CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21938, 12 November 1936, Page 7

CITY THEATRES

“THE THREE MAXIMS” BRILLIANT STARS IN FINE DRAMA NEW FILM FOR AVON THEATRE "The Beloved Vagabond," with Maurice Chevalier, will be shown finally at the Avon Theatre to-day. A film offering a full measure of excitement and romance, “The Three Maxims,” will begin at the Avon Theatre to-morrow. Dealing with Maxim’s famous circus, the story offers ample scope for the entertainment provided in the ring, and at the same time there is an interesting theme. Pew directors are able to break away from the “one-star” theory—playing a star with, say, a leading actor or actress as a foil, but when they do the result can usually guarantee to be interesting. In “The Three Maxims”’ for instance, Herbert Wilcox has brought together and blended skilfully a ux'io of stars in Anna Neagle, perhaps the most popular feminine star ever developed in the British Isles; Tullio Carminati, brought over from Hollywood: and Leslie Banks, star of such pictures as “Sanders of the River” and “The Man Who Knew too Much.” He was able to do this logically because the story demanded a trio of varied personalities who should be thrown together in an enthralling romantic drama against the colourful Cosmopolitan background of the circus.

Anna Neagle is Pat, a beautiful highspirited Irish girl who is the unwitting cause of trouble between the other two members of the famous Maxim trio. These are Toni (Carminati) who, for once steps out of his silk-hat immacu-lately-dressed roles and appears as a trapeze artist, and Mac (Banks), a rough, morose Scotsman, whose love for Pat is not returned.

The famous trio, at first perhaps seems a difficult combination, particularly in such an unusual setting, but so skilfully have they been handled, instead of getting in the way of the story, they are carried with it to a crashing climax of a duel between the two men during their sensational trapeze act high in the air, above a spellbound audience.

The story opens with the misadventures of this happy-go-lucky troupe before they get their big chance in Paris, and follows on full of racy dialogue and high-spirited incident.

CRYSTAL PALACE

“STAR FOR A NIGHT”

“36 Hours to Kill” and "Educating Father” will be screened finally to-day at the Crystal Palace Theatre. Laughter, thrills, and romance combine in the entrancing story of "Star for a Night,” Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox picture opening to-mor-row at the Crystal , Palace Theatre with Claire Trevor. Jane Darwell, Arline Judge. Evelyn Venable. J. Edward Bromberg, Dean Jagger, Alan Dinehart. and Joyce CompTon. The film tells an unusual story of how chorus girls turn a musical show topsy-turvy. Claire Trevor has the part of a chorus girl, whose mother, after recovering her sight, expects to see Claire as the star of the show. How this is achieved makes an astonishing climax. A fine comedy, ‘‘The First Baby,” is the second feature. The stars, who provide romance and humour, are JohnnyDowns, Shirley Deane, and Dixie Dunbar. There is a large supporting cast. The story deals with the troubles of a married couple after they have their first baby. Johnny Downs, as the husband, finds conditions intolerable, and attempts to set up an apartment of his won. Hqw the two are reunited makes a delightful story.

CIVIC

FINE COLMAN FILM TO-MORROW

“Love Time” and “The World Moves On” will be screened to-day lor the last time at the Civic Theatre. "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo,” Twentieth Century’s romantic comedy, starring Ronald Colman, which will begin to-mox'row at the Civic, has an unusual plot. It tells of an impoverished Russian Prince who gambles his savings and those of his friends at Monte Carlo and wins 10,000,000 francs, breaking the bank. He divides half of his winnings among his friends and then uses the rest to pursue Joan Bennett with whom he has fallen in love. Although hired to lure him back to the gambling tables, she falls in love with her intended victim.

