Cinema Reviews

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21732, 14 March 1936, Page 10

Cinema Reviews

REGENT «THB rEBFJBCT .O^TLEfttAN" Cicely Courtneidge, veil known- top her capable acting in English films, makes her debut in American films in •The Perfect Gentleman." which began, a season at the Regent Theatre 'yesterday. In this. h,er latest production., she has the typically wild and madcap role exactly-suited.to. her temperament, but -everf though it is. her lir»t appearance in a Hollywood film, the inevitable "grooming" process has already-been at work, and she exchanges a; little of ber exuberance lor on elaborate coiffure. ... Misa Coiu-tneidge's v»vacity is as great as ever, and she finds a splendid foil in Frank Morgan. .Morgan, it will be remembered, was the hen r peeked governor in "Naughty Marietta." a part in which he was very successful. There are in the film many amusing situations, the best of which are those at a bishop's garden party, a charity auction sale, and in a London music ha!L i A fitting climax to one series of amusing adventures is a scene in which Mies Courtneidge dances a rumba with Herbert Mundin, wha is cast as .a debt collector. Una O'Connor, who takes the part (Of Morgan's sister in the film, is outitanding among the supporting actors. The manner io which she is able to express varying emotions marks her as an actress of high quality. Chiefly the film fa comedy, but there i» a strong undercurrent of pathos. The interpretation' by Morgan of the, part of Major Chatteris, a gentleman with an unlimited imagination, a very ihin purse, and infinite resource is remarkable. The major has a flair for tumbling into delicate situations and extricating himself to his own advantage, but to the discomfiture of those concerned. In the early part of the film the impression is given that the major's gentlemanliness exists only in appearance, but later this is dispelled, and he is shown in his true light as a real gentleman. A» the revue star with whom the major forms a partnership, Cicely Courtneidge is remarkably good. She has serious moments, but they are few. The* story is one that gives full play to the capabilities of the leading actors and the unusualness of it adds to its "Honeyland," a very good technicolour cartoon, is included on the supporting programme, as is also "Top! Flat." a Patsy Kelly-Thelma Todd comedy.

MAJESTIC

«CIHNA SEAS"

Well-produced melodrama is always good entertainment, but "China Seas," which began a season at the Majestic Theatre yesterday, achieves a standard in this type of film that is not otten equalled >xi i\s fesillian.ce. It has. been vividly produced, the story is intensely excising, and the action never lags. Perhaps the most striking feature Of the Rieture is the merit of the casting. Clark Gable. Wallace Beery, and Jean Harlow tane the leading parts, and, as every theatre-goer knows, each Js talented to a degree; but one receives the impression in this film that these actors have not had to fit their parte. Rather**ihe parts, fit "tyuan, and that, of course, mikes their. "wcSk the more convincing. the picttue has been yrvidly produced, it does not suffer/iyoni ..lack of restraint: The directcf >and; the actors might well be excusedTlt;. they tended to exaggerate, but -there, is no suggestion of flambtiyance. The nght ttaoosphere is set in the opening scenes, in which a ship in the harbour of Hong Kong is boarded by the three as the brusque Aad hostile skipper; Jean Harlow as the unconventional and outspoken adventures*; and Beery as the affabie trader in pigs who later throws off this mask to show himself as the leader of a §3od of Malay pirates. On board is a valuable consignment of gold. But the picture is more than a tale of the pirates' attempt to plunder the ship for the gold. Into the story comes a charming English widow with whom Gable was in love some years before. She is cool and poised, in marked contrast to the emotional and hysterical character Miss Harlow portrays, and both are seeking the affection of the young captain. With the ship menaced by storm and pirates, the three work out their problem. The incidental development of the story is extremely well done. The scenes showing the steamer at the mercy of a typhoon with a steamroller that has broken from its moorings sliding from one side of the deck to the other must be among the most, thrilling that have ever been filmed. Equally gripping are the scenes in j which the pirates board the ship and take charge The merit of the acting of the principals is enough to make the picture I worth seeing, but the supporting play-J era contfibtite •to the success of the film to a "greater degree than is usual. If there <is any distinction between the talent of C Aubrey Smith arid Lewis Stone* it is hard to find it in this picture. Rosalind Russell is sound as the English widow, and Robert Benchley, astpe drunkard,, brings a well-sustained touch of humour. The supporting programme is an excellent introduction to the main picture. Of remarkable beauty is a film of Banff, M the Canadian Rockies, photographed in colour. -Equally entertaining is a Charlie Chase comedy, *TJfe Hesitates at Forty." which deserves commendation for the originality of Use story.

