CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21865, 19 August 1936, Page 6

CITY THEATRES

AN AMERICAN EPIC ‘‘BOULDER DAM” AT MAJESTIC GIAN’S CONTROL OVER NATURE “Boulder Dam,” starring Ross Alexander and Patricia Ellis, will start at the Majestic on Friday. The picture is based on the story of the building of this mighty project, and the lives of the daredevil workmen who blasted their Way through solid rock and scaled walls hundreds of feet above the river is painted in the picture in colourful detail. ' Death faced these at every turn, and many of their deeds of heroism. depicted in this film, will go down in the history of this great underfolrintf > '‘Roaming Lady,” with Fay Wray and Ralph Bellamy, will be the associate feature. “RIFFRAFF” “Riffraff,” starring Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy, is the current attraction at the Majestic. CRYSTAL PALACE DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME Few characters in popular fiction have become as popular as "Sappers Bulldog Drummond, and there can be none more attractive. In “Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back,” which is now showing at the Crystal Palace, Ronald Colman again has the part of Drummond, and he makes a very good job of it. • , “If I had a Million,” the second film on this programme, shows in a series of vignettes, some humorous, some poignant, same tragic, what a list of chosen types’ do with that amount of money. This is a picture brilliantly conceived and excellently carried out. *On the stage there will he, the grand wedding of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. “DONT GET PERSONAL” “Don’t Get Personal,” starring that popular star James i -inn and Sally Ellers/ is the coming attraction at Crystal Palace. The associate feature will be “Too Many Parents,” starring Francis Farmer and Henry Travers. AVON “LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY” The screen is at last producing child actors who are worthy of the namefar different from the precocious brats of earlier films. Freddie Bartholomew, in “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” now showing at the Avon, is a very likeable boy. The whole story depends on his ability to appear likeable and he never once lets the story down, C. Aubrey Smith, as the old earl, plays a most convincing part. His changing at th© hands of little Lord Fauntleroy is extraordinary; being extraordinary, it takes extraordinarily good acting to make it convincing. The part is most successful. There is no lagging, even in the more emotional scenes between the boy and his mother. As a screen production of a book, it sets a standard. Among the supports is one of: the best coloure#* cartoons for some time. "Music Ldnu?’’St'ds called, and it is Walt Disney'at his best. MAYFAIR . “CAPTAIN JANUARY” Acknowledged by film-goers of all types to be one of the most delightful comedy romances for many months “Captain January,” starring Shirley Temple, is now at the Mayfair Theatre. A genuinely dramatic story underlies the song, dance, and comedy delights of this story, in which Shirley plays the part of the much-loved friend of two old sea salts, Guy Kihbee, in the principal supporting role, plays the part of the lighthouse-keeper, the man who had rescued the child from the sea years before. The picture gains a special interest from the humour pi Slim Summerville and the eccentric dancing of Buddy 'Ehsen, who provide a foil to the charm of Shirley Temple. STATE “RHODES OF AFRICA” Every now and again there comes to the screen a film great in the true sense of the word. Of such calibre is “Rhodes of Africa,” .which has begun its Christchurch season at the State Theatre. It was hailed by the Company as the greatest picture ever made by a British studio, and it is no exaggeration to say that it has yet to be" excelled. No matter from what angle it is reviewed, this dramatic Story Of South Africa’s great Empire-builder measures up to a high standard. Fine acting by Walter Huston in the title role achieves both dignity and sincerity in conveying the ide, 1 of the British statesman. Oscar Homolka, Basil Sydney, and Peggy Ashcroft give notable performances in support of Huston. LIBERTY “FIRST A GIRL” “First a Girl," which is showing this week at the Liberty, is , musical cemedy at its best and brightest. A scintillating performance by Jessie Matthews embraces piquant romance, saucy , innuendo, and merry masquerade, in which she, the central figure, is finely supported by Soqnie Hale, ** “Trans-Atlantic Merry-Go-Round” is the second feature. TIVOLI “MR DEEDS GOES TO TOWN” “Mr Deeds Goes to Town,” which is in its third week, is now at ' the Tivol’. It tells the story of a rustic young mar who suddenly falls heir to 2Q,000.0qq dollars. The adventures that befall him maxe far some of the choicest hilarity the screen has seen for years. Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur have the leading roles. , GRAND “DVE GOT YOUR NUMBER” The romantic and human elements that lie behind the operation of the * gigantic telephone system of America are featured in '“l’ve Got Your Num» ber.” starring Joan Blondell, which heads the programme at the Grand Theatre week. , The second attraction, "Bureau of Missing Persona,” is an unusual drama featuring Bette Davis and Lewis Stonh