Cinema Reviews

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22769, 22 July 1939, Page 8

Cinema Reviews

STATE “NEAREST THING TO;HEAVEN” "The Nearest Thing to Heaven,” one of the most delightful comedy-ro-mances to be produced for the screen, began its season at .the State Theatre last night. It might truthfully be described as the nearest thing to perfection in romantic films. Overseas i,t. has been proclaimed an outstanding . success, and with Christchurch audiences it is bound to be popular. From the beauty and balance of the scenes and the many delightful settings it is obvious that considerable thought has been given to the production of the film. . Irene Dunne has made herself universally popular by her inimitable acting in many light-hearted, romantic roles. With Charles Boyer in “The Nearest Thing to-Heaven,” she. is again . outstanding. Her voice has lost nope of its rich appeal, and in the ; cleverly varied dialogue in this film there is ample opportunity for her to be seen at her best. ' Charles Boyer handles both dramatic and humorous scenes masterfully. - The title of the film is Irene Dunne’? description of the top floor of the tallest building in the world—the Empire State building. New York. Standing on the deck of the liner on which her romance with Bover began, she. agrees to meet him oh the top of the tallest building in six months from the time they part. Then a personal radiogram to Boyer is blown through a porthole to Miss Dunne, and at Madeira, where the ship calls for several hours, all is changed. Boyer’s grandmother —a part which Maria Ouspenskaya plays magnificently—entertains them at her beautiful home above the harbour. As the course of the ship changes sc do they change he course of their lives. Both of them realise that when they leave the ship at New York it will be as though they are entering a different world in which Boyer is engaged to another woman. They make their vow to meet again in six months, and while Boyer is working hard to become a successful artist, Irene finds work in another town. At nearly 3 o’clock on the day appointed, Irene, looking upwards to the top floor of the Empire State building, is knocked down, and goes to hospital. Up ahthe meeting place Boyer grows hourly less patient, and more puzzled, until finally he goes on his way. The scenes which lead to their final meeting and the explanation of the failure to keep their appointment ate so well produced that there is not a moment when the most hardened picturegoer could become disinterested. An excellent supporting programme includes Walt Disney’s highly amusing cartoon, -“Ferdinand the Bull. ' MAYFAIR “THE HOUND OP THE BASKERVILLES*,? Thfe' most thrilling of all Conan Doyle’s’ famous Sherlock Holmes stories. “.The Hound of the Baskervilles,” has come to the screen at last and now can be seen at the Mayfair Theatre. The familiar checked-tweed, deerstalker's cap and the curved pipe grace the profile, of Basil Rathbone, and one can aliyiost /shifE the -heavy black ; shag that lie smokes. The character In the tooks was so real that there used to be letters in the London Dead letter Office for the master sleuth, a'-fact which the author, Conan Doyle, attributed to his brainchild’s manv appearances on the stage. Consequently, in Holmes* is even - fnere’' '■tangible a reality, because Basil Rathbone’s performance in,the rote is perfectly convincing and'htfe^etant. Tfee ghostJ&mMgiof tse cede'moors roufid tRe hhcestral’Vhomfr oaHKe. Baskervilles have hidden many hprnble sights, and the legend is well known of the inheritors of the estates who all met sudden and horrible deaths. Sir Henry (Richard Greene), the young heir just returning from Canada, may be destined for just such a horrible death, but Sherlock Holmes is called in by a neighbour of the Baskervilles. .Met in London by Holmes and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce), Sir Henry scoffs at the warnings he receives about the risk -he takes by going to the* home where his uncle recently met a sudden death. That the footprints of a huge hound were found near the body does not convince him that his uncle’s heart failure was not a natural occurrence. At his home on Dartmoor Sir Henry Is happy enough, and more so after making the acquaintance of Beryl Stapleton (Wendie Barrie). With him, sUlspi •igvDr. v WaisQh,Vwhitet'Wdtoes' has ' supposedly been left in London, But soon frightening events occur. The howling at night and one of the servants fotmd signalling to someone out on the moor make Sir Henry a little nervous. Then Watson discovers that an old hermit living out on. the moor is Holmes; needless to say he did not find out for himself, and Holmes hadi to show himself up to the astonished doctor. Holmes is on the scene at last and eiveryone is very thankful. From now on things happen in a terrifying atmosphere of suspense, the servants in the manor tyshave most suspiciously, with obvious motive, it seems, and the mystery of why two ,p£ Sir Henry’s boots were stolen from • his -hotelanC London has not yet been r solved. Eventually one realises that they will provide a scent for! the horrible beast to trail. An occasional joke from ,Dr Watson-gives a moment to take a breath, but the situation becomes still more tense, the mists still hang gloomily round the crags out on the-moor, and the howling is still heard at night. Yet even now noone is sure if the beast exists. Excitement grows, and one wonders whether Holmes knows how to handle, the problem; one wonders, for instance, why he seems so interested in an old portrait of one of the former Baskervilles. But Holmes has seen a resemblance in that portrait. - and even a distant relative might be the next of km who would have a motive for killing Sir Henry. Not once in the film does the old catch-phrase, “Elementary, my dear Watson” occur. The production is an example of discriminating restraint on the, part of Sidney Lanfleld, director. Every now and then, too, • . bits come where someone gets a chance lor - some very good acting. The film is an entirely successful attempt to achieve 'what Gonan Doyle would have wished. The supporting programme includes a Terry Toon cartoon, and a scenic journey, tracing the cour«> of the Thames from its first spring' CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED The notable film, “Boys’ Town,” in which Spender Tracy, and Mickey Rooney have leading parts,' began an .extended season at the Regent yesterday. "Bum ’Em Up O’Connor,” starring Dennis O’Keefe, and “I Am a Criminal,” with John Carroll and Kay Linaker, began at the Majestic yesterday. The attraction at the Tivoli again this week is “Sweethearts,” with Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy. “Calling All Stars,” which features Larry Adler and Ambrose and his Orchestra, and “Back to Nature,” a Jopes Family film.fcegan at the firancLyesterdsiy,