LIBERTY

IMJLTLE FEATURE PROGRAMME

"Sing As Wc Go" is the title of Gracie Fields' new musical production, tlie current attraction at the Liberty Theatre. J. B. Priestley, the author of "Good Companions," wrote the story specially for Miss Fields, and this alone should ensure an excellent entertainment. The story tells of her adventurer in Blackpool, where some first-class comedy sequences are filmed. As in real life. Miss Fields in this fin), works for some time in a local cotton mill. Naturally she is the "life oi the place"—nothing ever daunts her, not evpn the closing of the mill. She must get a job somehow, and when i>he hears of one at Blackpool off she y.oes pedalling her bicycle, headed for line faxneu'j pleasure resort. She bet umes a housemaid at a boarding-house icr a while, but has to leave owing to a quarrel with one of the lodgers. Then follows a succession of boisterous happenings in which this popular comedienne is seen to advantage. JT. |B,' Priestley 'is a great admirer of the popular Lancashire actress and readily agreed when offered the opportunity of writing the story of, "Sing A«.We Go." The supporting cast are jiot far behind Mi*s Fields,*-in the «cll«M» of their «cttij&. '■''.. ' r/ S ** <J *S^tad l hSeP» fidf M "

MAYFAIR '

<*#HE''\' UTTLEBT REBEL" Shirley Temple, In bee fifth picture, "The Littlest Rebel," which began, a season 1 at,'the Mayfair tfheatre yester.-j day, once mote'charms her ©udiences, w ? iih het bright and natural manner, her lively tap-dancing, and her suigMg. people have-prophesied libit this- very ''young actress would soon.become spoiled, by the publicity thSt- inevitably accompanies staractiiSJlhey; hid, thought that all childish chlWwould disappear and that Shirley Temple would become an unattractive, forward little Prodigy; yet this has not happened. For the mm thrie this child has made a successful picture and for the fifth time she has made a picture in which she appears as an unsophisticated, refreshingly simple little girl playing her part with naive spontaneity. , There is not the slightest suggestion that this young actress has been given her lines to learn by heart; she has the happy gift of speaking her part as if she had just that moment thought of the words she meant to say. It is the same with her actions and with her singing. She settles herself quite naturally and an- ; nounces that she, will sing to her audijence; the result * is. unstudied and I therefore most pleasing. j The story of "The Littlest Rebel comes from the, American. Civil War. Shirley Temple plays, the. part of Virgie, daughter of Captain Cary (John Boles), of the Confederate army; her mother (Karen Morley) and father have taught Virgie never to tell a lie. But as the trouble between North and 'South becomes more acute and Captain Cary has to take graver risks for his army, things become very unhappy for the people who live at the Cary home. The slaves there are devoted to Miss Virgie; Uncle Bill (Bill Robinson) in particular is her devoted admirer. The day comes when. Mrs Cary dies and when it is necessary for Virgie to tell a lie to save her father's life. Uncle Bill helps to tell the lie, and together he and Virgie: dance to save the captain. But the Colonel (Jack Holt) from the Yankee ; army finds the lie too good to be true, admires the dance, and soon discovers the captain's hiding place. The way in which the captain is caught and saved and caught again, and the way in which Uncle Bill and Virgie finally save him, are things that are told in a story with many thrills. In the supporting programme there are several interesting news reels, aria two educational pictures, one of Hawaii and a particularly good film showing the mysterious island of San Nicholas. This strange island is very difficult to approach, visitors to it have fjound;the skulls and bones of men qf various' races and war weapons and caryed articles of several civilisations. There is excellent photography in .this educational* support.

