Cinema Reviews

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22389, 30 April 1938, Page 9

Cinema Reviews

AVON

"THE BARRIER"

An absorbing story, set against the magnificent background of the mountain, river, and forest scenery of Alaska during the gold rush of 1898, makes outstanding entertainment of "The Barrier," which is showing this week at the Avon Theatre. There is all the excitement that could be wished, with a good element of romance and frequent touches of humour, making the film version of the line novel by Rex Beach thoroughly successful in every way.

Jean Parker, who has made a name for herself in this type of film, takes the leading part, that of a young girl, thought to be a half-caste Indian and living with the man she believes to be her father in a small town where as yet little success has attended the efforts of the prospectors. An attachment grows up between her and a young army lieutenant (Robert Ellison), who heads a detachment sent to keep order in the district. Her supposed Indian blood makes the situation a difficult one, and leads to a breach between the two.

Luck suddenly comes to an old prospector (Andy Clyde), and the town becomes a flourishing mining centre, attracting among others the girl's real father, who bears a grudge against her guardian, whom he accuses of having murdered her mother. The story now takes a very exciting turn. Miss Parker leaves home thinking that the young lieutenant has turned her down because she is a half caste, and her father makes his accusation against her guardian to the authorities. In bringing the truth to light about the whole situation the tale offers some very dramatic scenes, culminating in a fight between the girl's father and her guardian.

In the meantime Miss Parker, who has left by canoe, falls into danger duting her journey and is rescued by an old friend (Leo Carrillo), who is also in love with her. but is unselfish enough to do everything he can to bring about a reconciliation between her and the lieutenant. The ending is a happy one; the lieutenant shows that he loves the girl enough to forget about her supposed Indian blood, and her guardian is able to clear himself and disclose the girl's real parentage at the same time.

All the players take their part? >n a very satisfactory manner. The humour is mainly provided by Andy Ciyde. who becomes even more amusing in his new role as a successfuJ prospector. Ellison and Miss Parker, with an excellent setting for romance, make the emotional scenes very convincing and bring a very pleasing freshness to the theme. Leo Carrillo makes his part a very likeable one, mixing a slight touch of pathos with a whimsical humour. There are several interesting features in the supporting programme.

STATE

"SECOND HONEYMOON"

An unusual twist to a modern love story is given amusingly and enter- | tainingly in "Second Honeymoon," the main attraction on the State Theatre's new programme, which began yesterday . Tyrone Power and Loretta Young, who were together in "Love is News," are the two stars, and their romance in this, their newest film, runs'a strange course. The film opens after the two have been tat Reno, the United "States divorce centre, gaining a divorce, and from that 'beginning it traces a reconciliation, after many i complications, in Miami. The romance of the two stars is intertwined with other courtships, including one between Tyrone Power's valet, played amusingly by Stuart Erwin and a pert maid; and the effects of all this love-making on a divorced couple, added to the many complications caused by misunderstandings, give the story many un-. expected twists and turns. The dialogue is bright and witty, comedy in plenty is provided by a valet, anxious to secure his master s happiness and doing all the wrong things to achieve that aim. and the acting Is excellent. Marjorie Weaver, Lyle Talbot, and J. Edward Blomberg have the minor parts, and are excellent foils to the two principals, who are a well-matched pair. Much of the scene of the film is under unusual circumstances—on a "progging" expedition. "Progging," a thrilling adaptation of fishing after dark, is a new and popular American pastime, and in "Second Honeymoon" it provides just the right setting for the final reconciliation of an apparently irreconcilable pair of lovers—the more irreconcilable because one of them is entangled in a second marriage to a steadfast, dependable, and unimaginative husband —the absolute opposite of the first. However, the film serves, with the aid of good direction and acting, to prove the adage, "love will find a way," even if that way is beset by .many pitfalls. "Second Honeymoon" has not one dull or dragging moment, and the hilarity with which the progress of the story is at times enlivened makes it as good a comedy as it is a romance. There is a very good • supporting programme.

