CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22005, 1 February 1937, Page 17

CITY THEATRES

AVON «SWEET ALOES" I-i«£> will be few to find fault with 3^~— — «." the current attraction »jj Theatre. The name ,of is enough to attract " Aim without any further T*nd nd out the names of tne NEW anc j ac t r esses, nor even TT 'f &' the story. With her, how*ji this presentation are Roland famj an tl George Brent, and both of sufficient reputation to, u ?aff<nr tne Q" alit y of tne farenese Vs& makc an excellent com-j b Miss Francis takes the part which niana Wynyard played on the stage when as a play it ran for more than T vear in London. It was also pro-1 duced on Broadway, and had con-' Steable success there. Her part is ■'ihatoffb English girl, Belinda, who "''*ss4»Tove. wiCW'sn English aristocrat already marled, and has a child hv him- she "isversuaded by her Ler's father. Lord Farrington. to , ave her child with the Farrington tafr and his wife as they can never have a child of their own. Roland Young as Tubbs, a. friend in need, ] nets throughout as a kind of con- I fldential adviser and his own quaint, hesitant shrewdness wins him favour with the audience immediately. Belinda goes to America and marries a wealthy young man, but cannot forget i w child. Her husband (George Brent) is worried as he does not know ; the cause of her unhappiness. The, tvicture reaches its successful climax when Tubbs brings the young Lord) Harrington, who has succeeded to the title, to* America with his wife and chM. At a party they come face to face with Belinda, whose despair is relieved when she finds that her child is cared for by a charming and sympathetic woman. . The supporting programme contains jn excellent cartoon and a good aewsreeL j 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 in its second week 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. The story ' is, in certain respects, a biography of Robeson. MAYFAIR "THE BRIDE WALKS OUT" ' .. From the English and American studios come many humorous films, and each country has a humour which is essentially its own. The English v#pe is represented by films such as "The Ghost Goes West," and as a typical example of the bright humour from the other side of the Atlantic may be taken the film at present showing at the Mayfair Theatre. This is "The Bride Walks Out," with Barbara Stanwycks .Robert Young, Gene Raymond, and Helen Broderick in the leading roles. In one scene, especially, with Miss Stanwyck and Miss Broderick together in a lift after celebrating the arrival of a new year with several bottles of champagne, provided by the charming Robert Young, the picture really reaches a high level of mirth. The action, the dialogue (and there is not very much), the slightly disordered blessing, and the very atmosphere of the two actresses could not have been caught better. 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 oest productions, it could not have chosen a better film than "The Champagne Waltz," which is in its second week, at the State Theatre. 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 had been accomplished, and the Patron leaves the theatre with a sense «f great satisfaction in the thought that American jazz: has not killed the waltnes of other years. The instrumental music itself is sufficient in entertainment, but appreciation of the whole .programme is doubled by the singing of Gladys Swarwout, whose solos are too few. I CRYSTAL PALACE DRAMA AND COMEDY . A drama of jewel thieves, full of incident and excitement from start w finish and a farcical light-hearted Jomedy make up the programme at Jhe Crystal Palace Theatre this week. 15 Maiden Lane" stars Claire Trevor Cesar Romero, and "Back to -Nature," deals with the amusing adventures of the Jones family on a camping holiday. The entertainment not consist only in the excitement caused by a gang of jewel thieves their associates being tracked to e «th. It has the added attraction of subtle and effective acting, by Claire «evor in particular. | » OTHER THEATRES ft "The 39 Steps," starring Robert Jj°nat, heads the new programme at "".Metro Theatre. ...Naughty Marietta," starring Jeanne Macdonald and Nelson Eddy, is saving a return season at the Tivoli The principal attraction on the new Sfogftutone at the Liberty Theatre is -Drake of England," with Matheson i*ng. Athene Seyler, and Jane Baxter. J? the same programme is the film "At Bottom of the World." Dodßworth," starring Walter Hus}°n ftna Ruth Chatterton, is the attrac- .?,»*. the Plaza Theatre. T»» Wife," starring John Boles, JttsaUncl Russell, and Billie Burke, is "fcnew film at the Regent Theatre. aT t ft ? attractions at the Theatre Royal JnK Hollywood Boulevard," starring »«nn Halliday, Marsha Hunt, and RoBand "Mr Cohen Takes a walk, with Paul Graetz in tne leading in "Treachery Rides the ■ thai?..* i! ?. the principal attraction at Theatre. >^r}£ tA Arlen and Sally Eilers in iKSt*^ 6 Her B ed." and Jack Haley, pZ$ ■ B °l a nd, Neil Hamilton, and BK2& Ellis in "Here Comes the I Seat 1 snowin S at the Grand