CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22850, 25 October 1939, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

CRYSTAL PALACE “OLD BONES OF THE RIVER” AND “THE JONES FAMILY” Outstanding entertainment is promised at the Crystal Palace on Friday with the opening of “Old Bones of the River,” a comedy-drama based on Edgar Wallace stories, and “The Jones Family in Hollywood.”

Will Hay, Harbottle, and the rest make merry through a series of stirring adventures in “Old Bones of the River.” The departure of Mr Commissioner Sanders for England coincides with the arrival of young Bones’s uncle, Professor Benjamin Tibbetts, who has come to West Africa to teach the black men how to play the white man. Disembarking from the same boat is M’Bapi, crafty brother of the faithfpl tribal chief, Bosambo, returning to his native land with a gin-distiller which passes the customs in the baggage of the unsuspecting Professor. The movies’ first family make merry in Movieland in “The Jones Family in Hollywood,” and what a time they have. Jack gets tangled up with romance, Roger tries to fight the whole movie colony. Lucy takes a screen test, and dad takes an aspirin in the latest of the 20th Century-Fox series. “Romance of the Redwoods” and “Rootin’, Tootin’ Rhythm” are the present attractions.

AVON

“STOLEN LIFE”

Elisabeth Bergner, in what is probably the most brilliant acting in her film career, is to be seen in the unusual double role of Sylvina and Martina Lawrence, in “Stolen Life,” now showing at the Avon. With much the same team-work as produced “Escape Me Never,” the famous actress has made a triumphant success of a very difficult performance. Opposite her is the English actor, Michael Redgrave, who became a sudden favourite with his first film, "The Lady Vanishes.” “Hotel Imperial’ Coming

Isa Miranda and Ray Milland are the stars of “Hotel Imperial,” Paramount’s war love story that is coming soon to the Avon. The film is set m the dangerous early days of the European war of 1914-18. The Russians and Austrians have taken and retaken a little border town many times. And now as the Austrians are in possession, Anna, after attending the funeral of her sister, applies at the Hotel Imperial for the position as maid. As help is scarce she is given a job, and she sets about the job of finding the man who betrayed her sister. PLAZA “BULLDOG DRUMMOND”. AND “LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE” The favourite Bulldog Drummond team will return to the Plaza on Friday in the latest film in the famous series—“ Arrest Bulldog Drummond” with John Howard and Heather Angel as usual cn the verge of their marriage. H. B. Warner, Reginald Denny, and E. E. Clive are important members of the cast.

The associate feature at the Plaza will be “Little Orphan Annie,” starring Ann Gillis, with Robert Kent and Anne Travis. Ann Gillis played “Beckv Thatcher” in “The Adventures of Tom SaWyer.” In a simple, straightforward way, the drama tells the story of the little orphan's efforts to get along in New York, after leaving her farmer-adopter because of his unkind treatment . “Sudden Money” and “Silver on the Sage” are the current features. LIBERTY “YOUNG MR LINCOLN” AND “JUGGERNAUT” Among the several films that recently have come to the screen dealing with the life of President Lincoln is “Young Mr Lincoln,” which was given its premiere release in New Zealand on Friday at the Liberty Theatre. It will without doubt prove one of the best. The film is the American industry at its highest, and that means that it is as good as can be made. The supporting feature is another premiere release. Boris Karloff in “Juggernaut,” not Karloff as something horrific, but Karloff as it were in his natural state, in a splendid mystery thriller.

STATE

“ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS”

Baranca was a little South American airport, and Baranca shipped bananas to satisfy the banana urge of the world. Baranca owned an air service that carried the mail across the fog-covered Andes, and in charge of the air service was Geoffrey Grant. Under Grant, gathered from the four corners of the world, was a reckless, adventurous crew of young aviators. To this scene, stranded showgirl from the south, came Bonnie, and then the always exciting atmosphere of the place became more exciting still. ' Briefly, that is the background of the film “Only Angels have Wings,’ now showing at the State. THEATRE ROYAL “PROFESSOR MAMLOCK” “Professor Mamlock,” the Russian film now showing at the Theatre Royal, is a stark account of the coming to power of the Nazis in Berlin in 1933. None of the actors or actresses is known to New Zealand audiences yet their performances easily held those audiences: the dialogue is m Russian with flashed-on English translations in clear type; the scenes are all in streets or in small- shops, living-rooms, and attics, where anti-Nazi work is carried on or in the clinic of which the famous Jewish doctor, Professor Mam r lock, is in charge; the photography is of the simplest—probably nowhere assisted with artificial lighting effects—but for this reason, or perhap- because of the artistry of the Russian photographers, it is fully effective The only women who appear in the film are in nurses’ uniforms, shop overalls, plain dresses, or quite undramatic overcoats and hats. REX, RICCARTON The two pictures to be shown at the Rex Theatre, Riccarton, to-night, to-morrow, and • Friday, feature Charles Bickford, Barton Mac Lane, Tom Brown, Nan Gray, and Preston Foster in “The Storm,** and Boris .Karloff and a big cast in “Mr Wong, Detective.’’ ...

MAYFAIR “STORY OF ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL”

The story of the Scottish-born American inventor, Alexander Graham Bell, forms the basis for the film of that name coming to the Mayfair Theatre on the next change of programme. Behind Bell’s invention of the telephone lies a story of hardship, struggle against poverty, and apparent failure with experiments, and

of romance. Don Ameche, Loretta Young, and Henry Fonda take leading roles. . As the genius who invented the telephone was a giant among men, so Darryl F. Zanuck’s production of The Story of Alexander Graham Bell’ is a giant among pictures. It is a magnificent screen tribute to a miraculous achievement and a stirring love story. “Clouds Over Europe” is still drawing capacity houses. CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED Claude Rains and May Robson have the leading roles in Fanny Hursts great story, “Four Daughters, now showing at the Regent Theatre. The Lane sisters head the supporting cast. The comedian, George Formby, _'is the star in “Trouble Brewing,” which is having an extended season at the Majestic Theatre. “The Warning” is the associate feature. Mickey Rooney, . Maureen O Sullivan. and Dennis O Keefe leading players in the entertaining film. “Hold That Kiss,” at the Tivoli Theatre. Laurel and Hardy, in ‘Beau Hunks.” form a fine support “Wake up and Live,” with Alice Faye and Jack Haley, and “Sabotage,” with Sylvia Sidney and Oscar Homblka, form the entertaining prpgramme at the Grand Theatre. “Our Fighting Navy.” with H. B. Warner and Richard Cromwell, and "Racing Lady,” with Ann Dvorak and Harry Carey, are at the St. James'.