CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23001, 22 April 1940, Page 6

CITY THEATRES

MAYFAIR “THE SAINT’S DOUBLE TROUBLE” In the fourth of “The Saint” pictures, “The Saint’s Double Trouble,” which is at present showing at the Mayfair, George Sanders once again portrays the Saint, and gives an excellent characterisation 'of that debonnair criminal. Helene Whitney is the leading woman player, and Jonathan Hale and Bela Lugosi give meritorious performances. Also on the programme are “Officer Duck,” the latest Donald Duck cartoon in technicolour, and a newsreel of the funeral of the Prime Minister. “Over the Moon,” starring Merle Oberon and Rex Harrison, will be the next attraction at the Mayfair. Rex Harrison ’already has a host of admirers for his part as the likeable, crusading, young reporter in the recent success “Storm in a Teacup.” Effervescing with brilliant dialogue, snappy situations, and happy entertainment, “Over the Moon” is excellent light comedy. This masterpiece of .Alexander Korda’s,-which was delayed for six months owing to the outbreak 1 of , the war, carries Mcme Oberon, one of the loveliest of Britain’s stars across- a kaleidoscope of action in Venice, St. Moritz, and Monte Carlo, Though the story is light in conception it has an interest that holds the audience from first to last, it deals with the adventures of a young woman _ who finds herself a multimillionairess and is surrounded by a bevy of fortune-hunters and parasites. Her own choice is a young doctor, who objects to being one of the han-gers-on, but is prepared to be caught on his own terms. AVON MAN’S\ CASTLE ” “Man’s Castle,” the new film at the Avon Theatre, Is a triumph its stars, Spencer Tracy and Loretta Young, as. well as for its producer, Frank Borzage. It invites comparison with “Seventh Heaven” and “Big City,” and in. comparison remains a masterpiece. It has powerful drama and a strong emotional appeal, and ‘ Tracy and Loretta Young have proved themselves just the right persons to act.Such a story. ‘They succeed in vitally important scenes, where dozens of others would. fail, and they give power to the story. Celebrating'his thirtieth anniversary in motion pictures with , one of the outstanding characterisations of hiscareer, Lionel Barrymore will be seen at the Avon in the next change of programme in the film from last season’s great Broadway stage success, “On Borrowed Time.” As the’ lovable, old, outspoken Gramp, Barrymore marks a new rnilestone in his amazing record. It is Gramp who desperately fights death in order to prevent the 'young grandson he*loves from falling into the hands .of a scheming and unscrupulous aunt. That is the simple outline of the story, which is full of warm humour. PLAZA DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME A double-feature programme at present showing at the Plaza offers the eighth and last -of the thrilling series of crime club detective films, • “The, Witness Vanishes,” and a story ■ of slave ship mutiny in the days before California was brought into the United States of America. “Mutiny on the Blackhawk.” In the first film Edmund f Lowe, 'Wendy Barrie, and Bruce Lester are starred; and in the second Noah Beery, Richard Arlen, Andy . Devine, and Mala, the Esquimo boy. are the chief players. . , STATE ’ , “ U-BOAT 29 ” ' v Modern sea warfare has been a background for; many exciting dramas, but none more thrilling or with a more absorbing story than’“U-Boat 29,” which is now showing at the State Theatre. AH the drama of the espionage behind great naval: actions, and the breathtaking excitement of encounters ’ between powerful ships and submarines have been brought to the screen in this excellent film. Superb acting photographed with great skill, and a fastmoving story of the Great War make this picture one that will be remembered. ; ■ Although the names of Conrad Veidt and-Valerie Hobson qt the head of the cast will be sufficient to attract, large audiences, there can be no greater recommendation for “U-Boat 29” than that it is the second war drama presented by the makers of “Clouds Over Europe.” , i ■ Conrad Veidt plays the .part of the commanding officer of an enemy sub- • marine who is sent oh a secret mission with sealed orders. LIBERTY « ETERNALLY YOURS ” A fast-moving comedy about a magician and his wife is to be seen , at the Liberty in “Eternally Yours,” starring David Niven and Loretta ■ Young. “Let us Live” is the associate feature in the programme; this is a dramatic story of a miscarriage of justice starring Madreen O’Sullivan and Henry Fonda. “Eternally, Yours” presents Hugh Herbert and Billie Burke as the magician’s assistant and, the wife’s interfering aunt respectively, and Zasu Pitts is cast to oppose the interfering aunt. , In this new comedy David Niven has ; a role which gives him the opportunities that he had for comedy acting in “Bachelor Mother.”. CENTURY « THE SUN NEVER SETS ” “Tha Sim' Never JSets,” a brilliant film starring Basil Rathbone, Douglas Fairbanks. Jun.. C. Aubrey Smith, and Virginia Field, is at the Century Theatre. CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS. LIMITED _ “Lady of the Tropics," starring Hedy Lamarr and Robert Taylor, is at the Regent. ‘Tbe Angels Wash Their Faces,” starring - the “Dead End” Kids, is at the Majestic. “Good-bye Mr Chips,” starring Rob- . ert Donat, is, being shown at the Tivoli. _“RvName Only,” with Cary. Grant, ■ Capfie Lombard, and Kay Francis, and Three- Fighting Pals of the West,” a Hopaldhg-Cassidy story, are' at the St. James , .'‘- ■’ , ; - “Think > Fast, Mr Moto,” starring Pete&Lorre. and “Good-bye Broadway.’ 1 with (-Alice Brady and Charles Wlnmnger' in the lead, are at the Grand. ■■■■:• f- ■ ' 1 ' / -fT

CRYSTAL PALACE CHARLIE CHAN,IN “CITY IN DARKNESS” What happens when a great city goes into darkness at the sound of an airraid warning? The thieves and criminals have their chance while the police have to do double or treble their ordinary work. In such circumstances the new Charlie Chan film at the Crystal Palace opens very dramatically; Mr Chan is in Paris when Germany invades Czechoslovakia and he accompanies the Parisian police on the first inquiry they are presented with on the first black-out night—the murder of a mystery man called Petroff. Sidney Toler is Charlie Chan, Lynn Bard is a young woman in distress. Harold Huber a young man who corresponds to Chan’s No. 2 son, well-meaning, but somewhat trying as a detective’s assistant. Dorothy Tree is another woman under suspicion rather than in distress, and Douglas Dumbrille is the very suitable mystery man who 'is murdered so dramatically.