CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22002, 28 January 1937, Page 7

CITY THEATRES

DARING MODERN

DRAMA

"SWEET ALOES" COMING TO AVON

KAY FRANCIS IN LEADING ROLE

"Dodsworth," the film version of Sinclair Lewis's novel, is ending a season at the Avon Theatre. The stars are Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton.

A notable production, and one which is keenly awaited in the city, will begin a season at the Avon to-morrow. It is "Sweet Aloes," a daring modern drama of the human emotions of love, hate, and sacrifice, starring the beautiful Kay Fx'ancis. The picture, a Cosmopolitan production released by Warner Bros., is based on the big stage success. "Sweet Aloes." by Jay Mallory. The plot of the play is ultra-modern and startlingly daring, and although frank in treatment, is handled with the utmost good taste. The story concerns the romance of a young English girl with a nobleman who is married to a semi-invalid wife. Their child is taken into the nobleman's family by the grandfather, who longs for an heir his son's wife cannot give him. The girl seeks forgetfulness in America, marries a fine business man ,whom she respects, but does not love.

She is not happy, however. She grieves for her child, and her nerves are at the breaking point when an English playwright, who knows both the girl and the nobleman intimately, secretly arranges a meeting between the two couples. This leads to a situation in which the sparks fly, when the nobleman's wife suddenly comes to a realisation of what is going on, and that the other girl is the mother of "her" child. Through her nobility of character she finally solves the riddle and brings happiness to all in one of the most remarkable climaxes ever screened.

George Brent has the role of the American husband of Miss Francis, and gives a sterling performance, as also do Roland Young as the playwright, and Patric Knowles as the nobleman involved in the romance. Frieda Inescourt has created a remarkable character in the nobleman's wife, who adopts the other woman's child as her own. She brings to her portrayal great charm and intelligence. Henry Stephenson is excellent in the role of the English lord and grandfather of the child he plans to make his heir, as also is Halliwell Hobbes, father of Miss Francis, who dies as she is about to tell him of her difficulties. Helen Flint gives a fine performance as an American doctor, with whom the playwright falls in love. The intensely emotional situations of the play offer Kay Francis the finest dramatic opportunity of her career and she rises to them with all the brilliant artistry for which she is famous.

CRYSTAL PALACE

DRAMA AND COMEDY

"Swing Time," the musical film starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, will conclude to-day at the Crystal Palace. To-morrow's attractions at the Crystal Palace are "15 Maiden Lane," starring Claire Trevor and Cesar Romero, a mystery story of "Diamond Row," and the Jones family in "Back to Nature." Claire Trevor, in "15 Maiden Lane." is featured *as the niece of the head of the company insuring the gem stolen by Romero, turns amateur detective, and determines to recover the million dollar loss as well as break up the ring of jewel thieves victimising Diamond Row. Pretending to fall in with the plans of Romero, Claire leads him on until she finds herself in a strategic position resulting in a whirlwind denouement that not only recovers the stolen diamonds, but loot from several other robberies as well. "Back to Nature" is an exceedingly amusing comedy, with a large and well-chosen cast. .

STATE

"THE CHAMPAGNE WALTZ"

When Paramount decided that a tribute to its founder, Adolph Zukor, would be a simultaneous release throughout the world of one of its best productions, it could not have chosen a better film than "The Champagne Waltz." Since Paramount first came to the screen 25 years ago, the productions have steadily improved in every phase of the art. and in "The Champagne Waltz." the almost impossible has been accomplished, and the patron leaves the theatre with a sense of great satisfaction in the thought that American jazz has not killed the waltzes of other years. It would seem impossible to harmonise the noise and banging of modern jazz with the delicate strains of the old waltzes, but Paramount has succeeded "in doirn? this with the greatest waltz of waltzes. "The Blue Danube." And Gladys Swarthout, who thrilled so many with her singing in "Rose of the Rancho," is the link. The instrumental music itself is sufficient in entertainment, but appreciation of the whole programme is doubled by the singing of Gladys Swarthout, whose solos are too few. A section of the supporting programme is devoted to the most interesting review of the development of motion pictures, tracing the growth of Paramount, for whose jubilee no better programme could have been selected.

CIVIC

"THE SONG OF FREEDOM"

About 18 months ago that famous negro actor and singer, Paul Robeson, was reported to have announced his intention of seeking seclusion from the white race by going back to his people in Africa. This, it would seem, has suggested the story of "The Song of Freedom," the picture which is having a season at the Civic Theatre, with Robeson taking the main role. The theme is magnificent for the use of Robeson's brilliant talents, and he has the support of a strong cast. Robeson's singing, is, of course, the outstanding feature of the film.

BRILLIANT COMEDY FOR MAYFAIR

"THE BRIDE WALKS OUT"

"THE RETURN OF SOPHIE LANG" ENDING TO-DAY

"The Return of Sophie Lang, with Gertrude Michael, will end a season at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. "The Bride Walks Out," Barbara Stanwyck's new starring ve i which will begin to-morrow at the Mayfair Theatre, is one of the most hilarious and entertaining pieces of screen entertainment seen for some time. The story deals with the trials and tribulations of a pair of newlyweds, portrayed by Miss Stanwyck and Gene Raymond, who try to limit their expensive housekeeping ideas to a small budget, while they endure the blandishments of a carefree young millionaire, acted by Robert Young, aimed at breaking up their scrappj home. Revealing more difficulties m trying to balance their budget than the government ever dreamed of, the tale whirls from one comedy situation to another, and winds up with a grand old-fashioned chase and a fight that lands the belligerent Raymond in gaol. Miss Stanwyck,.as the pleasure-lov-ing bride, displays brilliant ability as a comedienne. And her performance is all the more brilliant for the competition she has at the hands of such accomplished farceurs as Raymond and Young, and of those of Ned Sparks and Helen Broderick, who, as a long and bitterly-married couple, provide much of the mirthful background of the film. Raymond's portrayal outdoes his recent performance in "Love on a Bet," both for comedy and for colourful character delineation, and Young is ideally cast as his champagne-loving rival whose attentions to Miss Stanwyck bring about many of the film's more vivid moments.

OTHER THEATRES

The current films at the Plaza Theatre are "The Tenth Man," with John Lodge and Antoinette Cellier, and "Freshman Love." This week's programme at the Regent Theatre is headed by "Suzy," with Jean Harlow, Franchot Tone. Cary Grant, and Lewis Stone. . "The Devil Doll," starring Lionel Barrymore, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Frank Lawton, heads the programme at the Majestic this week. "San Francisco," transferred from the Regent, is at the Tivoli this week. The stars are Jeanette Macdonald and Clark Gable. "Down the Stretch," a drama of the race track, and a mystery film, "The Black Mask," are the films showing at the Theatre Royal this week. "All Men are Enemies." with Herbert Mundin and Helen Twelvetrees, and "Western Frontier." with Ken Maynard, are at the Liberty this week. "Thank Your Stars." with Jack Oakie and Alison Skipworth. and "Red Hot Tyres." with Lyle Talbot, are at the Grand Theatre. . Tr , "Thoroughbred," starring Helen Twelvetrees, John Longden, and Frank Leighton, is the current film at the Metro Theatre, Sydenham.