CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22592, 23 December 1938, Page 7

CITY THEATRES

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-day, when, in addition to the ordinary sessions a special late shoppers’ session will begin at 10.30 p.m. 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.”

CIVIC

“ALF’S BUTTON AFLOAT”

“Alf’s Button Afloat,” which is the Christmas attraction at the Civic, beginning to-day, is a comedy with a different quality from the usual run of Aims. It presents a further variation of ‘fAlf’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 usur«J 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.”

PLAZA

“PRISON - BREAK” AND “SHE LOVED A FIREMAN”

The struggles of a paroled convict to rehabilitate himself form the basis ui Vue plot, ol “Prison Brook,’’ nnVvvoVv is coming to the Plaza to-day 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 lire 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.

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, is the Christmas attraction at the State. An additional session, for late shoppers, will begin at 10.30 p.m. today. The picture was three years m 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 comes 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 handsome prince, who loved “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.

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 Spencer Tracy to her long list in “Mannequin,” which will be the Christmas attraction at the Avon, beginning to-day. 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. 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 %hare 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.”

CRYSTAL PALACE

“OUTLAWED GUNS” AND “CONVICT 99”

Will Hay, the popular English comedian, is starred in “Convict 99,” which will begin at the Crystal Palace today with "Outlawed Guns.” A special late shoppers’ session will begin at 10.30 p.m. on Friday. Featured with him are Moore Marriott, Graham Moffatt, 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 along with gaily-coloured curtains and radio sets.

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 ypunger man secretly gives up the herd in settlement of his losses, and is fprced 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.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED

Popular Deanna Durbin has the lead in "That Certain Age,” which will begin to-day at the Regent. She is starred with Melvyn Douglas and sings sacral new songs.

“The Texans,” a stirring film of American pioneering, begins to-day at the Majestic, starring Joan Bennett and Randolph Scott. “Pop-eye the Sailor meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves is an additional attraction. At the Tivoli Jeannette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy are starred in “Girl of the Golden West,” which has had an unusual success in Christchurch. The Christmas programme at the Liberty presents Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in “Follow the Fleet” and Pat O’Brien in “China Clipper." “Sing, Baby, Sing,” with Alice Faye and the Ritz Brothers, and “The Border Patrolman,” with George O’Brien, will begin to-day at the Grand.