! STATE • ' . "SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE" "Seven tKeys to Baldpate," which began a season at the State Theatre yesterday, is a film " of' the sturdy thriller type. Although it includes the robust c.oniedy 1 .|^e.'touch of ro•mancp. which il were&.distinguiShing marks of the novel arW the play by the same, name; its suspense is-main-tained throughout, making the film an exciting and thoroughly entertaining one. '* The film is made from the novel by Earl Derr Bjggers and thepjay by George M. Cohan.; and has Gene Raymond in the 1 central role. fitayiaond plays the part of a cele-brated-author "of-mystery stories who has accepted-a • that he cannot write a novel in 24 hours. He selects deserted Baldpate-Inn as an ideally quiet pjace in which to : work, and locks himself in with- what he believes to be the only key to the ihn in existence. The time which he i<? given to write his novel is from midnight to midnight and he is just about to begin work when a key clicks in the door of Baldpate and someone enters. Then at intervals, five morp keys click in the door, and the silence of the deserted inn is shatered by the noise of violent adventure. The six newcomers are all in search of a larg«» sum of money which has been hidden in a safe in the inn. Among them are. two mysterious young women, with one of whom Raymond falls in love . He works with her in a battle of brains against the other five. ( Gene Raymond is well suited to the part he has to play and he seems to enjoy it thoroughly. Although his air seems'to be. cafelesS, he .gives a studied, performance'and one which means a great deal to the success of the film: Margaret Callahan, who plays opposite him. also gives. a good performance in' a role that is not the* easiest. An enthusiastic spontaneity in the work of the .whole cast ,is one of the distinguishing marks of the film. Eric Blore stands, out in a comedy roje and Moroni Olsen is also prominent as the leader of.;a bandrof gangsters. Others in the cast are Erin O'Brien-Moore. Grant Mitchell, Henry Travers, Ray -Mayer, Murray Alper, Harry Beresford, and Emma Dunn. The directors have done well in balancing the melodrama, romance, and comedy. The settings do 'much to heighten the sinister, mysterious mood of the whole film. The supporting programme includes a short comedy, a newsreel, and an interesting review of American sport in 1935. . ~, | k ■ I GRAND

•«CAR4yW

One of the most brilliant screen productions seen here in many months is now having a season at the Grand Theatre. "Caravan,", outstanding as Erik Charell's'first ..'film- effort in Hollyv/ood, should insure a long and distinguished career for this gifted producer-director in America. His initial production for Fox combines splendour of setting and a lavishness unusual in sound films „ with subtle comedy and sparkling dialogue. The sweeping exteriors of "Caravan" are matched in effectiveness omVby the delightful interludes of comedy. Perhaps topping all other features of this production are the amazing new technique and the unique use of music that stirs one with its rhythmic swing- The music, especially composed tor'the film by' Werner Richard Heymann, serves to accompany and point the action. Outstanding are such song numbers as the "Vi me Song," "Ha-cha-cha,!' and,. "Happy, I.Am Happy." A brilliant cast performs this romantic love story-of the Tokay wine harvest. Charles Boyer, continental star, appears as a-dashing Gipsy musician and' Loretta Young as a gay countess. - .Parker; £hiUips Holmes, .and:sipuise Fazenda, clrtftfe players as ©ulsltti Bajletfe, i CK-* Aubrey Smith t |HE«WBWwSmd'"N6ah Beery ventiqnal screen "musical" in any sense; inusic plays an important part in the''<smooth and effortless flow of its story. So stirring and radically different is the use of music that probably the picture will, introduce a laew era of musical production.

PLAZA r •'•'invitation",. <ro;;"TPHE'' .. . ' j With its 'delightful Georgian cos--tfime, catchy. :airsy Vivacious dialogue, and humorous characters, "Invitatioh to the Waltz," which began its season at'the; Plaza.,Theatre,last evening, is a really entertaining film. One of its chief' - recommendations ; " to. many theatre-goers will be that, unlike most films of the musical type shown lately, it depends for its appeal on dancing and not on singing. The dancer, into the. bargain, is Lilian Harvey, who has'a way of her own, is a real person and not merely a pretty mask, and can dance with distinction. . The story, of course, is farce, of the musical comedy type. The setting is in the first few years of the last century, when Napoleon was the bogey of England. Jenny Peachey (Lilian Harvey) is the pupil in a dancing school, being trained to take a part in a ballet on the occasion of the marriage of the Duke of Wurtemburg to an English Princess, She meets one of the Duke's officers and mistakes him for his master„ but soon loses sight of him. After a few years she has become famous as a dancer, and has Marek Weber (Richard Bird) as her pianist. She is induced to play a part in diplomacy in an endeavour to induce the Duke of Wurtemburg to ally himself with. England instead of with Napoleon. She plans to do this by making him so waste the wealth of his State on her that he will be compelled to sign the: English treaty Vf or the sake of the money it will, bring him. So she meets her officer again, and on the way to Stuttgart hears & new country dance—the waltz-r-which she and Weber between them make famous at their first and only' performance in the city. She stalls .off the Duke, is made fun of, by Napoleon, [and gains her lover in the end, 'The incidents of the film, however, make it successful.' There -is Lilian Harvey's dancing with old-fashioned ballets at, the beginning and • a fine waltz ensemble' at the end; there is fun with the Duke and the revelation of how diplomacy for him is merely a matter of money; and in the end there is an amusing sketch of Napoleon as a very human middle-aged man of the sort that is humorously kind to little dancers. ,' ' The supports include an Australian newsreel, an Italian ballet sketch, and a series of topical shorts,

