Cinema Reviews

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22135, 3 July 1937, Page 23

Cinema Reviews

AVON

"UISTOKY IS MADE NIGHT"

"History is Made at Night" has its intriguing story based on a stark disaster on the high seas. It follows the lines of all good drama by delaying the tragic climax until the last few scenes. A new luxury liner, crossing the Atlantic on its maiden voyage, crashes into an iceberg. It is the Titanic disaster over again, with the exception that there is happy fescue to end the story. But the appeal of the story is not in its dramatic climax. It is in the love-story of two people who, by all that is right and proper, should never have met, and of a strange sequence of events that leads up to such a close escape from finality on that wrecked liner. The story, with all its appealing detail, cannot be-told adequately in any short review, without loss of the convincing atmosphere which good direction gives this film. But even told sketchily, it reads as a strange tale, fit for the attractive dressing-up which film-producti'on allows. The wife of a wealthy ship-owner finds her husband's jealousy beyond bearing. When she leaves him preparatory to a divorce in Paris, he concocts a scheme, devilishly cunning, to embarrass her into giving up the proceedings. The chance intervention of an unknown man saves her from the trap but leads her into worse. With all the skill that these scenario-writers can command, this story has been written into one of the most dramatic tales that the screen has handled for many months. It would be difficult to say too much about the direction, and the realism of the production, particularly in the intensely dramatic scene when the greater liner, speeding into thick fog in iceberg-infested seas, strikes one. Until the last few minutes of the picture it seems inevitable that she must sink and a thousand souls perish. The terribly sad scenes centre on the two principal people in the tale, likely to end their romance at its real starting.

Charles Boyer. Jean Arthur, Leo Carillo, Colin Clive, and Ivan Lebedeff are all film names of some fame. They have their parts in this outstanding talkie in that order of importance. "In performance the order could by no means stand. Charles Boyer needs no additional recommendation, but Colin Clive (whose death occurred so recently), and who commits suicide in this talkie, acts splendidly the part of the jealous husband. As with all welldirected talkies, it is, of course, impossible to make strict comparisons. There is that subtle smoothness which merges all effort into the one nicely running scheme of acting and presentation.

The supporting programme includes a clever "Mickey Mouse" colour cartoon—quite the best in this new medium. There is an amusing educational film too. ,

CRYSTAL PALACE

"LLOYD'S OF LONDON" AND A "MYSTERY THRILLER"

I The Crystal Palace Theatre presents this week a double-feature programme of a standard seldom equalled. The two films featured are the famous "Lloyd's of London." and a mysterydrama, "The Great Hospital Mystery." The principal attraction is "Lloyd's of London/' here for a return season which promises to be an outstanding success. Those who have not seen this gre»t production should make the most of this opportunity to do so. Those who already have seen it will know it is worth a second visit "Lloyd's of London" is certainly one of the finest achievements of the film industry. It. is an epic retelling one of the greatest periods ot Enghsh history, in a manner that is absolutely convincing, and at times strangely moving. Its appeal to people of the British nations is immediately apparent, but it has an even wider attraction as the presentation of a stirring piece of history, and as a fine story. Beginning 4/ith incidents in the boyhood of Jonathan Blake and Horatio Nelson, which, incidentally, were later of great significance and an influence upon the destiny of England, the film presents the story of the rise of that gveat company of insurance brokers known as Lloyd's. As Jonathan Blake learns. Lloyd's is more than a commercial institution. Its security is bound up with. England's, and England's security with Lloyd's. This was no more clearly demonstrated than at the moments when England desperately waited for news of a Nelson victory, and when the Admiralty very nearly split Nelson's fleet to provide guards for merchant ships. The story of Blake's fight at Lloyd's to preserve the unity of England's fleet and the security of England is intensely moving.

The principals in the cast are Tyrone Power, who plays the part of Jonathan Blake, and Madeleine- Carroll who plays a difficult role as Lady Elizabeth Stacey. Supporting them is a competent cast, and the production is such that very little fault can be found' with it.

The second attraction on the programme "The Great Hospital Mystery,* is a cleverly presented mystery thriller, combining comedy with tense drama. The plot is very involved, but none the less thrilling for that. It is very well acted, particularly m its comic parts. Jane Dnrwell has the principal role as the night superintendent in the crazy hospital She does her job most efficiently. Joan Davis, as an hysterical nurse, supports her very well The cast includes Sig Rumann »md Sally Blanc.

I'LAZA

"CRIME OVER LONDON" AND "CLARENCE"

A contrast of type is provided in the entertainment at the Plaza Theatre. "Crime Over London" is a British version of a story of the "G-men" type, and "Clarence" is an American production dealing amusingly with the life of a family in an American city. They mako a well-balanced and satisfying offering. "Crime Over London" moves rapidly, the material is interesting, the acting more than competent, and there is all the excitement one would expect in a story of Chicago gangsters pitted against the honest strength of Scotland Yard. "Clarence" moves placidly by comparison, but it is stimulating comedy of the type that the American studios produce so well. Roscoe Karns has the most prominent part in "Clarence." He is a typically American comedian, and has been seen to advantage in minor roles. In this more onerous part he is excellent. He is a man of many talents who comes into an American home and takes a keen interest in the tangled affairs of the family. His propensity for looking after the affairs of other people leads to a series of most amusing situations through which Clarence muddles to success. Eugene Pallette, an accomplished character actor, and Eleanore Whitney and Johnny Downs are in the supporting cast and take their parts with assurance. It is really good comedy, based on a play by Booth Tarkington. The story is well moulded, the direction is neat and efficient, and Karns scores an outstandiDS,

success. The picture should satisfy discriminating lovers of comedy. The sharp contrast of "Crime Over London" makes it all the more acceptable. American gang methods matched against the brains of Scotland Yard make a refreshing change from the usual run of story about crime. Hounded out of Chicago, the gang goes to London to find new avenues for its talents. It finds scope in a scheme to rob a huge department store on the day the employees are to receive a substantial bonus. The suspense of the planning and the raid is excellently sustained, and the climax is most exciting. The acting is notable for a splendid characterisation by Joseph Cawthron as the owner of the store. Paul Cavanagh makes a fine success of the role of the Scotland Yard inspector who rounds up the gang, and other parts are ably taken by Basil Sydney, Bruce Lister, Rena Ray, and Margot Grahame,