Cinema Reviews

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22941, 10 February 1940, Page 9

Cinema Reviews

.. MAYFAIR

“INTERMEZZO”

: :e beautiful new Swedish star, Ini Bergman, is to be Seen for the ■ ‘time in Christchurch at the May- ' in theXfllm “Intermezzo, a Love with' Leslie Howard and Edna t When a quite unknown name advertised in the top lines with ! such famous names as those of iie Howard and Edna Best, film ■ fs should be at", to expect some- > eg out of the ordinary in the beauty : fating powers of the owner of the f name. _ In this case no one will disappointed. Ingrid Bergman is pg and beautiful' with a vigorous ea ,? er beauty that belongs only youth. Moreover she can act very ’ 5 and does act well throughout this J. moving film. To say that she ■ “as much attention when she is _me screen as any of the other w s IS to give her high praise con- ■ ™g the actors with whom she is tmf.lt is not too high praise fresh and captivating actress who appears to be still I* l6 sophisticated glamour spoils some older actresses. [B cill .ef beauty about “Intermezzo" S.W and natural way in which S' thing is staged; everything Sfi s - The great musician. Leslie c °mes• home at last from a fern d tour - He is delighted to be oome again with his wife (Edna ,I’,, i s , " s °n (Douglas Scott), and gughter (Ann Todd). The room % ?, ‘“oils more beautiful than ever j ‘°hg absence. His daughter, ! progressed amazingly il er new teacher (Ingrid S'. The teacher is ver- beautiHoward appears scarcely illttif if e , r when she comes to give sicifin ®i mus ‘ c lessons. The great Wife-* e . ager only to t with in« IV-.w beg her to come on a j to the alps, to recapture ! .happiness of their youth, fe flSJphcher is invited to the list s birthday party. And apart Ht**. Howard notices'* Ingrid Iho j! 'ii.vP 0 she consents to play, td rtifl c ?y ors that she is indeed a lit- From the enthusiasm )bs ini playin £ his feeling soon deISiirth s °mething very different »*? ore difficult. tlohnrtf 1 I s - a trank statement of the charfert}- human affections and UrriifEf 8 - inevitably occur irt jbioot’f'w f ac t the films deals with E : ‘ to ls . tragic in essence. As ssinrt=t y tc ' ls of the sudden love between a young Ss Eras?,-? man much older and J ea tv' 1 *?: r< phsation of those conation ' a e hopelessness of their flidav two musicians spend '■ns t n “LMediterranean ports, aciv s fni ‘h 0 story, there i- oppoi'ifiv 'rh^ 1 2. uc h interesting photoe «ee appeal to a large t rmn& ®hould certainly disapcted ’t tt ‘ s Well acted and well time Howard is for the |h he P r °ducer in a film in Here Bctinfrvaried supporting proSjisht* .. *hS some interesting rWonri°f?' the activities of famous A ° a Personalities.

[ °LLYWOOD, SUMNER ■"■S.'■■■.■

!to as Britain's laughing aniDe*’ If. menace. “Clouds Over W* bo the main feature at \ Theatre. Sumner.. tofag/ 0 , oh . Monday and Tuesday fie in .i Gillian! supporting proReseat U ' des many scenes from

