CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22306, 21 January 1938, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

STATE

"HEIDI OF THE ALPS"

Shirley Temple is always charming and engaging, but she has an ability to act as well, and she shows herself to be a thoroughly capable actress in her latest picture, "Heidi of the Alps," which is coming to the State Theatre to-day. Everywhere readers in all languages have been charmed by the warmth, tenderness, and beauty of the Swiss Alps and all the colourful folk dwelling up just under the stars, into whose lives "Heidi" (Shirley Temple) brings tenderness and mirth and courage. Heading the cast is Jean Hersholt, famous veteran actor who gives his greatest characterisation as the grandfather of "Heidi." A taciturn recluse dwelling high in the Alps, the character is the most difficult he has ever had to portray.

Arthur Treacher, as the comic butler in a rich Frankfort home, is "Heidi's" sole defender in many dramatic scenes, and a sympathetic portrayal of "Blind Anna" is provided by Helen Westley.

MAYFAIR

"ALI BABA GOES TO TOWN"

The complaint some people have about Eddie Cantor is that he does not make enough pictures. His latest film. "Ali Baba Goes to Town," which will be shown for a second week at the Mayfair Theatre. will not dispel that complaint, for seeing it makes even stronger the wish to see him more frequently Cantor is fortunate to be able to make people so eager to see his pictures, but the film at the Mayfair is a clear enough explanation of his remarkable popularity. It maintains his reputation as one of America's foremost comedians.

Bagdad, of Arabian Nights fame, is the town to which the modern Ali Baba goes, and to it he takes modern ideas. The picture must naturally have a greater appeal in the United States than in other countries, for many of the jokes have a distinct American application. But there arc few of these allusions to current political events in the United States that will not be appreciated even by these who do not take a close interest in America's government. The allusions are appropriate to the plot of the piclure, for this modern Ali Baba is transported from America to the Bagdad of the tenth century, where he is liailed as a prophet and becomes its "Prime Minister."

CIVIC

"OKAY FOR SOUND"

One of the most successful London vaudeville shows of recent years is brought to the screen in "Okay for Sound." which is coming to the Civic Theatre to-day. This brilliant comedy has the largest cast of stage and screen revue personalities ever turned out from the British studios. It includes inimitable comic scenes, spectacular revue numbers, as well as songs by the famous Peter Dawson. The show was adapted to films from the stage production of the same title, which ran for no less than two years at the London Palladium Theatre with conspicuous success. The story, which is original and full of scope for the comedians, is a gentle satire of motion picture producing. Notable in its cast are the Crazy Gang, Nervo and Knox, Flanagan and Allen, Naughton and Gold —who are introduced as six street musicians, somewhat down and out, who manage to get an engagement with a bankrupt studio as "extras" to impersonate "city types." However, these brilliant comedians are not the only entertainment of the show. "Okay tor Sound" has a long cast of well-known stars of musical, comic, and dancing fame, all of whom contribute largely to its entertainment value. Peter Dawson, the famous singer, sings two rousing numbers; Lucienne and Ashour put over their burlesque dancing act with great effect; Patricia Bowman dances delightfully; the Radio Three sing in their "peppy" way, and the J. Sherman Fisher Girls add beauty and glamour to some of the well-produced scenes. The "Three Little Words" give an exhibition of their clever and unusual dancing, and Louis Levy's orchestra supplies musical support to the stars and also gives some good numbers of its own. Also adding to the comic element are Enid Stamp Taylor, Fred. Duprez, H. F. Maltby. and Graham Moffat. "Smash and Grab" will be shown to-night for the last time.

CRYSTAL PALACE

"THE LAST TRAIN FROM MADRID"

The first picture to come from the revolt in Spain is "The Last Train from Madrid," which will be shown at the Crystal Palace to-day. The cast is headed by Dorothy Lamour, of "The Jungle Princess," Lew Ayrer.. Gilbert Roland, Karen Morley, and Lionel Atwill.