AVON “DRAMATIC SCHOOL” IN SECOND WEEK The vivacious Viennese star, Luise Rainer, steals all hearts in. her latest and (it is rumoured) her last picture, “Dramatic School,” which started, a second week at the Avon yesterday.; At the beginning of this year Luise Rainer announced that she, had decided to give up film acting, perhaps permanently, perhaps only temporarily. She was dissatisfied with her part in “Toy Wife” and sought roles that were more dramatic and sympathetic. Her part in “Dramatic Scnooi” is said to be nearer her ideal role: it is that of Louise Mauban, who works in a meter factory at night in order to earn money to . pay for fees so that she can attend a dramatic school during the day. To her classmates she is- a mysterious persoh. To escape the grim realities of life she creates an imaginary world and even an imaginary lover. Bv a series of chances and a series of accidents designed by others in the dramatic, school, . notably Nana (Paulette Goddard) Luise gives a name to her imaginary lover and is then, forced tcnmeet him. He, gallantly, plays his plrt and does not give away her deception. This part, of the Marquis Andre D’Abbencourt, is played by Alan Marshal, the young Australian actor last seen in “After the Thin Man” and “Night Must Fall.” Paulette Goddard, heroine of Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times,” is Hollywood’s mystery girl and . puzzle to the critics. In 1932 she appeared in a crowd role in “The Kid from Spain”: for three years Charlie Chaplin coached her—made her renounce her false blondeness, changed her accent, taught her pantomime and acting tricks, and finally made her his leading lady in “Modern Times,” a role which did not give her very wide scope; more years passed and in 1938 she made “The Young in Heart” and now we have "Dramatic School” with this beautiful star high up in the cast. The story itself is simple, yet fascinating, and deals with the laughs and tears of those who seek footlight fame. These girls at the school of dramatic art dream and think of nothing else. Among them is Louise Mauban (Luise Rainer) who, like all the rest, is convinced that she is destined to .be a great star. Her purse, however, is not as big as her ambitions, and she is forced to work at night in the factory. Naturally enough, she does not boast of this to her fellow students, but invents many marvellous stories about herself, for their benefit. They regard her with a certain amount of awe, but one'Of them, Paulette Goddard, is suspicious of it all and tries to delve deeper into these stories. . . The background of the film is interesting in itself and the massed class learning fencing is worthy, of note. People who have waited for so long for this picture will not be disappointed. Luise Rainer in this film has many dramatic opportunities—in the scene in which she plays the poor student vainly attempting to play Juliet according to the instructions of Gale Sondergaard; in the scene in which she is confronted by the man she has named her lover: or in that where she imagines for herself yet another dreamlover, she proves her power. The supporting programme is again of ahi ' f h standard, including as it does one of the popular James Fitzpatrick travelogue series, this time. Java Journey” - news reels, a musical tabloid, and “Seal-skinners,” a colour cartoon. - HOLLYWOOD SUMNER PROGRAMMES FOR COMING ' WEEK "* -- “ ' The popular film, “Wfe’re Going to Be Rich,” featuring Grade Fields and Victor McLaglen, will be the main attraction at the Hollywood Theatre, SUmner, to-night and again on Monday and Tuesday evening. Other features include an Air Mail news, a comedy, and a cartoon. On Wednesday, and for the subsequent two days, the main attraction will be, “Spawn of the North,” featuring George Baft, ‘Henry Fonda, and Dorothy Lamour. An attractive list, of features has been booked for early screening and should add to the popularity of the theatre. REX, RICCARTON —:— “The Great Garrick,” with Olivia de Havilland and Brian Aherne, and “Red River Valley,” with Gene Autry, will be screened to-night at the Rex Theatre, Riccarton.- The usual' outstanding shorts and March of Time will also be screened.