CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21976, 28 December 1936, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

JESSIE MATTHEWS HERE AGAIN BRILLIANT MUSICAL COMEDY “IT’S LOVE AGAIN” COMES TO THE CIVIC Jessie Matthews, queen of the screen’s musical comedy stars, is back again in a brilliant and lavishly-pro-duced musical comedy, "It’s Love Again.” This her latest and most eagerly awaited production, began a season to a full house at the Civic Theatre on Saturday evening, and should be one of the most popular she has made. It is the ideal holiday entertainment. For its dancing, its singing, its comedy, and its pure effervescence of fun, music, and gaiety, it is a notable film. Jessie Matthews again has the assistance of the famous English comedian, Sonnie Hale, who less a triumph in this film than‘ in any of his many other outstanding shows. This time a third star is added to the cast, Robert Young, one of the screen’s most pleasant and most promising young men. He carries off his part so well that were the leading lady any other than Jessie Matthews he might have captured the film from hgr; but Jessie Matthews for every moment of her appearance has the full attention of her audience. This time, as at many others, she carries all her, singing, dancing, and laughing her way through one of the most delightful films of the year. The. story is a very light one, but is handled well and provides just the right amount of good comedy to mix with the other ingredients. Sonnie Hale has the lead in this section of the film, but has a little less to do than usual, and very nearly has his place stolen by Robert Young, who, although not playing a part that is essentially comic, strikes just the right note to provide an effective contrast to the less restrained comedy pf Hale. The two of them, with Jessie Matthews, make three of the brightest personalities that could have been brought to. the screen in one film, and it is a pleasure to watch them. The story has some interesting variations from the usual theme for the film of its type. Robert Young and Sonnie Hale run a newspaper gossip column. They invent a Mrs SmytheSmythe, whose entirely imaginary exploits provide them with front-page copy. Jessie Matthews, who is an out-of-work chorus girl looking for a “break,” impersonates Mrs SmytheSmythe to attract attention and this leads to many complications, each of which provides the means for good comedy and most appropriate occasions for the singing and dancing. Cyril Wells goes through some of the dances with Jessie Matthews. She sings alone a number of catchy tunes. Chief among these is the theme song “It’s Love Again”; others are, “Got to Dance My Way to Heaven,” “Tony’s In Town,” and “I Nearly Let Love Go Slipping Through My Fingers.” There is an interesting supporting programme. ' STATE “LADIES IN LOVE” An unusual theme extremely well produced is “Ladies in Love,” which is showing at the 'State Theatre this week. There is no story in the usual sense of the term, but there is an interesting study of the contrasting experiences of three girls who set out together to achieve their individual ideas of happiness. One wants a business of her own, another wants a rich husband, and the third wants only a home with husband and children to look after. They all obtain their wishes, but only at the cost of happiness except for the last. Four actresses share the leading roles, Constance Bennett, Janet Gaynor, and Loretta Young, and the new star, Simone Simon, also has an important part. The first three have pooled their resources when the film opens and taken a modern apartment, where they plan for the working out of their wishes. On New Year’s Eve, “Roberta,” starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, will be shown at a midnight matinee. AVON “THE GENERAL DIED AT DAWN” Having taken the lead in some of the year’s best light films, Gary Cooper is now appearing at the Avon Theatre in “The General Died at Dawn,” a tensely dramatic story in which he plays the strongman part in most convincing .style. The film is a good tonic at this season of the year, providing as it does a series of breath-taking situations, full of action from the first moment. The name of the picture is a fair enough indication of the good story it is. It remains only to mention that the general who died at dawn was a Chinese war lord; and the rest can be readily imagined. Gary Cooper dominates the film as the American, O’Hara, who has pitted

himself against the Chinese war lord, General Yang, and works to win freedom from tyranny for the peasants of Yang’s province. He is closely challenged for acting honours by Akim Tamiroff, who, as General Yang, not only looks and speaks, but is Chinese for all the purposes of the screen. Tamiroff is called upon to act where Cooper may remain his usual debonair self, and Tamiroff succeeds with a genius that is one of the finest points of a fine film. The feminine lead is taken by Madeleine Carroll. CRYSTAL PALACE “THE BORDER PATROLMAN” The swaggering and popular George O’Brien and the charming Polly Ann Young, a sister of the better-known Loretta, head the cast of “The Border Patrolman,” which is now showing at the Crystal Palace. The film is full of action from start to finish. “Rhythm on the Range” Six song hits are heard in the rollicking tale of romance and melody in Paramount’s “Rhythm on the Range,” which will begin at the Crystal Palace on Friday next. The picture features two radio artists, Bing Crosby and Bob Burns, and has Frances Farmer in the leading feminine role. Martha Raye, a new comedienne screen “find,” plays the comedy romantic role opposite Burns. “Rhythm on the Range” casts Crosby and Burns as cowboys. Crosby wins money to buy a prize bull, during the course of a New York rodeo, and starts for Arizona in a box car with the animal. He has company in the person of Miss Farmer, a society girl fleeing from an unwanted marriage, MAYFAIR “IN THE SOUP” A good dose of folly is often one of the best ingredients for entertainment, and the particular brand of it purveyed by Ralph Lynn has made him one of the most popular English comedians. The “silly ass” part has long been a feature of English comedy, and it is exploited to the full in “In the Soup,” which is having a season at the Mayfair Theatre. The film is no mere repetition of the well-known tricks of Ralph Lynn. It keeps the audience convulsed with laughter and intrigued by the novelty of its situations. OTHER THEATRES “San Francisco,” starring Clark Gable and Jeannette Mac Donald, is now showing at the Regent. Also on the programme is “Audioscopics.” “Counterfeit,” starring Chester Morris, a story of the T men. is the current feature at the Majestic Theatre. “Showboat,” with Paul Robeson, Irene Dunne, and Alan Jones, is the film now showing at the Tivoli Theatre. This week’s double programme at the Liberty consists of “The 39 Steps” and “Justice of the Range,” “The Great Hotel Murder” and Edgar Wallace’s “The Green Pack” showing at the Grand Theatre this week. “Accused,” starring Dolores del Rio and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., is the film showing this week at the Plaza Theatre, This week’s programme at the Theatre Royal includes W. C. Fields in “Poppy,” and Myrna Loy in “Wings in the Dark.”