CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22591, 22 December 1938, Page 6

CITY THEATRES

AVON

"MANNEQUIN"

Joan Crawford, who has appeared in screen romances with Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, Robert Montgomery, Gary Cooper, and other famous film heroes, adds §pencer Tracy to her long list in "Mannequin," which will be the Christmas attraction at the Avon, beginning to-morrow.

Frank Borzage directed the film, whose story is about modern young people against a background of New York's grimy tenements and multimillionaires' penthouses. Joan Crawford, as Jessie Cassidy, has the role of a shop girl who seeks escape from poverty by marrying Eddie Miller, a cheap crook. Eddie is played by Alan Curtis, Hollywood's newest leading man discovery. "When Eddie fails her, Jessie decides to live her own life. The part of John L. Hennessey gives Tracy a powerful characterisation as a man who worked his way up from the docks to become a wealthy steamship owner. Jessie marries Hennessey. She learns to love him when Eddie attempts to blackmail them. His plan fails because Hennessey goes broke. This gives Jessie the chance to prove her love in a surprising and dramatic climax.

Of this film a northern critic wrote: "It was a happy choice that teamed Joan Crawford and Spencer Tracy for the first time in 'Mannequin.' Given a smartly modern story by Katharine Brush, who wrote 'Young Man of Manhattan,' and able direction by Frank Borzage, the stars share honours with performances that must be numbered among their finest. As Jessie Cassidy, a shop girl who fights her way up from the New York tenement district to a multi-millionaire's penthouse, Joan Crawford has a role that is reminiscent of her portrayal in 'Dancing Lady' and 'Possessed,' pictures that won her wide popularity. Never more beautifully gowned by Adrian, she sings charmingly a new popular hit, 'Always and Always,' and rises spiritedly to every dramatic occasion, particularly in scenes with Tracy." "Everybody Sing" is now at the Avon.

CIVIC

"ALF'S BUTTON AFLOAT"

"Alf's Button Afloat," which will be the Christmas attraction at the Civic, beginning to-morrow, is a comedy with a different quality from the usual run of films. It presents a further variation of "Alf's Button,'" which enables its owner to achieve wonders, and its cast includes some of the most popular English comedy teams. In addition to the usuaj sessions on Friday there will be a special late shoppers' session, beginning at 10.30 p.m. At its first showing in England it played to delighted audiences, and was highly praised by critics. The "Daily Sketch" critic wrote: "During the last four months Gainsborough has shown four pictures. Each has been as good as any picture of its class ever made in this country. Now along comes 'Alf's Button Afloat,* and Mr Edward Black can sit back in his chair and consider himself the most consistent and best of all British film producers during the last year. "'Alf's Button Afloat' tells the story of six street buskers who join the marines by mistake. One of them, Alf (Bud Flanagan), discovers that whenever he cleans his buttons a genie appears ready to obey his every command. The picture is just one grand excuse to exploit the varied talents of the Crazy Gang. "Most outstanding are Bud Flanagan, Teddy Knox, and Chesney Allen, who although he rarely gets the laughs, is a shining example of everything a good 'feed' comedian should be. The best sequence in the picture is at the ship's concert, when the gang, with the aid of some magnificent voices and the genie, sing an operatic aria." Another critic described "Alf's Button Afloat" as: "Uproarious comedy. The peak episodes are hilarious disorganisation of the British Fleet by comic marines; a delightful 'Pagliacci' burlesque with genuine operatic voices grafted on to the gang's lip movements; a richly humorous hunt in which circus horses encircle the green sward to barrel-organ music, and the genie's transformation to a Bowery tough after a movie visit."

"South Riding" is at present showing at the Civic.

PLAZA

"PRISON BREAK'* AND "SHE LOVED A FIREMAN"

The struggles of a paroled convict to rehabilitate himself form the basis of the plot of "Prison Break," which is coming to the Plaza to-morrow with "She Loved a Fireman." Barton Mac Lane is seen as the unfortunate man who endeavours to "go straight" while the forces of society seem to conspire to prevent him from earning an honest living. Featured with Mac Lane are Glenda Farrell, Paul Hurst, Constance Moore, Ward Bond, Edward Pawley, Edmund Mac Donald, and several others. The picture is a Trem Carr production for Universal, and was directed by Arthur Lubin.