CIVIC THEATRE

«VICTORIA THE GREAT "

One of the most-discussed films that have come to Christchurch for-a long time, "Victoria the Great," will be welcomed in a brief return season at the Civic Theatre not only by those who were unable to see the film in its earlier screenings in Christchurch but by many who will be anxious to see it again. _ ...... * "Victoria the Great," which is notable for the superb acting of Anna Neagle in the role of the Queen, and for the almost equally good work of Anton Walbrook, Walter Rilla and H. B. Warner, was enjoyed by a capacity audience at the Civic last evening. The film is a powerfullly dramatic study of one of the most famous rulers in history. It emphasises not so much the broad outlines of her reign, which are well known even to school children students of history; but the essentially human and intimate side of the monarch. Staid and conventional the Victorian era may have been, but this picture will have served a valuable purpose if it does nothing else than remind us that human nature does not change. There is no reason why Victoria should not have been as happy and human a creature as any other person of her time or of to-day. Victoria in her young days loved to ride, to dance, to associate with other young people; and, above all, she had a sense of humour. The film tells us so, and it is not hard to believe that a sense of humour can be a very great comfort to a ruler weighed down with the cares of state. The romance of the famous British sovereign with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is one of the most important elements of the story, and it has been merged into the •'political' and historical background with commendable skilL Highlights are numerous, but perhaps the most sensationally effective episode is when a would-be assassin fires at the Queen and her Consort guards her with his body from the bullet. Infinite pathos develops in the scene of Prince Albert's death, so realistically acted by Anna' Neagle and Walbrook, as she kneels-and clings, desperately to the dying man in-a hysteria of uncontrolled grief. ;■ There is a good supporting programme.

CRYSTAL PALACE

"LIVING ON LOVE" AND "NIGHT SPOT"

One amusing entanglement follows another in "Living On Love." the main film on the new' double-feature programme at the Crystal Palace Theatre. A deep hatred grows between the two principals, Whitney Bourne and James Dunn, who alternately share a room through stress of economic circumstance. Unknown to each other by right, they practise persecutions of amusing and ingenious forms on one another, devised during the alternate 12 hours' occupancy of their room. The climax of the humour is when they fall into acquaintance by chance and regale each other with tales of the outrageous persons with whom they share the room.

James Dunn is an impecunious artist pursued by the wealthy daughter of a sausage manufacturer. He prefers poverty to living on money made by selling sausages and so has to be partner to the peculiar system of allowing a. girl to sleep in his room at night while he works for a goods transport company. Apart from the annoying practical jokes things proceed smoothly until the sausagemaker's daughter removes from his room a portrait of his eventual wife. It next makes its appearance adornin f posters advertising the sausages ana the recriminations and explanations which naturally have to follow are satisfactory to all. The first film. "Night Spot," has the not unfamiliar theme of an innocent girl becoming entangled with a group of gangsters and falling in love with the detective set on them to bring them to justice. Parkyakarkus supplies a continual fund of amusing slips of the tongue and funny gestures, and there is also some good singing and dancing by Joan Woodbury, who has the feminine lead.

The story opens when two young friends, in the police force because of their ability r bandsmen, are set to ge 1 evidence against a gang with their headquarters in a night club. An epidemic of jewel robberies has the city's police force at its wits' end until a lucky coincidence sets the detective, Allan Lane, on their" track. An easy victory seems certain for the police until the gang leader holds the girl as hostage for his freedom on the edge of a parapet on one of the city's skyscrapers.

There is a newsreel in support of th features and one item in it of interest to all New Zealanders is a detailed account of the ill-fated Samoan Clipper's last flight with photographs of its take-off from San Francisco and Pago Pago.

PLAZA

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME

The first film on the new doublefeature programme at the Plaza Theatre, "Hold 'Em. Navy," is a fastmoving and amusing comedy set in the great American naval college at Annapolis. American football, a little light romance, and a good comedy team combine to carry the story along with zest and originality. The tale is about two "plebes." or freshers, at the college, one of their superior officers, and a girl. One of the "plebes" and the superior officer are both good footballers. Rivalry for a place in the college team begins between them,, and is carried on in the film's romantic piece. Football (American type) occupies a prominent part in the picture, and leavens the comedy with thrills. Lew Ayres is the "plebe" who knows how to play football. He is in a part which suits him perfectly, and he makes the most of all his opportunities. Benny Baker is the other "plebe," whose role is to act as Ayres's off-sider and to provide most of the comedy. Baker, too, is well-suited by his part, and carries his situations off with ease. John Howard is the football-playing officer, and Mary Carlisle is the girl. Miss Carlisle has little to do but look sweet, and that is not much effort for her. "Hold 'Em, Navy" is an hour's good entertainment. The other film, "Blossoms of Broadway," has the great initial advantage of having Edward Arnold in the chief part. For the type of role—the genial, not-so-honest man-about-town —there are few more competent actors on the screen to-day. The story is about I a woman known by the sinister name of "Death Valley Cora." Death Valley is some place out west in America where Cora is supposed to have discovered a gold mine. When Cora goes .to town, Arnold conceives an ingenious plan to make use of her name to fill his coffers. He poses as a doctor whom Cora visits, carries through a plan to keep her out of the way for a time and, with the assistance of another young lady, embarks on a grand masquerade. The masquerade is not quite successful, but it provides plenty of opportunities for some good fooling and everybody makes the most of them. Shirley Ross is Edward Arnold's assistant in the masquerade, and she does everything competently. John Trent and William Frawley have excellently contrasting parts as G-men and both do things convincingly. Weber and Fields are called on to provide a fair bit of the comedy, and their turn is unusual as well as bright. Kitty Kelly is the tough Cora from Death Valley, and others in the cast are Frank Craven, John Arthur, Edward Brophy, and Rufe Davis. Several bright song numbers are worked into this film. Shirley Ross is the chiel singer, but practically all the members of the cast, including Edward Arnold, make their musical contributions. "Blossoms on Broadway" is a good comedy with plenty of action and excitement. It is a type of film that most theatregoers thoroughly enjoy.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS,

