Cinema Reviews

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22343, 5 March 1938, Page 10

Cinema Reviews

CIVIC WILL HAY AGAIN "Oh, Mr Porter," at the Civic Theatre, shows Will Hay as the stationmaster at the remote station of Buggleskelly, Ireland, assisted by those, worthies—Albert and Old Harbottlc— * played by Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott. Will Hay, as Mr Porter, is introduced as a wheel-tapper to an assembly of a railway company's directors and contrives to drench the whole dignified gathering, including his sister, who insists that a better position be found for him. Conspiring to.send him where he will do the least harm, the directors decide on Buggleskeliy, which is the centre of gun-running ■activities and superstition. With an exaggerated sense of duty, >Hay begins to clean up the place by moving washing, from the signals, hoiliouse flowers from the tower, and painting the buildings; and in an attempt to promote business, arranges an excursion. The only travellers are the gun-runners, who steal, , the .tram tp carry arms to an old mill'near a disused tunnel. In an attempt to recover his train, Will Hay commandeers "Gladstone," a dilapidated old engine, and sets off in pursuit at a smart 25 miles an hour. ••■ Thrills and excitement abound whpn : the trio is captured by the gun-runners and locked in the old mill, from whicn an amusing escape is effected by means of the sails. By clever strategy the stolen.train is coupled -to "Gladstone •but. the law-breakers are delivered, 'into: safe custody only after the death of the grand old engine to which the notorious gang modestly passes tn# Iriursls Much laughter is provoked when ■Will Hay stops an express merely to pass the time of day, and an amusing incident is when a prize marrow is found growing b-vween the lines, it is on such pictures that Will Hay, playing his role with devastating seriousness, has built his reputation -. The associate feature, Non Stop New York," is a story of an Atlantic flight, during which the innocence of a Condemned man is established. John Loder as a Scotland Yard man, and Anna. Lee as- a destitute _ chorus ,_guL play their roles excellently and are supported by an able cast, which includes Frank Cellier and Desmond Tester. On the eve of her return Jo England from America Anna Lee unwittingly becomes a witness to a New York murder case. She offers her assistance to the police, who discredit her word, and she is forced to stow away on a trans-Atlantic flying-boat. IR-found in the cabbin of a young Sector, John Loder with whom she falls in love, and between them they clear up the misunderstanding, ims picture is an excellent introduction to the main attraction which follows. ~

MAYFAIR - FOR .J *WO^ Hish-spirited comedy "andy romance, mrx will in the briUiantv comedy, -Breakfast for Two," whichiis showingattheMayfair TheatreWs week.. , The film is successful from every point Marshall, Eric Blore, and GlerTda ,Far* ; rell are the leacfcng^elayers > /and;aM .of, them show that.they 1 appreciate .their-, roles by the lively manner '..m which they take them. The story; is carried along from one amusing episode to another by fast action and vivacious dialogue to an ending, which is not only, romantically satisfactory but . also quite in keeping with. the hilarious tone of the whole picture. ' ■■■>■ It is the opening that gives the title to the film, with a breakfast;-for two in most unusual circumstances. Herbert Marshall is a young man about town, who has inherited a steamship line of which he is the president, but only in name. He wakes up one morning to find that he has brought home -'.a young lady (Barbara Stanwyck) ■: •yphom he -has met at a-night club—or '-rather that she has brought him home and calmly taken possession of his house while he is sleeping off the efof a, night. She stays to /.breakfast, telling him one ' or- two 'things about his character, and is preparing to leave when another visitor (Glenda Farrell) arrives. Miss Stanwyck rush.es; away, leaving with no means of finding: her "again, to finish his breakfast with Miss Farrell. But he soon has other difficulties to face. A representative of his com- ' pany arrives to inform him that business is not in a satisfactory condition, and that the salaries of all the execu- ■ tive officers will have to be discontinued. But Miss Stanwyck is not so unconcerned about him as her- sudden departure would have seemed to indicate. Having, a large fortune, she is able to purchase the rapidly depreciating stock of the" steamship company, and soon secures a controlling interest and installs herself as president. The story ijow begins to. take an even more entertaining turn-with the stormy scenes between the' two, and the • fantastic schemes which Miss Stanwyck devisestp prevent a marriage. between Mar-* shall and Miss Farrell. She frankly admits her cjwn intention of marrying hun, but she is-face"d" by'difficulties at every turn—difficulties, however, which 5 add greatly to the entertainment of the picture.