Some of the most spectacular firefighting scenes ever shown on the screen are promised in the Warner Bros, melodrama, "She Loved a Fireman," which will be the second attraction at the Plaza.

The climax of the picture is a tremendous fire on a waterfront, with boats as well as land apparatus engaged in putting it out. Foran plays a "new chum" fireman who comes under the command of a hard-boiled captain, portrayed by Robert Armstrong. The two become bitter enemies, even though Dick falls in love with Bob's sister —the lovely red-haired Ann Sheridan.

During the waterfront fire Bob is disabled and apparently doomed to death in the flames when Dick, by superhuman efforts, rescues him, and then peace is restored all round. Others in the cast include Veda Ann Borg, Eddie Acuff, May Beatty, and Eddie Chandler. The picture was directed by John Farrow, who is a master of thrilling screen action. At present showing at the Plaza are "Tropic Holiday" and "True Confession."

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED

Starring popular Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy, "The Girl of the Golden West," the current attraction at the Regent, has been so popular that its season is being extended for a third week. "That Certain Age," starring Deanna Durbin, will begin to-morrow. "Varsity Show," starring Dick Powell, is now at the Majestic. With him are Priscilla Lane, Walter Catlett, and Ted Healy. "The Texans." starring Randolph Scott and Joan Bennett, will begin on Friday. "Sweet Aloes," starring Kay Francis, Roland Young, and George Brent, is now at the Tivoli. Henry Stephenson, Freda Inescourt and Patricia Knowles are also starred: Gracie Fields is the star of "The Show Goes On" which is now at the Liberty. The second feature is "San Quentin," starring Pat O'Brien. At the Grand "Crash Donovan." starring Jack Holt, is showing. The second feature is "The Invisible Ray*" *tara?iftfc g&tig £&&&& . -.. - ... -■ u*

MAYFAIR

"LITTLE MISS BROADWAY"

The very latest Shirley Temple attraction, "Little Miss Broadway," will be the main feature of the Christmas programme at the Mayfair to-morrow, when, in addition to the ordinary sessions a special late shoppers' session will begin at 10.30 p.m. The original screen play was prepared by Harry Tugend and Jack Yellen. The cast which supports Shirley is headed by George Murphy, one of Hollywood's leading dancers and actors; Jimmy Durante, a droll comedian who needs no introduction; Phyllis Brooks, the rapidly rising young blonde beauty who appeared with Shirley in "Rebecca," and Edna May Oliver, who is known to a host of people as the austere old maid.

The cast also includes many big names, notable among them George Barbier, Edward Ellis. Jane Darwell, Donald Meek Patricia Wilder, and Claude Gillingwater, sen. Six sparkling tunes by Walter Bullock and Harold Spina—ranging from ballads to swing—lend themselves to Shirley's singing as well as the intricate steps which she and Murphy do together. The songs include "Be Optimistic," "We Should Be Together," "If All the World Were Paper," "Swing Me An Old-Fashioned Song," "How Can I Thank You," and "Little Miss Broadway." Production has called for ultra-mod-ern sets as well as dowdy old theatrical hotel-room scenes.

The script of "Little Miss Broadway" calls for a hotel full of out-of-work variety artists, and the cast reads like a "Who's Who" of old-time favourites. In the featured cast is Jimmy Durante, who' has been in the "biz" for years. Then there is El Brendel, who trouped from Saskatchewan to Keokuk. Eddie Collins toured the variety circuits for 13 years until he got his chance to model for "Dopey." the most popular of the seven dwarfs. Donald Meek was in vaudeville when it used to be called "Variety." Ten years ago George Barbier toured the circuits in sketches.

