting programme is of ,unlusualy high merit, particularly a laurel ana Hardy comedy.

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_ , ...STATE , -., -

"BECKY SHARP" " Out"of the dingy pages of a nineteenth century classic those magic-' ians called the film producers have brought Becky Sharp, in all her sin. Even Thackeray himself might be a little amazed if he could see her as she presents herself at the State Theatre this week, so well has ;he adapted herself to her new surroundings: The idea of seeing any of Thackeray's "Vanity _'air'" put on to the screen might have frightened a few people away, but they will regret it if they miss this 1935 interpretation Of Becky Sharp. Never before was it possible !to believe that a nerson wishing to be evil and sinning could be so.delightful. Miriam Hopkins plays Becky Sharp, and she is a most suitable person to do so. Ernst Lubitsch once said she was the woman most like his conception of Venus. He is a good judge, and it is not difficult to agree with him, although nineteenth century dress does not brinp out the best in her. She is certainly an excellent choice for the work, so delightful in sin, and so irresistible to anybody she sets out to ovenime. The picture has been made entirely in colour, and this, is helpful to her, although some of the 15 or 20 different gowns in which she is presented are a little dazzling in their brilliance. The story has plenty of drama, .much of which has been preserved, but the film version makes a great deal of the comedy and the effervescence of the delightful character who heads the cast. With Miriam Hopkins are Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Alison Skipworth, Alan Mowbray, Frances Dee, and Nigel Bruce. The programme includes a comedy, a travelogue, and two newsreels.

"THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS'* Not only thoroughly convincing, but as natural in treatment and presentation as it is thrillingly exciting, "The Thirty-Nine Steps," which will be shown at the State Theatre soon, fully merits the approbation: of picturegoers. The film is an ingenious adaptation of John Buchan's well-known story of the machinations of an international spy organisation and the exciting adventures that befell, a man in his efforts to cutwit the gang.

AVON "BROADWAY GONDOLIER" "Broadway Gondolier," which began at the Avon Theatre last evening, proves that a musical comedy can be at the same time an entertaining play with an original and interesting plot. Actually it is an unusual type of musical comedy; it has plenty of singing, which, instead of being supplemented with elaborate clioruses and •ballets, is made part of a very pleasant story that would make quite an enjoyable film on its own. The acting is good and the situations exceedingly amusing. A well-chosen cast of players supports Dick Powell in the leading role, which gives him ample oppor* tunity to show his ability as a singer and an actor. The story has the radio as its background, ilie radio is taken seriously in America as a means of persuading the public to buy the commodities of enterpriujg manufacturers, and Flagenheim cheeses are well advertised with the assistance of tuneful singing over the air. Dick Powell is a taxi-driver who has ambitions to become a radio singer; but though { . he secures an audition through-the influence of one of the ladies working for the company (Joan Blondell), a mischance causes the opportunity to slip. However, he and his seedy but thoroughly amiable teacher (Adolphe Menjou) manage to follow Miss Blondell and the Flagenheim cheese proprietress (Louise Fazenda) to Venice, and there he secures employment as a gondolier. His fine voice is heard io far greater advanatge across the waters of the canals, and the idea is conceived of bringing him back to New York as a gondolier singer. There is a good selection of supports, including an amusing comedy. But the most pleasing attraction is Mr Albert Bidgood's orchestra, which gives items before the performance and during the interval. Everyone will welcome it back.

CRYSTAL PALACE «IT»S A SMALL WORLD" Spencer Tracy has been seen recently in this city in several dramas, and he has shown himself an actor with great possibilities in this variety of screen entertainment; but in "Its a Small World," which is having a season at the Crystal Palace Theatre this week, he shows that his ability is'nbt confined strictly to* drama. He proves that he is a comedian of no mean talent, and the entertainment offered in this latest film is. of that lighter type which should prove irresistible even to the most cynical seeker of good production* But to Spencer Tracy alone must not be given all the credit of its success, for the charming Wendy Barrie makes a splendid foil. Either of these two stars alone is well worth seeing, but together they are admirable. Wendy Barrie is the modern young woman, thoroughly spoilt and detest-able.-returning from New York ,to St. Louis in her own car. A storm overtakes her on her trip and while speeding round the rough and greasy roads, she collides, with. another car owned; and driven by a cynical -"oung lawyer (Tracy). She unjustly blames Tracy for causing the collision; but being a goodnatured young man up with her abuse. His self-control only serves to make her all the more wrathful. When the morning, breaks they make for the nearest, settlement, she still resentful for having to'keep him company, but at the same time

afraid to be ' left; alone miles from anywhere. ~ Tracy takes : every ; opportunity to, insult ner, and-she continues to despise him. ', Eventually she cannot' resist any longer Tracy's infectious'good humour, hut sot before they have both been through a ridiculous court scene. Wendy ttxas .spent!-some .time in the. gaol of the one-horse town in which' they are isolated." | Zarie Grey's "Thunder Canyon" wHli be: next week's attraction, and George O'Brien -is- the- star.

GRAND MYSTERY AND COMEDY 'An atmosphere.of intense mystery is - created in the exciting detective melodrama, "The Scotland Yard Mystery," which is at the Grand Theatre. The first chapter of an exciting Buck Jones serial, "The Red Rider," is also being shown. The programme is completed with an amusing comedy, "Meet My Sister." "The Scotland Yard Mystery" deals with , the ■ exposure of a tremendous' life' insurance ramp by the chief inspector of Scotland Yard, and there is a continuous train

of intensely gripping ' incidents and gruesome moments.