CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22017, 15 February 1937, Page 7

CITY THEATRES

STATE

"TO MARY—WITH LOVE"

An excellent example of what can be done by intelligent direction and first-class acting to make a great success of the simplest of stories is provided by the film which heads the programme at the State Theatre this week, "To Mary—With Love." It is a plain, unvarnished tale of the married life of a typical American couple whose fortunes rise and fall with the Wall Street prices. The film covers a chequered period of the. history of America and of the world, and great events of the last 10 year* are worked very cleverly into the story. There are "shots" of the Dempsey-Tunney fight, and of Lindbergh's triumphal ride through New York; there are glimpses of America at the height of its prosperity and scenes of its blackest depression.

CIVIC

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME

Serving the excellent purpose of introducing to theatregoers world celebrities of music and the stage, "Call The Tune," which is now showing at the Civic Theatre, is a most entertaining film, with quite a feasible story, and a good cast. George Robey, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, the . Philharmonic String quartet, Sir Henry Wood, and the Queen's Hall Orchestra are a few of the famous figures or institutions introduced for brief periods. Certainly no other plot than a ficti r tious history of the advancement of the great gramophone industry to its present place could better serve to introduce a feast of music. The film traces the development of this industry; and it has the added attraction of human interest—the unscrupulous business dealer willing to go to great odds to rob the rightful inventors of thejr just reward. On the whole, quite a charming picture, well acted, with Clifford Evans, Lewis Casson, and Sally Gray as its stars.

Light comedy in his inimitable style is "provided by Gordon Harker in "Millions." He is as good as ever. Assisting Harker in this film are Frank Pettingill and Jane Carr.

CRYSTAL PALACE

"WANTED: JANE TURNER"

"Wanted: Jane Turner," the film showing at the Crystal Palace, is essentially a fast-moving and coherent melodrama, and good entertainment throughout. It is a unit of the postal service cycle of films which Hollywood has produced in the last few months, and is one of the best of them. "Wanted: Jane Turner" is an apt title, Jin that there are two Jane Turners, and one of them is urgently wanted by the gangsters. There are exciting car chases and shootings in darkened rooms before justice is triumphant and Tracy and Miss Stuart are reconciled to each other.

, MAYFAIR

SHIRLEY TEMPLE IN "DIMPLES"

The follower* of Shirley Temple, and they grow with every film she appears in, will enjoy her latest triumph, "Dimples," which is now in its second week at the Mayfair Theatre. It is a sentimental fairy tale, with Shirley Temple as a waif and stray, who has happiness and wealth showered upon ' her. For those who like

their films exactly true to Jife, the sentimental drama touch may have been overdone. However, all these minor blemishes are used so that.Shirley Temple's remarkable versatility can be seen to better advantage.

AVON THEATRE

"CAIN AND MABEL"

An intermingling of music boxing contests, and really witty American dialogue make up "Cain and Mabel at the Avon Theatre. It is hard to conceive how such a variety of entertainment of every form could be worked so skilfully into one film without spoiling the continuity of the story; but the producers of "Cain and Mabel," Cosmopolitan, have succeeded, and the result is a musical comedy worth seeing and hearing. The film is full of melody end humour; the former ranges from grand opera to modern dance tunes, and incidentally some good dancing, while the latter is a mixture of boisterous comedy with clever "wisecracks." The comedy is kept up to the climax, which is well hidden from the audience. One feature of the film worthy of comment is the extremely happy choice of cast. Every one of the lesser lights in the plot has been selected with a care and finesse that give balance to an excellent film. "\

OTHER THEATRES "The Gay Desperado," featuring Nino Martini, Ida Lupino. and Leo Carrillo is the current film at the Plaza Theatre. The Majestic Theatre is how showing "The New Moon," with Grace Moore, Lawrence Tibbett, and Roland Young. • "My Man Godfrey," with William Powell arid Carole Lombard, is in its second week at the Regent Theatre. This week's film at the Tivoli Theatre is "I Found Stella Parish," starring Kay Francis and Paul Lukas. "Little Miss Marker." with Shirley Temple, and "Here Comes Cookie," with George Burns and Gracie Allen, are showing at the Liberty. _r This week's films at the Grand Theatre are "Murder on a Honyemoon,' with Edna May Oliver, and *'West of the Pecos," with Richard Dix.