PLAZA

ATTRACTIVE DOUBLEFEATURE PROGRAMME

The possibility of 4000 suspects being found in a single crime seems rather incredible in a modern world, but this is only one of the problems which face “Torchy" Blane, popular girl reporter, in, the latest of her series of adventure films, “Torchy Blane in Chinatown,” which is now showing at the Plaza. As the story reveals, the Chinese are very proud of the ancient dynasties, and when a treasure-seeking American robs the family tombs of precious jade burial tablets many relatives, even very remote ones across the seas, are likely to be interested in avenging the sacrilege. The story tells how the agent of the art collector receives, a threat of death unless he surrenders Uhe ancient treasure. Police provide an imposing bodyguard, but the mysterious alteration of the watches of the officers causes the threatened man to leave his protection before it is really safe. A mutilated corpse is found in a motorcar some time later. “Torchy" Blane, played by Glenda Farrell, is quickly on the scene of the crime, and from this time on she continues to dog the steps of the chief police officer, played by Barton Mac Lane. The sinister surroundings of Chinatown provide a gripping locale for the early sequences of the picture, and a tense atmosphere is built up. The deadly purpose of the murderers is made more plain when a throat is received by a doctor of the party that he Will meet his death at the funeral of the previous victim. Strong police guards are posted, but the doctor falls a victim to a poison introduced into his cigarettes. An antidote which he possesses is found ( to be tampered with, and his death quickly follows. Further mystery is given the event by the fact that the body disappears soon after the murder. Meanwhile a former army officer who has been assisting in trailing the criminals disappears as he attempts to trace the people behind an attempt at blackmail. The threatened man in this case realises that the mysterious band is in earnest, and decides to hand over the money, as directed, from a motor-boat out at sea. It Is instructed that he be entirely unguarded, but the police outwit the criminals by suddenly appearing on the scene in a submarine. The unmasking of the three criminals proves a startling relevatlon. “I Stole a Million” is one of the most dramatic films seen in Christchurch for some time. It tells in a convincing fashion of the mental conflict of a man who is dogged by misfortune. George Raft has the leading role, and he is seen as a taxi-driver who is defrauded of the money he invested on a time-payment system for a new car. He seizes the money which is rightfully his, but is arrested oh suspicion. His rebellious spirit prompts him to break away, and d meeting With criminal interests to rid himself of his handcuffs involves him in a series of unfortunate robberies, for which he is forced to take the full blame. He marries Claire Trevor, and is driven to further crime in the fight to establish himself as a respectable Citizen, but criminal interests decree otherwise, and he is forced into a Series of amazing robberies, which he undertakes to provide for Us wife and child while he.serves a term of 1mto vncioGYn, himself. The story of hls conflictlne desires to please his wife bv giving himself up and to obtain sufficient money to ensure her comfort, makes gripping film material.

AVON

“THE FOUR JUST MEN”

“The Four Just Men,” a thrilling film version of a famous Edgar Wallace detective novel, now showing at the Avon Theatre, deals with a spy plot that might very well be brought to the notice of authorities in the Empire today. The plot does not In any way suggest that similar spy activities are going on to-day; but it does suggest that there are men working in England in an official or in an unofficial capacity to prevent the things that threatened the Empire in the Edgar Wallace story from happening in the real life of the Empire we see endangered to-day. This film stars four first-class actors and two actresses without in any way disclosing their identities in the credit announcements or in the advertising of the film. The effect of this is to make the action of the Aim seem less like Action and «more like events in a good newsreel. There Is not a dull moment In It. The direction of Walter Forde is so good that the story is still left with Edgar Wallace’s liveliness; and the photography of some scenes is of a very high standard. It is a Aim that is, filled with excitement but not horrors. One fiuickly realises from the first few scenes of “The Four Just Men,” that it has been most carefully directed and that the action has been based neatly on the story of the master detective writer, Edgar Wallace. Here we are confronted with barred gates, thickly piled snow, and gruff military men waiting for the time of the execution of political prisoners. The time of the execution is put forward by 30 minutes. The governor of the prison is abrupt and angry with his subordinates. And in the condemned cells two men talk in Morse through the wall. One of them is a Russian; the other is an Englishman, Terry. The guards come for the Russian; his neck is shaved and from the cell window Terry watches the Russian go to his death. A car drives up. A very important personage Visits the governor and Terry is released. The car speeds away with him to safety in a little village a few miles away in a tneutral country. And there the Four Just Men meet and make their plans. They have learnt that something is being planned *in the Suez Canal, and that Important information is leaking direct from the British Government—from the Foreign Office itself. Terry is detailed to the East; the other three to London. And there they have the most thrilling and the most amazing adventures that involve threat of death, the muzzling of the press (in the person of a Very attractive and intelligent woman reporter), murder in . a lift well, and clues picked up in a very superior dress establishment.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS. LIMITED

■ 9 “First Love," starring Deanna Durbin, is now at the Regent. “Gone to the Dogs’’ (George Wallace) is now at* the Majestic. “Suzy,” starring Jean Harlow, Cary Grant, and Franchot Tone, is the attraction at the Tivoli. The double feature at the Grand is . “Under Cover of Night” and “Song of , the City.” Two return specials, “The Perfect Gentleman” and “Gun Law,” are now sho vying at the St. James’.