LIMITED

"Maytime," a musical comedy, starring Jeannette Mac Donald and Nelson. Eddy, who' are heard in new songs I by Romberg, has entered its third week at the. Regent Theatre. The two stars were also, associated in "Naughty Marietta."

"The Rat," the screen version of a play by Ivor Novello, with Anton Walbrook and Ruth Chatterton in the leading parts, began at the Majestic Theatre yesterday. The programme at the Tivoli Theatre comprises "Girl With Ideas," featuring Wendy Barrie and Kent Taylor, and "Start Cheering," a musical film, introducing noted American radio artists. Warner Oland appears as the famous Chinese detective of fiction in "Charlie Chan at the Race Track," which, with "Carnival Queen," a circus film starring Robert Wilcox and Dorothea Kent, has begun a season at the Liberty Theatre. A drama, "Human Cargo," with Brian Dunlevy, and "Navy Wife," which features Ralph Bellamy and Claire Trevor, began yesterday at the Grand Theatre.

REX THEATRE

A big programme will be shown at the Rex Theatre, Riccarton, to-night, and on Monday and Tuesday, headed by "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer," and Captain McMillan's "Ice Floe." The programme will start at 7.45 sharp.

MAYFAIR

" HAPPY LANDING" AND "NAZI GERMANY »•

Sonja Henie in more spectacular and graceful dancing on skates, admirable skating ballets with unusual flowing movement, a double love story with Don Ameche as the successful suitor, Cesar Romero and Ethel Merman in frequent rough and tumbles, and many striking musical numbers, combine to make "Happy Landing," now in its third week at the Mayfair, really outstanding entertainment. Really topical interest is added to the programme by the exciting "Nazi Germany" number of the "March of Time," which presents affairs in modern Germany from an unusual viewpoint,. "Happy Landing" is chiefly notable naturally, because it enables Sonja Henie once more to show the skill on skates which made her many times world champion. But brilliant and unusual as her skating is, it should not take attention away from her development as a screen star in more norma] directions. She is always attractive, and wins the sympathy of an audience by her pleasant and innocent charm of manner.

The story really gets going in Norway, where Cesar Romero, as a philandering cabaret band leader, sweeps Sonja Henie, the village beauty, oft her feet with his dashing manner. Don Ameche, as Romero's manager, does his best to prevent the girl from being hurt, but with little success. Then comes a series of scenes in Paris and New York, where the utmost is made of cabaret scenes, with some really good and amusing studies of jazz orchestras in action.. When Sonja Henie. whose infatuation has brought her all the way from Norway, finally discovers what a deceiver Romero is, Don Ameche begins to take his place. He quickly launches the girl on a new career as a skating star, but their romance is nearly spoiled by foolish misunderstandings. Cesar Romero, lacking the assistance of his manager, gets into difficulties when Ethel Merman, as a hot-tempered Irish girl, decides that she will not share him with anybody, and there are some fast-mov-ing slapstick scenes that are really laughable. On the musical side, "Happy Landing" is good entertainment, offering a variety of new songs and tunes. An eccentric tap-dance number, "Dance of the Wooden Indian," is outstanding. The skating ballets, particularly the "Snow Maiden." show how dancers equipped with skates can achieve a fluidity of movement that is impossible by any other means. They alone make a film unusual.

"Nazi Germany" shows how the whole German population has been organised into the service of the State. It is not favourable to Nazi rule, suggesting that the people's allegiance is maintained by intensive propaganda which keeps them in ignorance of the true state of affairs, while making the utmost appeal to patriotic sentiment The points of the film are made with telling effect, and it is a brilliant example of the most uD-to-date methods in newsreel production.