CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 18

CITY THEATRES

AVON “HER JUNGLE LOVE” All the elements of romantic adventure are combined in “Her Jungle Love,” with Ray Milland and Dorothy Lamour heading its cast, which begins to-morrow at the Avon. The story deals with a romance between a handsome young aviator, whose aeroplane is wrecked on a lonely South Sea island, and a native girl, who has never before laid eyes on a white man. Probably no two stars in Hollywood are more often associated with tropical romance than Milland and Dorothy Lamour, he having recently appeared in “Ebb Tide” and she in “Hurricane.” In “Her Jungle Love” they are assisted by a cast of popular players, including Lynne Overman, who wise-cracked his way through “Night Club Scandal.” “Her Jungle Love” maks a continuation of the experiment which brought such success in “Ebb Tide,” of using technicolour to bring out all the exotic charm and beauty of a tropical background. But where “Ebb Tide” took place mostly in a ship, the setting of “Her Jungle Love” is exclusively a South Sea island which affords perfectly adapted material for colour photography. Three new songs, written by one of Hollywood’s best known teams, will be heard for the first time in “Her Jungle Love.” They are “Jungle Love," "Coffee and Kisses,” and "Lovelight in the' Starlight.” In addition to the new popular tunes, genuine native melodies and chants, gathered from Samoa and other sub-tropical isles, form the musical background of “Her Jungle Love.” Under the direction of Boris Morros, old South Seas love songs and battle chants were adapted for inclusion in the picture, and furnish a realistic background for this story of love on a remote South Pacific island. From torch songs to shining stardom on the screen and the radio in the space of 18 months is the exciting success story of Dorothy Lamour, who plays the part of the white “goddess” in “Her Jungle Love.” “You’re a Sweetheart,” starring Alice Faye, is at present at the Avon. PLAZA “AREN’T MEN BEASTS” Among the successful stage farces of recent times which have been made into comedies, “Aren’t Men Beasts,” with Robertson Hare and Alfred Drayton in their original stage roles heading the screen cast, is outstanding. It begins at the Plaza to-morrow with “Young Fugitives.” Robertson Hare is seen in his funniest role to date, as a little dentist who, through no fault of his own, finds himself involved in a scandal with a beautiful and mysterious foreign woman. Alfred Drayton, the celebrated stage actor, is starred with Hare, and together they prove to be the funniest comedy team since Stan Laurel met Oliver Hardy, Although Alfred Drayton has appeared in numerous films, this is the first time he has proved himself a screen comedian of the first rank. His mannerisms and his bullying the pathetically down-trodden Hare are comedy of the most brilliant kmd. Hare, too, long-recognised as one of the screen’s leading comedians, has found in Drayton his ideal screen partner. Supporting the new comedy team, in addition to Billy Milton, are June Clyde, the vivacious stage and screen player, Judy Kelly, Ruth Maitland. Amy Veness, Ellen Pollock, and other well-known players. The current programme comprises “The House of a Thousand Candles,” and “The Gentleman from Louisiana.” MAYFAIR “THE ADVENTURES OP MARCO POLO” History is not always dull. The film “Marco Polo,” which is now at the Mayfair, makes excellent use of the romance and adventure of the legendary journey to China of a Venetian traveller in the thirteenth century. It does not pretend to be a literal chronicle historically correct in detail, but it is abundantly entertaining and spectacular, and many times creates novel effects that give vitality to the story. In Gary Cooper the film has a star who, as Marco Polo, takes his part with the laughing and romantic manner which made Douglas Fairbanks so popular in his prime. Sigrid Gurie, a new star, makes an attractive heroine, CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED The current programme at the Regent is headed by “There’s Always a Woman,” starring Joan Blondell, Melvyn Douglas, Mary Astor, and Frances Drake. To-morrow’s new programme will present Jeanette Macdonald in “The Firefly.” “Wide Open Faces,” starring Joe E. Brbwn, is now at the Majestic. The associate feature is “Wings Over Africa,” with Joan Gardiner. “Sinners in Paradise,” starring John Boles and Madge Evans, will begin to-morrow, together with “The Louis-Schmeling Fight" in slow motion. “The Great Ziegfeld,” starring William Powell, Myrna Loy. and Luise Rainer, is now at the Tivoli. “Anthony Adverse,” based on Hervey Allen’s famous novel, will begin tomorrow. “Cafe Metropole." starring Loretta Young and Tyrone Power, and “Sally of the Regiment,” with Wallace Ford and Anna Lee, are now at the Liberty. The current programme at the Grand presents “Secret Agent," with Madeleine Carroll, and “Star for a Night,” with Claire Trevor.

CRYSTAL PALACE “FIGHT FOR YOUR LADY” AND “FOR THE SERVICE” John Boles, Jack Oakie, Ida Lupino, Margot Grahame, Erik Rhodes, and Gordon Jones head the large cast of favourites who have a mirth field day in “Fight For Your Lady,” a new romantic comedy, with songs, which begins at the Crystal Palace to-morrow with “For The Service.” The story, an amusing collection of implausible but highly delightful incidents, is laid in Europe, with the action starting in London and progressing rapidly to Budapest. Boles depicts a love-sick wealthy concert singer, Oakie is his wisecracking pal and physical trainer, w’ho undertakes to manage his love affairs as well, and both Ida Lupino and Margot Grahame are ladies of the stage—the one of Budapest and the other of London. The associate feature will be “For The Service,” starring Buck Jones. It is a story of the courageous scouts who gave their lives that the United States might extend from coast to coast. Savage Indians and white villains are confronted in Jones’ relentless fight to save his captain’s son, and serve his government. Clifford Jones, Beth Marion, Frank McGlynn, sen., Edward Keene, and Fred Kohler are in the supporting cast. Magnificent outdoor scenes were filmed on historic ground for the film. An actual fort of the pioneer days, discovered by the star when he went scouting lor location sites, was rebuilt so that it might be used for many of the colourful sequences in the story. The current programme presents “Tarzan’s Revenge” and “Too Many Wives.” CIVIC “THE BARONESS AND THE BUTLER” Every now and again a film comes along that delights by its originality of story and freshness of treatment. Such a one is “The Baroness and the Butler,” which has proved so popular at the Civic that its season' is being extended. This gay comedy should have many admirers. It has succeeded in catching the tone and flavour of an old regime suddenly confronted with a dilemma in which the self-effacing butler emerges as Prime Minister of his country and equal with his employers. With the association of Annabella, as the Baroness Katinka, and William Powell as the butler, Johann Porok, the greatest satisfaction with the acting is assured. Powell has had a long and successful career, and he has already shown his flair for comedy. Annabella has had a swift rise to fame, and in this film she is associated for the first time with a male lead who is one of the most notable of screen stars. It is an association that could easily have shown any deficiencies in her work, but it is to her credit that at no times does she saiffer from comparison. Allied to the brightness of the story and to the fine acting of the principals and those who are most important in the supporting cast is intelligent direction which gives easy continuity to the production.