CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23002, 23 April 1940, Page 6

CITY THEATRES

AVON « ON BORROWED TIME ” COMING Celebrating his thirtieth anniversai in motion pictures with one of tl outstanding characterisations of hj career, Lionel Barrymore will t seen at the Avon in the next chanj of programme in the film from la season’s great Broadway stage succes “On Borrowed Time.” As the lovabi old, outspoken Gramp, Barrymoi marks a new milestone in his amazir record. It is Gramp who desperate, fights death in order to prevent tl young grandson he loves from fallii into the hands of a ! scheming and ui scrupulous aunt. That is the simp outline of the story, which is full i warm humour. An exceptional cast surrounds Barr; more. In the role of the mysterioi stranger, Mr Brink, personification Death, is Sir Cedric Hardwicke, note British stage and screen personalit The role of Pud falls to eignt-year-o Bobs Watson, most talked*of youngsh of the year. Beulah Bondi is the d voted granny, Eily Malyon the hyp> critical Aunt Demetria, Una Merk the warmly human maid, Marcia, i Also in featured roles are Nat Pei a dleton as the asylum guard, Hem H Travers the Grandpa Vanderhof in tl i stage version of “You Can’t Take i With You.” as Dr. Evans, Grant Mi H chell as Pilbeam the lawyer, Charli 9 Waldron as the Rev. Murdock, Is i Wolfe as Charlie Wentworth, churc i organist. Phillip Terry as the your , law clerk, James Burke as the sherii S' and Truman Bradley as James Nortl I rup. § “Man’s Castle;” starring Spenc< I Tracy and Loretta Young, is no | showing. MAYFAIR “THE SAINT’S DOUBLE TROUBLE” | In the fourth of “The Saint” pic | tures, "The Saint’s Double Trouble, I which is at present- showing at Ih I Mayfair, George Sanders once agai I portrays the Saint, and gives an ex | ceilent characterisation of that debon I nair criminal. Helens Whitney i I the leading woman player, and Jona than Hale and Bela Lugosi give meri torious performances. Also bn the programme are "Office: Duck," the latest Donald Duck car toon in technicolour, and a newsree of the funeral, of the Prime Min ister. “Over the Moon,” starring Merli Oberon and Rex Harrison, will be th< next attraction at the Mayfair. Re? Harrison already has a host of ad mirers for his part as the likeable crusading, young reporter in the re cent success “Storm in a Teacup." Effervescing with brilliant dialogue snappy situations, and happy enter tainment, “Over the Moon” is excel lent light comedy. This masterpiece of Alexander Korda’s, which was delayed for six months owing to the outbreak of the war, carries IV c Oberon, one of the loveliest of Britain’s stars across a kaleidoscope of actior in Venice, St. Moritz, and Monte Carlo. Though the story is light ir conception it has an interest that holds the audience from first to last, ii deals with the adventures of a young woman who finds herself a multimillionairess and is surrounded by £ 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 caughi on his own terms. ' 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. PLAZA DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME COMING John Howard, as the noted amateur sleuth. Bulldog Drummond; Heather Angel, as the lovely Phyllis Clavering, who is making a final desperate attempt to marry him; H. B. Warner, Reginald Denny, E. E. Clive, Elizabeth Patterson in familiar supporting roles, and Eduardo Ciannelli are the top members of the cast of the new Paramount thriller, “Bulldog Drummond’s Bride,” which will open next Friday at - the Plaza. The story gets under way when Drummond, against the Wishs of his fiancee and of Scotland Yard, attempts to track down the daring -perpetrator of a bank robbery. A picture Which combines the elements (of comedy and mystery as they are seldom found together In a motion picture will be presented with this programme. It is Paramount’s “Death of a Champion,” which brings to the screen for the first time a character already well known to mystery fans—“the human encyclopedia,” Oliver Quade. “The Witness Vanishes” and “Mutiny on the Blackhawk” are at present showing... 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 Maureen O’Sullivan and Henry Fbnda. ’ “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. .CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS. LIMITED “Lady of the Tropics,” starring Hedy Lamarr and Robert Taylor, • is at the Regent. ' : “The Angels Wash Their Faces," starring the “Dead End” Kids, is at the Majestic, : “Good-bye Mr Chips,’ - starring, ert Donat, is being shown at the Tivoli; “The Devil Doll,” starring Lionel Barrymore and Maureen O’Sullivan, and “Sweet Aloes,” wittr-Kay? Francis and George Brent, begin to-day at the St. James’. “Think Fast, Mr Moto,” starring Peter Lorre, and “Good-bye Broadway,” i with Alice Brady and Charles Win-1 ninger in the lead, are at the Grand.

■ STATE « U-BOAT 29 ” 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. All 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 at the head of thecast 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.” Conrad Veidt plays the part of the commanding officer of an enemy submarine who is sent on a secret mission with sealed orders. CENTURY « the saint strikes BACK ” “The Saint Strikes Back,” a brilliantly clever mystery story of unusual type will begin a two-day season at the Century Theatre, St. Albans, to-day.