CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22922, 19 January 1940, Page 6

CITY THEATRES

LIBERTY

“GOLDEN BOY”

Combining emotional drama with colour and action of New York’s metropolitan life, “Golden , Boy,” Clifford Odets’ famous stage play, is brought to the screen by Columbia Pictures, and J.irected by Rouben Mamoulian, it makes one of the most powerful films issued from. American studios in recent years. It will begin a season today at the Liberty. The delicate handling of intense emotional conflict among all the principal players calls for unbounded ad-:

BARBARA STANWYCK

miration, while the character acting equals the best brought to the screen. The supporting cast gives an outstanding performance. In the title role, William Holden justifies the reputation claimed for him when he was chosen for the part after months of searching by the producers. Barbara Stanwyck gives probably the best performance of her career, in a vefV sincere interpretation of a poor girl who fights with “Golden Boy” between the materialistic and idealistic sides of life.

A most convincing role is played by Lee J. Cobb, as the boy’s father, and the restrained grief he shows in the failure of the boy to realise his dreams is one of the finest scenes ' produced for the screen for some time.

Other players who fulfill important duties in “Golden Boy” are Adolphe Mcnjou, as a likeable boxing manager, harassed and cynical, and Joseph Calleia, a suave crook of the underworld. The associate feature is “Five Little Peppers,” a film that will appeal to adults and children .alike.

CRYSTAL PALACE

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME

“Frontier Marshal,” a film with an attractive cast-of well-known players, will be seen at the Crystal Palace today with “I Killed die Count.” The famous, names that appear on the cast of “Frontier Marshal” are Randolph Scott, Nancy Kelly, Cesar Romero, Binnie Barnes, and John Carradine, each of whom has made a singular reputation in some important film. Randolph Scott hag his most colourful role to date as Wyatt Earp the marshal who brought in the law with his six-gun and stayed alive because ho one could beat: him: to the draw. • The SlbVely Nancy Kelly’ is cast as, the bemi--I;tiful, brave girl who followed Doc Holliday, the man she loVed, to this Godforsaken borderland town to save him. Romero is cast as Holliday, elegant gambler, and deadly killer, who had dropped his useful life in the East to come to Tombstone, a bitter, desperate man.

Binnie Barnes is Jerry, the dancehall queen, madly in love with Holliday. Carradine is cast as Ben Carter, the villainous proprietor of the Palace of Pleasure, where a shooting was always in order. Allan Dwan directed “Frontier Marshal.” The associate feature is “I Killed the' Count,” starring Syd. Walkrr (of “Band Waggon”) and Bti. Lyon. Four persons claim to have killed the count, and the plot is an interesting one.

AVON

“HUCKLEBERRY FINN”

All lovers of Mark Twain are enthusiastic about the wonderful film version of “Huckleberry Finn” now showing at the. Avon Theatre. Here is an example of a writer of pre-film days who wrote stories that seem mysteriously to have been written especially for the films. All the best that one expects from an adventure film is provided by the immortal story of Huckleberry Finn.

Mickey ROoney, who has by now proved himself an excellent actor capable of handling a variety of different parts, is 'in the title role. Walter Connolly, seen in “Too Hot to Handle,” and William Frawley are two others who portray inimitable Mark Twain characters, “The King’ and “The Duke” respectively. The film abounds with amusing moments to please the lover of Mark Twain’s subtle style of humour, and Rooney, Connolly, and Frawley ,are three players ■ who were very well chosen to play the chief characters.

PLAZA

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME

Valerie Hobson, who made such an outstanding hit in “Clouds Over Europe” opposite Lawrence Olivier, is now cast opposite Barry K. Barnes in the newspaper murder mystery, “This Man is News,” coming to-day to the .Plaza. The imposing cast also includes Alastair Sim, John Warwick, Gary Marsh. Edward Lexy, James Pirrie, and Kenneth Buckley. David Mac Donald was. the director. Those who liked “The Lady Vanishes” will derive great pleasure out of this new film by the same makers.

The associate feature 'in this programme, which will also include an instalment of “The Lone Ranger Rides Again,” is “Mystery Plane,” a John Trent spy story of the air. This is a thrilling story well produced and well acted by an excellent cast, at the head, of which are John Trent and Marjorie Reynolds.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED

‘The Beachcomber” (Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester) is now at the Regent.

“Angels With Dirty Faces” (James Cagney, Pat O’Brien, and the “Dead End Kids”) is. now a’ the Majestic, “The Wizard of Oz” is now showing at, the« Tiyoli.. ■

“Down the Stretch” (Mickey Rooney) anfl “The Case. of, the Black Cat” (Ricardo Cortez, June Travis) are now at the Grand. “You’re a Sweetheart” (Alice Faye, George Murphy, Charles Winninger) and “Bar 20 Justice” (“Hopalong Cassidy”) are at St. James’, i