Syd Saylor is a former tight-rop» walker with 17 years' balancing experience. Hank Mann toured the Sullivan and Considine circuits .until 1913, when he became one of the original "Keystone Cops." AnQther member of the "Keystone" force was Heinie Conklin, who was in vaudeville for 10 years. "Bringing Up Baby" is now at the

STATE

"SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS"

"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the first Walt Disney animated film to be made in full feature length, in technicolour, with dialogue, songs, dances, and a complete musical score, will begin at a midnight matinee to-day at the State. Another additional session, for late shoppers, will begin at 10.30 p.m. on Friday. The picture was three years in the making, its cost being estimated at 1,500,000 dollars.

The plot of "Snow White" is an adaptation of one of the most loved of the Grimm Brothers' tales. Meeting "Snow White," the dainty, loving little Princess on the screen is the same as greeting an old friend one has not seen for years. Her adventures begin when the wicked queen, jealous of "Snow White's" budding beauty, first degrades her to the level of a scullery maid. Even then the queen's magic mirror informs the sovereign that "Snow White," though attired in rags, is still the fairest in the land. The palace huntsman is ordered to take the princess to the forest and kill her But he permits her to escape. She is befriended by the pitying birds and animals and finds refuge with the Seven Dwarfs in their woodland home. Thither conies the wicked queen in the guise of a witch. Snow White eats a bewitched apple given her by her rival, and falls into a death-like slumber. So lovely is she that the dwarfs, instead of burying their beloved little housekeeper, place her in a coffin of glass and gold by which they keep watch. The tiny chaps have already wreaked vengeance on the witch, who has fallen to destruction over a precipice. Then came the uandsome prince, who !oved "Snow White" when she was only a scullery maid.

The Snow White of the Disney feature film in technicolour is a charming young girl, with her sweetness nicely tempered by a great deal of vivacity and a definite sense of humour.

When the physical appearance of Snow White was decided upon by means of thousands of preliminary sketches, Disney found out which of his animating artists liked drawing pretty girls above anything else, and assigned to them the task of turning a sketch into an absolutely lifelike lyiTiMi srooaaii, og jits sonrnrn. ,i

CRYSTAL PALACE

"OUTLAWED GUNS" AKD "CONVICT 99*»

Will Hay, the popular English comedian, is starred in "Convict 99," which will begin at the Crystal Palace tomorrow with "Outlawed Guns." A special late shoppers' session will begin at 10.30 p.m. on Friday. Featured »ratl» him are Moore Marriott, Graham fatt, and Googie Withers. The story is about the headmaster of a school for sons of gentlemen, who, when forced to resign, finds himself appointed governor of a prison because of a mistake about his identity. His incapacity for the job, and his wellmeaning but blundering efforts to quell a mutiny provide numerous comic situations.

His arrival at the prison coincides with a mutiny among the inmates. One escapes from a newly-arrived batch, and the former headmaster is seized by mistake, and hastily thrown into a cell. Fortunately the mistake is discovered before very long, and Hay, having by now first-hand experience of the plight of the inmates of the prison, decides to reform its entire policy. Electric fires and cosy armchairs are placed in each cell alonj with gaily-coloured curtains and radio sets. Then the governor gets involved in an apparently brilliant financial scheme, and success causes him to arrange a celebration which ends in a riot.

In "Outlawed Guns," the second feature, while Buck Jones tries to preserve the lives of the droves of cattle on the western ranch owned by himself and his younger brother, the debts of the brother constantly increase at the gambling house in the nearby , town. Even when 1000 head of cattle have finally been driven to safety in a protected valley, the younger man secretly gives up the herd in settlement of his losses, and is forced into a gang of bandits. To protect the youngster from himself, Buck, having lost the ranch, follows him. Romance enters the life of Buck, but he disregards everything in a relentless pursuit of the criminal band, of which his brother is now a member.

"Manhattan Merry-Go-Round" and "Lovers and Luggers" are now showing at the Crystal Palace.

"Alexander's Ragtime Band" is tb* fmmcGut feafcnaa •£ the ata*%