With ihe recapture of a salient through which the Madrid-Valencia railroad line passes a train is permitted to leave the beleaguercct capital for safety. Only those who have important reasons to leave are to be given passes The iss-jing of the passes is detailed to Captain Alvarez. He makes out a pass for his sweetheart, Carmelita. a patrician beauty. Then, learning that Yris best friend, 'Ed-siard.o De Soto, is to be released from prison, where he is held as a political prisoner, he arranges for him to escape from Madrid. As soon as he is free, De Soto goes to the girl he loves—Carmelita! Alvarez soon learns of the love between Carmelita and De Soto He is arrested for having permitted De Soto to escape. De Soto chances to meet an old flame, a baroness, who has arranged to flee from Madrid with a gigolo. Balk. She urges De Soto •to flee to Paris with her, Dromisiiis him Balk's pass. De Soto accepts. Balk is murdered by the Baroness. Alvarez manages to escape, finds De Soto, and gives him a pass. Train time arrives, and suddenly the soldiery arrives to arrest Alvarez for treason, and De Soto for desertion.

AVON

"VOGUES OF 1938"

A brilliant musical film in technicolour, "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938," will be shown at the Avon Theatre to-day after the conclusion of the extended season of "Stella Dallas." It is a fast-moving story by Sam and Bella Spewack, and was written especially for the screen. The cast is full of notable names, including Warner Baxter, Joan Bennett, Helen Vinson, Mischa Auer, and Alan Mowbray, the last two providing

countless humorous situations. Also in the cast are some of the most photographed girls in the world as mannequins, and the plot of the film leads the audience through a tour of New York's smartest night clubs, with entertainment by leading artists.

A dressmaking establishment is hurrying to finish the trousseau of a beautiful debutante, but she pleads that the dresses be not delivered, as she is being forced into the marriage. Carson, the dressmaker, refuses to back a show, and his wife leaves him. The debutante jilts her fiance and models for the dressmaker, but the fiance, a millionaire, finances another establishment, trying to ruin Carson.

That is not the end of the story, bu: it can be seen from this that there is plenty of scope for the producer to introduce dazzling fashion styles, and at the same time keep the film away from being a mere fashion parade. There are many new song hits, among them being "That Old Feeling." "Lovely One," "Red Hot Heat," and "Fall Fashion Forecast."

PLAZA

A poignant story of a mother's love for her daughter and how she sacrificed herself to bring her child happiness is the plot of "Stella Dallas," which is now having a season at the Plaza Theatre. The story makes one of the finest pictures in a serious theme which have appeared in recent months. The leading players are Barbara Stanwyck and Jchn Boles. Both uf them have difficult parts to portray, but their success is all the greater for the aility they show in giving rc:>l life and character to such parts. In the supporting cast are Anne Shirley, one of the most attractive and popular of the younger actresses on the screen to-day, Alan Hale, Barbara O'Neil, and Tim Holt. The story deals with the difficulties that arise when a young couple marry, and find later that the woman cannot adapt herself to the social standards of her husband. After their daughter is born they gradually drift apart, ending with making • a complete separation. The daughter lives with her mother, seeing her father only for occasional holidays. It is a very different life which the daughter sees when she visits, along with her father, the home of his former fiancee, now a widow.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS,

LIMITED

Deanna Durbin's comedy-romance. "One Hundred Men and a Girl," is now in its third week at the Regent Theatre. Leopold Stokowski and his orchestra. Alice Brady, Eugene Pallette. and Mischa Auer are the stars of the cast. , "Way Out West," Laurel and Hardy s latest film, which is being screened at jihe Majestic Theatre, shows the in(imitable pair at their best. Their cemedy is as typically riotous as ever. Charles Laughton, Clai'k Gable, and Franchot Tone are the stars of "Mutiny On the Bounty," which is having a further return season at tin 1 Tivoli Tneatre. The film is noted fo>the splendid character acting of Laughton as Captain Bligh. A hilarious comedy, "No Limit." with a brilliant comedy team in George Formby and Florence Desmond, heads the new programme at the Liberty Theatre. The other picture is '"Borderland," starrine William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy. The clottings of international spies are exposed in "The Great Impersonation," with Edmund Lowe in the leading role, the new programme at the Grand Theatre. The other picture. "Princess O'Hara," stars Chester Mor ris and Jean Parker.