CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22594, 27 December 1938, Page 14

CITY THEATRES

PLAZA

“PRISON BREAK” AND “SHE

LOVED A FIREMAN”

Film-goers in search of thrilling action and tense scenes should certainly see “Prison Break” and “She Loved a Fireman,” which are now showing at the Plaza. , . Authenticity is characteristic of the atmosphere behind the story m “Prison Break,” which is woven round the struggles of a paroled convict to rehabilitate himself, while the influences in society surrounding him conspire to prevent him from earning an honest living. Barton Mac Lane gives a thoroughly convincing display as the skipper of a tuna clipper, who goes to gaol to protect his sister s fiance, whom he believes to have been guilty of murdering his own fiance’s brother. His father-in-law is bitterly opposed to his intending marriage. Some of the most spectacular firefighting scenes ever filmed are screened in “She Loved a Fireman.” The leading role is taken by Dick Foran, and the story concerns the adventures of a “new chum” fireman. Foran, who sings (jften and well, joins the “checker-playing fireman” because he is led to believe that their life is soft. This attitude does not please the captain. Foran is about to be dismissed for inefficiency when a spectacular fire breaks out in a waterfront warehouse. Amid amazing scenes every detail of fire-fighting technique is faithfully reproduced, adding greatly to the interest of the film.

MAYFAIR

“LITTLE MISS BROADWAY”

Music and laughter in “Little Miss Broadway,” Shirley Temple’s latest production, now at the Mayfair, make it one of the brightest films of its kind, and perhaps the best in which the talented little actress has participated. The music and the brilliant dancing alone would make this film quite worth while, even without the human interest and the plot. The story concerns a little miss who lives in an orphanage and is taken to live in a vaudeville hotel with her foster parents, Edward Ellis and Phyllis Brooks. When Jimmy Durante’s band gets too loud in its rehearsals, the wealthy neighbour and landlady, Edna May Oliver, complains and threatens to close down the hotel.

CIVIC

“ALE’S BUTTON AFLOAT”

The popular and familiar story of Aladdin’s lamp, modernised —which is to say complete with “wisecracks,” beer in kegs, and sailors who want any women but their own wives—is brought to the screen in “Alf’s Button Afloat,” at the Civic, without doubt one of the most hilarious comedies that have ever been produced by British studios. It is a Gainsborough picture from the G.B.D. Studios, and is a film which preserves the traditions of the English musichall stage. The story centres on the activity of the “Crazy Gang,” which comprises Flanagan and Allen, well known on New Zealand radio programmes, Nervo and Knox, Naughton and Gold, music hall stars, and Alastair Sim is the qenie of the Lamp.

CRYSTAL PALACE

“CONVICT 99” AND “OUTLAWED GUNS”

There is only one Will Hay and he can be seen at his best in the picture “Convict 99,” which is showing with “Outlawed Guns” at the Crystal Palace. Will Hay has a style of his own, and he makes the most of it in this picture when he takes the part of Dr. Benjamin Twist. The story begins as he is "forcibly retired” from St. Michael’s school, and he goes to live as the unwelcome guest of his brother. The second picture is a “Wild West” featuring Buck Jones, and takes high rank as a thriller and an exhibition of horsemanship such as only Buck Jones pictures can.

STATE

“SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS”

In the advertisements, everyone from five to 50 is advised to sfce “Snow White and the Seven. Dwarfs,” the film for the Christmas season at the State Theatre. And it is probable that all picture-goers from five to 50 will see this film, for it is justly given an extraordinary amount of publicity; certainly all those who see it will he glad “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is a triumph among the colour films from a technical point of view alone, probably the best fulllength colour picture that has been seen in .New Zealand. But when it is said that the film is of the usual Walt Disney standard in colour and design, it will at once be known that the colour is very good and the design inspired* It is not, however, to be thought liiat this film is a Walt Disney cartoon of the quick and bright kind concerning Donald Duck, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, qpd the others; it is much more than this. There are the sudden appearances, the almost unbearable suspenses, the calamitous uproars of a Disney cartoon, but there are also quiet, gentle, and palely-coloured scenes as beautiful and delicate as any to be found on the screen.

AVON

“MANNEQUIN”

The acting ability of Joan Crawford has seldom in the last few years been seen to better advantage than in “Mannequin,” the Christmas attraction which is now showing at the Avon. Sharing honours with Joan Crawford in the film is one of the most popular and able of male actors, Spencer Tracy, famous for his performances in such successes as “San Francisco.”

“Mannequin” is a tense and sophisticated story of a New York tenement girl who married for the opportunity to escape from her surroundings, and then finds a new meaning to life. It gives Joan Crawford ample opportunity for the best use of her acting talent, and Spencer Tracy is equally well suited, playing the role of a wealthy man whom sudden and unexpected adversity forces to a knowledge of the seamy side of life. The film features, too, a new Hollywood discovery, Alan Curtis, who does remarkably well in the role of a not very likeable young criminal, who conceives a scheme for blackmail which goes awry at the last minute.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED

Popular Deanna Durbin has the lead in “That Certain Age,” now showing at the Regent. She is starred with Melvyn Douglas and sings several new songs. “The Texans,” a stirring film of American pioneering, is the current attraction at the Majestic, starring Joan Bennett and Randolph Scott. “Popeye the Sailor meets Ali Baba’s Forty Thieves” is an additional attraction.

At the Tivoli Jeanette 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, opened yesterday at the Grand.