AVON • "WITHOUT REGRET" .. . The "eternal triangle" of two women and one man has been a frequent source of drama for film producers, so frequent -in fact that unless it, is well played it is nowadays hardly possible. When, however, the' story is written by Roland Pertwee and the main part is taken by Elissa. Landi, the play has to be good. It is riot quite correct to say that "Without Regret," the film which is now showing at the Avon Theatre, is. another presentation of the eternal triangle, rather is it a rectangle with two good players of each sex concerned in ,the drama. ' The story counts more in this picture than' in many that have been shown in Christchurch. Also, the play has the.added advantage of bringing Elissa Landi to the screen in a new part. In the past she has shown ttiat slie Isnows Inow to play-" eoTAedy and play well. With all the dramatic stars at their call, the Para-, mount Company entrusted this story to Miss Landi, and she shows that their trust was not misplaced.; !; 'Married to' an aviator-scoundrel, whom later she believes to have been killed in an accident, she .marries again, only to find after some years that het is,,, alive. Blackmailed by a fortelfS§rV&f ,|he, Husband, the young wi# n*pMly regains her happiness after the blackmailer has been killed. Such, baldly, is the story, ; biit. it is lifted above the commonplace by the excellent presentation of the plot and story. The : actors are given a great I deal- to do. and at no. time does one I overshadow the others. All the stars speak clearly and perfectly, and this fact, with the general high standard of the production, makes it a picture well above the average. Many companies* have tried to find shorts to equal the Mickey Mouse cartoons,; and perhaps the onlv supports which equal or surpass Mickey are those dealing with the. adventures of Pop-Eye the Sailor. He has not been to Christchurch for some time, but his reception last evening at the Avon showed that he is still in favour with picturegoers. The Avon orchestra provides suitable music during the intervals.

CRYSTAL PALACE

"MOSCOW NIGHTS"

I r Films of the war have not, perhaps, I the same appeal as they used tp,-as i war. plots have been so often used in the last few years. But "Moscow Nights,"which began a season at the Crystal Palace Theatre last night, cannot be described as an ordinary film of the war. It is, in fact, a triumph for the film studios, directors, producers, and photographers of Great Britain. It has long been said that Hollywood leads the world in the film industry, but if British studios dan continue lb turn out productions of the 'same calibre as "Moscow-Nights" there will be no need for Britain to copy the lead of America. From first to last there are no unnecessary or drawn-out scenes, which in so many cases ruin a promising plot. More'than'with anyone else the fate of a-.film'lies with the producer. Alexander Korda improves the already,,high, reputation which he has won with former'presentations, and it is only fair,to say that his is a great share in the finish of "Moscow Nights." But however adaptable or weak a plot may be, undoubtedly it is the acting in a film which determines its fate. And the English have proved in "Moscow Nights" that they have actors and actresses -comparable with any which >can"be<pr6duced f romother

lands. Perhaps the laurels of "Moscow Nights" should be given to Harry Baur, who plays .the ,difflcult ipart of Brioukow, ,a rich peasant ajid -as wartime profiteer...: He is the same.; type: of actor Laughton, and. he is quite as good. If Laughton. had, ljad his in "Moscow Nights" he. could, hot, have excelled the .performance of Baur. " iAlthpugh/Baiir has "the biggest share of ttte acting,, tiothihg-can be found wittuwhich to reproach the young star of .the.film, Laurence He is the -young .officer! who loses money to Brioukow on the-gambling tables. He is found in the flat of a woman spy and is 'tried-for" high' treason. The part is not nearly, so difficult as Baur's, but-if Olivier' had failed.much would have-been, lost- from, the'-film. The other- principal is Penelope Dudley Ward as the. fiancee of Brioukow and the nurse arid ' ultimate, lover- of Olivier. The ' other quality which makes "Moscow Nights" a great film is the photography. . The -supporting programme is particularly interesting; .'