REX THEATRE

The' Rex Theatre, Riccarton, will Screen two special films to-liight and on. Monday and Tuesday. They a e, Jessie Matthews and Michael Redgrave in “Climbing High," and “Heart Of The North,” in te’chnlcolour, with Allen Jenkins. Patric Knowles, Gale Page, Jenet Chapman, and Gloria Dickson.

CRYSTAL PALACE

BOBBY BREEN, AND A THRILLER Bobby Breen is the chief attaction in- the new double feature programme showing at the Crystal Palace. It is a programme that comes as a surprise, for the golden voiced child has always been regarded as one worth going to see on his own. But now “Way Down South’’ is featured at the Crystal Palace together with a thrilling drama of escape from a European totalitarian state terrorised by a dictator of death. This is “Conspiracy,” one of the most exciting films that has been seen here for a long time. Allan Lane and the beautiful Linda Hayes are starred. Cruel oppression of hardworking negro slaves on a sugar plantation in Lpuisiana and the eventual triumph of honour and kindness make an excellent theme for a Bobby Breen picture, and that is why “Way Down South” is a successful film. The young star has won for himself a position high up. among the child players who during the last few years have made such a valuable contribution to the art of the screen. And he is no mere precocious singer, he is a convincing actor, well able to portray the heroic character of "Way Down South.” Left as an orphan by his kind and beloved father (Ralph Morgan) at ttn early age,, Bobby Breen is powerless to check the criminal persecution of the plantation negroes by the unscrupulous lawyer Who has been appointed executor of the estate. Edwin Maxwell, the lawyer, has one serious Weakness, Steffi Duna, one of the belles of New Orleans, She upbraids him for not getting bigger fees from Bobby’s father. So when the father is killed in an accident at harvest time fche makes the lawyer profiteer at the expense of the slaves. Bobby Breen’s old black friends are about to be sold before he comes to their help. Bobby himself is helped by an inn proprietor (Alan Mowbray), who takes a liking to him. The Hall Johnson Negro choir accompanies Bobby Breen’s beautiful Voice in several attractive songs and spirituals, heard in picturesque settings on the plantation. “Way Down South” is a beautiful film that noone should miss.

“Conspiracy’’ is a quick succession of thrilling situations and exciting adventures. It has a dynamic plot, dealing with the exploits of Americans in a country that is more like a concen--tration camp than a state. Allan Lane is a radio operator charged with being accomplice to a secret agent of a democratic organisation which seeks to overthrow the regime. Linda Hayes is a member of that organisation and she plans to help Lane escape from the country. Robert Barrat is a friend of hers in the port where all this happens, and discovers that he was in college in America with Lane’s father. Firm friendship follows and the Americans eventually escape with Linda’s help.

STATE

“STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE” In the perilous wilderness of terrifying Africa one white man went to seek another. “Find Livingstone,” said James Gordon Bennett (Henry Hull), of the “New York Herald.” to his crack reporter, Henry M. Stanley (Spencer Tracy). “Stanley and Livingstone,” the magnificent film version of the famous adventure, is still showing at the State Theatre.

“The greatest adventure known to man,” the caption used to describe “Stanley and Livingstone,” is justified by the content of the film. This is a masterpiece of production that no British citizen shouid miss, and there is no need to as it is continuing its season at the State. j "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” This is how Henry M. Stanley quietly

greeted Dr. David Livingstone in the depths of unknown Africa, and it is now one of the most famous greetings in history. The film has a wonderful cast, including Spencer Tracy, twice winner of the Academy award, Nancy Kelly, Richard Greene, Walter Brennan, Charles Coburn,- and- Sir Cedrir Hardwicke.