: Yet it is Eric Blore who contributes ' humour, of-the-film. As *' Y. a i et he brin s s int ° piay til the. delightful mannerism-for which „ e has made his name in parts oi this v £ ln - d - '.He has certainly excelled him--7 .. se iiJ n J Picture,.,and takes his place „ -with the leading players in giving an j, outstanding performance. *' ':«« i?^ e isa generous and varied supporting programmer-including some unusually good newsr'eels, . a coloured comedy 3 Sh ° rt musical ; CHRrS'iCHURCH ifJINEM \S, j •■■*' LIMITED •Excellent music is a" feature of "Artists and Models," the musicalcomedy - attraction now at the Regent Theatre. Jack Benny, Ida Lupino, Gai] Patrick, and Richard Arlen are in the cast. George Formby's latest comedy, "Keep Fit," has had such a successful .„, ,seasqn at, the Majestic Theatre that it j vis now showing in an extended season. J "The Emperor's Candlesticks," a film » which has.already shown, to large { audiences; for- aVyveek; fri -Christchurch, * has beeri' transferred to the Tivdli J Theatre, where it will be shown in the 5 coming week. William Ppwell. , and * Luise Rainer are the principal actors. | "Spy Ring," a secret service story n , starring William Hall and James f Wyman, f and ; ."The Game that Kills," * dealing withjmurder oh the ice hccKey I rink, and starring Charles Quigley *. and Rita Hayworth, are now at the | Liberty Theatre. * <A double-feature programme is * showing at the Grand Theatre this ■i week: The films are "High Tension/' * starring Brian Donlevy and Glenda « Farrell, and "She Shall Have Music," * {.tarring Jack Hylton and June Lang. « 4 J Vl , REX, RICCARTON * J "The Toast of New York," starring ~, Edward ( Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Farmer, arijfT* Jack Oakie.' will be screened to/Vight, Monday, and Tues-J-fcTiThPatrft ...Birrartnn,

CRYSTAL PALACE DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME Joe E.Brown, the comedian with the cavernous mouth, is at his merriest in "Fit for a King," an entertaining mixture of burlesque, crisp wit, and ro- ' mance, showing at.the Crystal Palace, where, by way of good measure for enjoyment, a remarkably clever story of aristocratic thieves, "Dangerously Yours," is also being screened. "Fit for a King" is among the most amusing of the comedies in which Brown has appeared. It has a shade more : of romance than the pictures in which he is usually starred, and it travels at a breakneck speed through a scries of extremely laughable situations, in which Brown as Virgil Brown, an ambitious newspaper reporter always a story behind his contemporaries, has full scope for his characteristic comedy. No other comedian on the screen is quite like. Brown, in the wav of being foolish at the right time and absurdly serious when decorum is called for. In this picture, Brown has perhaps more l opportunity for slapstick work than he was given in earlier and later pictures, and with Paul Kelly as his foil he makes the most of a score or more of highly diverting incidents. Hilarity is at its height when he is thrown into the ship's brig during a storm and when he masquerades as a maid in the hotel in which the princess and the archduke are planning a return to the throne of a Runtanian empire. Helen Mack makes a dainty princess, and Paul Kelly is seldom off the scene to help Brown. Plot development is a feature of "Dangerously Yours," in which Cesar Romero, a suave actor, and Phvllis Brooks, a polished and charming actress, are the leading players The story is exceptionally well told. At first, "Dangerously Yours" appears, to the audience ''to Tae a story of setting a thief- to catch a thief; but it develops Into an intriguing and exciting, picture of the law against the criminals Of action, there is plenty, and surprise issues do not at any stage dis-. tract attention from the main plot The acting of Romero and Miss Brooks is excellent, as is also the work of all other members of a big cast. The settings on a trans-Atlantic liner ar<* elaborate, and the frocking will attract *.he attention of all women. "Dangerously Yours" is much superior, both in story and production, to most crime -pictures, and the generous- measure of comedy 'makes it a most suitable picture to screen on the same programme as "Fit for a King.":

STATE "ACTION FOR SLANDER" . In "Action for Slander'' United Artists have given the public a film which combines the three essential features of a first-class entertainment —suspense, action, and humour. The picture is chiefly notable for the return of that polished actor, Clive ;Brook, who has been absent from films sufficiently long to be sorely missed. The story unfolds with an absorbing development of detail which makes it important not to miss one move in the plot. Everything revolves about an unfortunate game of poker at an English ■country house. Clive Brook, as Major 'Daviot, is accused' of cheating. His 'accuser, Grant,, is ridiculed by the ! other men present until, out of the blue, he receives corroboration from a brother officer of Daviot's, a Captain Bradford, played by Arthur Margetson, who nurses a. vindictive jesi ously of Daviot. .Bradford's testimony, given before an informal council of male guests, introduces a sinister feature into a situation which might have been tactfully avoided, and Daviot immediately' challenges him to defend an action for slander. On the advice of his friends; however, Daviot consents to abandon his suit, on the understanding that the ■ whole incident shall be forgotten, and that tne reputations of his friends be ,spared the , unwelcome publicity of a Court action. Before very long Daviot realises that he has made a terrible mistake. Somehow the story leaks out, and, like all stories of its kind, loses nothing of its sensationalism in, the retelling. Daviot finds himself shunned by many of his former, friends and acquaintances until he is driven to hide himself, in a cheap ; boardinghousel ■.;. Eventually, the story 'gathers such embellishments that his friends of the country house party and his superior officers in his regiment urge him to take the action which they formerly counselled him to abandon. After much persuasion Daviot brings the action, and the Court hearing provides a stirring climax to the film.