TIVOLI

"BROADWAY HOSTESS" AND THOUGHT READING

The glamorous story of a Broadway and Park Lane singer's career and an amazing exhibition of; thought reading from the stage form the splendid entertainment which. opened a season at the Tivoli Theatre'last: evening. The picture, "Broadway features Winifred Shaw, and the dempnstration of uncanny thought reading is given by one announced only as "The Mysterious Lady." The absence of a name detracts in no way, however, from the excellent of her exhibition. With an assistant in the audience, and herself blindfolded, she. named many articles which were offered. Not only did she give the bare name of- the article, but, in many cases, she described it. The stones in women's dress rings were named, and she detailed the numbers on several pieces of, paper money. The contents.of parcels were revealed and the size of a man's slides was announced. That in itself would have been an excellent entertainment, but added to it was the beautiful singing story of Broadway. Winifred Shaw met immediate popularity when she sang "The Lady in Red" in "In Caliente." Her success since then has been phenomenal and the excellence of "Broadway Hostess is therefore not surprising. The picture comprises almost everything which goes to make a fine production, and hilarious comedy, dramatic thrills, catchy songs, and spectacles of splendour are not missing. The heroine plays the Part of a small-town girl with a'good singing voice, who goes to Broadway, but meets no success until Lyle Talbot, as a big gambler, takes an interest in her and makes her the toast of the town. Love affairs become tangled, however, although she soon rises to the top of her world. The love-of the gambler for a Park Lane girl, played by Genevieve Tobin, merely adds to the already badly complicated situation. The singer falls on bad days when Broadway has lost interest in her and the gambler has married another, but at the lowest, ebb of her tide he backs a show in which she is appearing, and her success, is renewed. During the opening performance of the new show, Winifred Shaw's brother, in a state of drunkenness, shoots the gambler, in the theatre. He is almost dying when Winifred goes to him, but 'he insists that she carry on the show. She does with even greater success tnan previously. This story, with firstclass acting- and excellent production, makes an entertaiiunent as bright as has for some; time. The supporting programme includes gazettes, an "Our Gang" comedy, and a coloured travelogue of America's great canyons.

NEW PROGRAMMES

CIVIC

"A CUP OF KINDNESS" AND "CHU CHIN CHOW"

A most attractive double feature programme will be presented at the Civic All-British Theatre from today. The two films, "Chu Chin Chow" and "A Cup of Kindness." have already established themselves on separate occasions throughout the world as outstanding successes, and the opportunity to witness two such productions on

the one programme is a treat that rarely comes the way of theatregoers. The first attraction, "Chu Chin Chow," is more than a brilliant transcription, it is a sparkling enlargement of Oscar Asche's famous musical play, the greatest stage spectacle of all time, which held its London season unbroken for four years. Combining spectacle with drama, romance, comedy, and the never to be forgotten music of Frederick Norton ("The Cobbler's Song," "Kissing Time," and "Robbers in the Wood"), "Chu Chin Chow" provides glittering material to appeal to every tasto, In keeping with the magnificence of the production an excellent cast of players has been gath-* ered together, at the heact of which are George Robey, Anna May Wong, Fritz Kortner, John Garrick, Malcolm McEachern. and Denis Hoey». Here is indeed entertainment oh a generous scale. In "A Cup of Kindness," Gaumont studios have produced an excellent entertainment. Another- Ben Traver?' farce, it brings out all the best in the famous Walls-Lynn combination. * The story concerns the enmuy between two suburban families. Family troubles brew thick and fast between the Tutts and the Ramsbothams, and they provide an invigorating cocktail-of broad farce, brilliant burlesque, clever comedy, and happy laughter. Besides Walls and Lynn, the cast includes Robertson Hare, Dorothy Hyson, Claude Hulbert, and Eva Moore. Box .plans are, at the. theatre.

"MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY" COMING TO REGENT

One of the most, thrilling adventures of the eighteenth century, the mutiny of seamen on H.M.S. Bounty while on a voyage to the South Seas, has become one of the greatest adventure films of the present century. If the motion picture camera had been in use 150 years ago, no more authentic or thrilling record of the amazing exploits of the Bounty and the historical mutiny could have been recorded, than will be seen in the "Mutiny on the Bounty," which will open a season at the Regent Theatre on March 27. Many perils, arid hardships were experienced in the filming of this picture. Adventure-loving men again lived the perils of angry seas, the silent suffering of tyranny, the heartbreak of loneliness to recreate thi= immortal struggle of a handful of mutineers. ' The director, Frank Llovd, and ai • intrepid crew of screen workmen sailed the storm-ridden South Seas over the same dangerous route sailed by H.M.S. Bounty, to get absolutely authentic scenes for this new attraction. Pacific Coast shipbuilders, using the original plans of the Bounty, constructed an absolute replica of the picturesque mutiny ship used in the picture. Months were spent in selecting the cast Charles Laughton surpasses all his other masterful performances as the tyrannical disciplinarian, the cruel but dauntless Captain Bligh. Clark Gable portrays Fletcher Christian, the young officer who leads the mutiny, and Franchot Tone plays the part of .Midshipman Byam, who supports Gable's insurrection. In addition to the native girls, Maria and Mamo, featured roles in the "Mutiny on the Bounty" are played by Herbert Mundin, Eddie Quillan, Dudley Digges, Donald Crisp, Henry Stephenson, Francis Lister, and Spring Byington, with hundreds of supporting players appearing in the production's many spectacular sequences.