And so Spencer Tracy sets off with his Indian scout, Jeff Slocum (Walter Brennan), on one of the greatest adventures known. At Zanzibar Stanley meets Gareth Tyce (Richard Greene), who has failed to find Livingstone in an expedition sponsored by the newspaper “London Globe.” Stanley is warned by the lovely Eve Kingsley (Nancy Kelly) not to mqke the hazardous trip, but to no avail. After Jong months of following Up false clues, withstanding attacks from hostile natives, sickness, and 'the menace ot wild beasts, Stanley almost admits to himself that he has failed. Just then, when he is recovering from’ fever, he finds a native who leads him to Livingstone. in London Stanley is branded as a liar by the Royal Geographical Society. Word comes in time, though, to prove that Stanley’s story is true, and he goes on with the great work he has determined to flfiish.

This great film is a Darryl Zanuck production directed by Henty King, who has cut out everything in the story that does not conform strictly to Stanley’s own diary. Showing also at the State Theatre is the latest March of Time news reel, "Battle Fleets of England.” It shows thrilling pictures of the navy In action, of Britain’s well-schooled officers and men being trained to defend the Empire and keep the sea-lanes Safe for foodstuffs to be landed, So that British people may live. The March of Time shows how the young British bluejacket is trained in every phase of seamanship and in naval warfare. There are also exclusive scenes which show the Specialised work of each type of vessel in the British Navy.

LIBERTY

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME The triangular drama, “In Name Only,” starring Kay Francis, Carole Lombard, and Cary Grant, is transferred from the Mayfair Theatre to the Liberty Theatre. With it is the jungle drama, “Five Came Back,” exciting and nerve-racking enough to be termed a thriller.

The story of “In Name Only” is a triangle that should attract the attention of all film-goers who enjoy romantic drama ' well acted and well directed. The casting Is very good, Carole Lombard playing the part of a commercial artist, a widow with a Child of six, and Cary Grant that of a wealthy man married to an ambitious wife who does not love him at all. In parts the dialogue is quick and Witty, and throughout it is well written and lively, From the settings in the country and in New York, some first-rate photographs have been taken. As the film opens, Carole Lombard is very busily and unsuccessfully trying to cast her line into a stream, a country stream that makes an excellent photographic background for the simple romantic beginning of the picture. Cary Grant untangles her line, tells her he hopes she does not hope to catch any fish, and invites himself to have one of her sandwiches. Carole Lombard replies that she does not hope to catch any fish, but on the contrary is merely practising to keep her temper, and allows him four sandwiches to her two. From this happy beginning they progress through much unhappiness to a dramatic and difficult ending. Charles Coburn and Helen Vinson are also in the cast. The film is well arranged, and should be recommended as a lively and quickmoving drama with more than average entertainment value. Ten people stranded by an aeroplane in the jungles of the Amazon—-

means of escape for five only. Who shall live? That is the question in “Five Came Back,” which is the story of 12 persons aboard a big transport air-liner on her regular run fx’om the United States to Panama City. There Is a terrific storm, the steward falls from the aeroplane, and then follows a forced landing in the depths of a Brazilian jungle. The cast includes such names as Chester Morris, Lucille

Ball, Wendy Barry, and many other Stars. Stranded there in the jungle till the aeroplane can be fixed to fly again are 11 oddly-assorted people: Bill, the strong, silent pilot; Joe, his co-pilot; Alice Melhorne. wealthy heiress, and her rather worthless fiance. Judsoh Ellis, who are eloping to wed in Pan-, ama; Peggy, fleeing to escape trouble; Henry and Martha Spengler, an eld-

erly botanist, and ■ his wife; a gangster, Pete, escorting his chiefs small son to a place of Safety; and a prisoner, Vasquez, being taken to Central America to be hanged, and the .grim detective, Crimp. It is possible for only four adults and a child to travel back to civilisation. How it is decided who must stay and who must go brings this unusual story to a stark climax and a most dramatic end.