She arid her companion in deceit, Colin Clive, lead Colman a merry chase through the gay centres of Europe to Interlaken. Switzerland, it is here that Miss Bennett falls in love with her victim. She tries to save Colman, but Clive manages to get him back to Monte Carlo. Colman loses his winnings, but wins Miss Bennett, much to the satisfaction of both principals and the audience. Much of the film’s excellence is undoubtedly due to the able direction of Stephen Roberts. OTHER THEATRES Regent “Show-boat” is in its second week at the Regent Theatre. Irene Dunne is cast as the singer Magnolia on a river show boat. Opposite her plays Allen Jones and in the cast of this musical romance are Paul Robeson and Helen Morga; Tivoli “Love Begins at 20” will conclude at the Tivoli Theatre to-day. “Cardinal Richelieu.” an historical drama, will begin to-morrow. George Arliss has the leading role, and Maureen O’Sullivan and Cesar Romero sustain the romantic interest. Majestic “Kelly the Second” and “Blackmail ’ will conclude at the Majestic Theatre to-day. “Earthworm Tractors,” starring ■Joe E. Brown, will begin to-morrow. 1 The supporting players are Carol Hughes and June Travis in the femiI nine roles. j Liberty “Shipmates Forever” and “The Last Outpost” will conclude at the Liberty to-day. “Freckles,” with Virginia Weidler and Tom Brown, and “Chasing Yesterdays,” with Anne Shirley and O. P. Heggie, will begin to-mor-row. Grand “When New York Sleeps” and “365 Nights in Hollywood” will conclude at the Grand to-day. To-morrow’s new programme will be “Gambling Ship,” with Cary Grant, and “You’re Telling Me,” a comedy starring W. C. Fields. “Heart of the West,” with William Boyd, and “Everything is Rhythm,” with Harry Roy and Princess Pearl, are showing at the Theatre Royal. “Early to Bed,” with Charlie Ruggles, and “Honours Easy,” with Greta Nissen, will begin to-morrow. The current film at the Plaza Theatre is “A Star Pell from Heaven,” featuring Jpseph Schmidt, Florine McKinney, Billy Milton, and Judy Kelly. To-morrow “Ourselves Alone” will begin. The title is a translation o£ “Sinn Feixm.”

“MARY OF SCOTLAND” DRAMATIC FILM BEGINS TO-MORROW SEASON AT STATE THEATRE “Swing Time,” with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, will conclude a season of three weeks at the State Theatre to-day. “Mary of Scotland.” a spectacular photoplay dramatising Mary Stuart, whose glamorous and tragic career is one of the richest chapters in the turbulent sixteenth century, wili open to-morrow at the State Theatre as the product of an unusual array of talent. Katharine Hepburn and Fredric March co-star as the hapless Scottish beauty and her lover, the Earl of Bothwell—roles that give full scope to the brilliance which won for them academy awards in respectively “Morning Glory” and “Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde.” Nor are the stars of this production alone in having had the highest critical recognition of their brilliance. The story is drawn from the stage hit by Maxwell Anderson. It was directed by John Ford, whose work on “The Informer” won the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences directorial award for 1935. It was adapted to the screen by Dudley Nichols, winner of the 1935 Academy adaptation award for his screen play for “The Informer.” Florence Eldridge appears as Elizabeth; Moroni Olsen as Knox; Douglas Walton as Mary’s second policy-spouse, Lord Darnley; lan Keith as her powergreedy half-brother, Moray; John Carradine as the Italian advisor, Rizzio, whose fantastic murder turned her distaste for Darnley to hate; and Alan Mowbray as *Ehzabeth’s ambassador, Throckmorton: they head the notable cast of 40 principals. Others who have important roles are Ralph Forbes, Robert Barrat, Gavin Muir, William Stack, Frieda Inescort, and Donald Crisp. The story is presented against settings which were the product of months of research and in costumes designed by the outstanding authority on period clothes, Walter Plunkett.

MAYFAIR

“POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL”

i Charmiflg personality undoubtedly won the hearts of film followers tho world over when first little Shirley ■ Temple came to the screen, but it is j this attractive asset along with her j brilliant talent to entertain every class I of audience that has carried the child jto the top rank of popularity she j holds to-day. In each successive film { seems to develop a new faetpr in t her' many and varied capabilities, so I that one finds her in her newest picture “Poor Little Rich Girl,” which is at the Mayfair Theatre, imitating the flairs ot other screen notabilities. ! principally the crooning of Bing j Crosby. It is a picture of many songs, j giving the diminutive actress ample ; opportunity to amuse, j Since her first appearance Shirley Temple has gone from success to greater success. In “Poor Little Rich Girl” she has set a mark which she will have difficulty in reaching in her future productions. j A film showing the Melbourne Cup | race is an outstanding feature among I the supports. i “PRESS SHIP” CONCERT : * i | GOOD PROGRAMME ARRANGED i Special interest attaches to the con- ; cert which will be held in the Radiant I Hall on Saturday evening in aid of “The Press Ship” Christmas Mission and Cholmondeley Home “Press Ship” cot funds. The concert has been arranged by a band of talented children, all of whom have won honours in singing. dancing and dramatic work in the Dominion. Further assurance of a good evening’s entertainment is that assistance is being lent by Mrs Enid Frye, and pupils of Miss Ivy Fowler are appearing in several items. The programme, which includes the prizewinning opera, “Tho Wonderful Inn.” I by pupils of Mrs Frye, should appeal i a s much to adults as to children, and j there is already a demand for seats, j which may be reserved at “The Press.” ! Lady Gay’s room. i The young organisers are indebted to the business firms of the city, who have lent every possible help, and it is expected that “The Press Ship” philanthropic endeavour will benefit considerably by the evening’s entertainment.