Clive Brook's performance is a masterly one. His acting throughout the many,tense episodes of the story possesses a convincing quality of restraint and directness. Arthur Margetson, as Captain Bradford, portrays an unattractive role v/ith. sincerity. The acting honours, however, are very nearly stolen by the veteran actor, Morton Selten, who plays the crusty but very, human judge. The Court scene.is splendidly.handled, with here again a skilful avoidance of any tendency > to the melodramatic. As Daviot's counsel, Sir Quinton Jessep, Francis Sullivan plays a prominent supporting role. Ann Todd gives a convincing performance as Daviot's wife, while the part of Mrs Bradford, the other woman in the case; 4s portrayed by Margaretta Scott. The sup-, porting programme contains an entertaining variety ot short subjects, notable among which is a colour cartoon, "Dick Whittington and His Cat." ' AVON "THE PRISONER OF ZENDA" A film' With'. One of the mqst romantic love stories ever screened, a fine series of beautiful scenes, fast action, and realistic swordplay is "The Prisoner of. Zenda," which started its third week at the Avon Theatre last night. The story by Anthony Hope i is well known, and should in itself mark the picture, as good*.but a first-, class cast and equally talented direction have taken it into the realms of the truly great and brilliant class of entertainment. Those who have treasured memories of the book wilL be. hypercritical if they find fault with the presentation of the story. As to the acting, there is. nothing to : be desired. The inclusion iri the cast of such, names as Ronald Colman. Douglas Fairbanks, jun., C. Aubrey Smith, Madeleine Carroll, Raymond Massey, David Niven, and Mary Astor' should be a sufficient guarantee of talented acting. But when one finds it difficult to say whether Colman or the" less noted,. Fairbanks-is the more able—that indicates more'clearly what" strength there is in this film. It is richly imaginative, this story of a Ruritanian king and his English double, who foils the schemes of plotters against the throne. And it isi'presented on the screen with a vigour that the novel cannot match.. Rupert of Hentzau, for instance, is even more reckless and dashing a figure than lie is in the book. So engaging a rogue does the younger Fairbanks make of him that one is almost sorry to see his plotting upset by the even more intrepid Rudolph Rassendyll masquer-v ading as the weakling king. The life of the Ruritanian Court, too, is 'presented so vividly that* it loses its mythical quality, and that notable duel be--t_ween_Rassfi.nd.vll .and-Henlzau-has- a-

PLAZA "MURDER IN GREENWICH VILLAGE" Breath-taking action and side-split-ting comedy combine to' make excellent entertainment out of Columbia's "Murder in Greenwich Village," which opened the main attraction yesterday at the Plaza Theatre. The story concerns the exciting events following an odd meeting of Richard Arlen, portraying a commercial photographer, and Fay Wray, in the role of a wealthy debutante adventuress. Philip Morgan, a worthless painter of ill repute, is murdered in his studio and suspicion immediately falls on the socialite playgirl, Fay Wray, who was seen leaving the studio before Morgan was murdered. Shortly after one of Arlen's models is found strangled to death and he is arrested for the crime, but Fay obtains his release. Fay, moved by gratitude and love for what Arlen has previously done for her, obtains photographic work for him, but the friend through whom she obtains this position resents Arlen and tries to hinder his efforts instead of helping him. Feeling that everything lie has attempted has been ruined by Fay, Arlen decides to break with her for good, and it is not until a terrific climax to the picture is achieved that Fay's name is cleared. All the supporting performances are excellent, especially those of Raymond Walburn, Wyn Camoon, and Mary RusThe other attraction is Fly Away, Baby," which deals* with a race round the world. A rich jeweller is found murdered in his office and Glenda Farrell gets into the building to get the news for her newspaper. Barton Mac Lane, in the role of a lieutenant of the police, is also at the scene in charge of tha case. Glenda discovers the pistol with which the murder was committed, and after seeing some figures on a menu in a- restaurant, Glenda and Mac Lane set oft* in search of the murderer. Gordon Oliver, who is portrayed as the son of a rich publisher whose family and the dead man had been friends for many years, is suspected of the crime, but before they can arrest him he sets out on a race round the world. Glenda persuades her paper tp enter the world air race, and she leaves on the same plane as Oliver. It is from this stage of the film that finally, through an exciting and clever series of deductions, Glenda and Barton solve the mystery. An excellent supporting cast is provided.