CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21972, 22 December 1936, Page 6

CITY THEATRES

STATE "SING, BABY, SING" "Sing, Baby. Sing," has been described by the "New York Times" as "one of the most amusing pictures to be shown this year." Coming from this paper, which is notoriously frank in its criticisms, this is high praise, but it is not unjustified, as may be proved ; by a visit to the State Theatre this week. "Ladies in Love" An exciting screen event is in store for patrons of the State Theatre, for "Ladies in Love," the brilliant new Twentieth Century-Fox picture featuring the greatest cast of feminine personalities ever assembled in one film, opens there on Friday. Janet Gaynor, Loretta Young, and Constance Bennett are starred, and Simone Simon featured in this fascinating story of four lonesome young ladies, looking for a love that will last for ever. So rcmantic about love, so practical about lovers, the picture is a bitter-sweet romance of the adventures and heartaches of the four in search of the men they love. Don Ameche. Paul Lukas, Tyrone Power, jun., and Alan Mowbray are also featured in the supporting cast in "Ladies in Love." Janet, who. incredibly, feeds rabbits for a living; Loretta. a chorus girl in a musical show, and Constance, a mannequin who wants a millionaire, pool their resources and take a small apartment. Excitedly happy in their new home, the girls eagerly plan for the romances they intend to have, and dream of the men they love. Janet adores Don Ameche, a young doctor who accasionally employs her. Loretta has fallen in love with a wealthy young man, who. however, is already engaged. Constance is enjoying a gay round of pleasure and excitement with Paul Lukas, a mining engineer on vacation from South America. CIVIC "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 is now showing at the Civic Theatre. It was hailed by the GaumontBritish Company as the greatest picture ever made by a British studio. "It's Love Again" Whimsical, effervescent, Jessie Matthews has made many appealing pictures before, but she reaches new heights in "It's Love Again." This film, although in some parts ludicrous, i~ clean, bright fun all through, and makes an excellent Christmas attraction for the Civic Theatre. Jessie Matthews is very ably supported by Robert Young and Sonnie Hale. The story is set in extravagant locales, intermitting between hectic Fleet street and the lavish cabarets of Mayfair. Jessie was never seen to better advantage; she is easy to look upon and easy to listen to, while Robert Young is her ideal romantic opposite, with Sonnie Hale playing the fool in his inimitable way. The story concerns Elaine, an aspiring dancer, who, having failed to impress a very eccentric producer, is intrigued by the publicity given to a certain Mrs Smythe-Smythe, a great traveller, big-game huntress, and Indian celebrity, about whose allure and mystery the papers are making much to-do. CRYSTAL PALACE "SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR" "Special Investigator." at the Crystal Palace, is a tensely exciting film most of the time, with a particularly thrilling climax. "The Border Patrolman" The real fast action ot the Wild West will form the basis of tne Christmas attraction at the Crystal Palace where "The Border Patrolman" will be shown. The star is George O'Brien, who rules the hard men of the West but fails to tame a woman. This film is an outstanding drama full of excitement and romance, and George O'Brien, who has shown his ability to portray the type of role offered, is seen at his best. MAYFAIR "GIRLS' DORMITORY" There is something very attractive about the film "Girls' Dormitory," which is now in its second week at the Mayfair Theatre, although its title is one that suggests a bedroom comedy rather than the, pretty little story which it is. The Mayfair Theatre heads the Christmas programme with the Twickenham film, "In the Soup," starring the inimitable Ralph Lynn. Written by Ralph Lumley, this famous comedy has been adapted for the screen by Harry Fowler Mear, and many original g&gs have been evolved by Ralph Lynn. This fine comedian has never been seen to better advantage, and some of the situations are the funniest yet produced, particularly a courtroom sequence with Lynn as a lawyer defending the wrong case. The story concerns Horace Gillibrand, would-b? lawyer, who becomes so hard up that he is forced to let his flat. He finds suitable tenants, but unfortunately his wife, unknown to him, also lets the flat. The servants leave unexpectedly, ttnd Horace and his wife are compelled to act as butler and housekeeper, to two families who must be kept in ignorance of each other's presence. AVON "THE CASE OF THE BLACK CAT" Detective stories are providing some of the most interesting films at present being produced, and "The Case of the Black Cat," which is showing at the Avon Theatre, deals with a novel story in a refreshing manner. Like all good crime stories, it keeps the real criminal unsuspected until the last minute, but is enterprising in that the crime to which the chief attention is drawn proves to have been unsuccessful, and the criminals are ultimately brought to book for subsidiary murders committed merely as incidentals to the main one. "The General Died at Dawn" Revolution-ridden China is the scene of the first screen-romance between Gary Cooper and Madeleine Carroll, "The General x}ifcd at Dawn." a Paramount adventure-drama, which will be the Christmas attraction at the Avon Theatre.

Far from being an hour of mere sweethearting, however, the story plunges its hero and heroine into a Maelstrom of complicated Chinese politics amid a world of enemies. Gary, as an American soldier of fortune, takes sides against a ruthless bandit chief, while Miss Carroll, whose father backs the bandit, is inveigled into conniving at his betrayal. And then, of course, discovers that she loves him. Among the supporting cast are Russian AkinTimiroff, of "Bengal Lancer" and "Louis Pasteur," old-timer Dudley Digges, an<s Irish J. M. Kerrigan. Some hundreds of genuine Chinese are in the picture, too.