Cinema Reviews

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23053, 22 June 1940, Page 17

Cinema Reviews

LIBERTY • “ FOR FREEDOM ” “For Freedom,” a story of the beginning of the war told through a series of news reels, is now at the Liberty. In spite of the absence of, trained actors—Will Fyffe is the only well-known player—“ For Freedom” turns out to be a well-produced and well-acted film, in which men and women whose names are known to millions take part in the action. Will Fyffe plays the part of a Scot who wishes to make his news reel famous; turning from a plan to make a documentary film showing the menace of war in Europe, he is persuaded after Munich to set about making a peaceful film—“ Human Achievement.” He calls his representatives to a conference to show the films they have made on his instructions showing the -social and cultural lives of the people in the various European countries. As these peaceful films are being shown, news comes of the German march into Czechoslovakia. So the Scot turns round at once, and, cancelling his instructions for peace films, sets about making a huge film concerning the war clouds gathering in Europe. “For Freedom” covers a period from a time a little before 1914 until a time a few months after the beginning of the present war. It shows many things besides war preparations m scenes from time to time as it goes; but it is a film showing the seeming inevitability of the march of events. Gordon Marker, as Scotland Yard s most unorthodox detective, ably assisted by Alastair Sim as Sergeant Bingham, is the star in the associate feature, “Inspector Hornleigh on HolxIrispector Hornleigh and Sergeant Bingham take a holiday. A retired naval officer from the same boardinghouse is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, and, although a verdict of accident is returned, the inspector, taking up his professional duties once again, sets out to uncover the activities of a gang of criminals. The film_ is peculiarly refreshing* in tlist swift notion and a clever plot are combined with typical English humour. The inspector’s methods of solving crimes, although unorthodox, leave no room for boredom or dull routine. The real humorist of the picture, however, is Alastair Sim, the inspectors assistant. PLAZA DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME At the Plaza this week, another film in the popular Nancy Drew series and a thrilling crime film make up an entertaining and varied programme. The new Nancy Drew picture is “Nancy Drew—Detective,” featuring again Bonita Granville and Frankie Thomas as her youthful assistant. The main film on the programme is “Waterfront,” a picture concerned with the tough life of a tough district. Gloria Dickson, Dennis Morgan, and Marie Wilson are the stars. Dennis Morgan plays the part of a young Irishman who is president of the waterfront organisation; taut he keeps his position by fighting for it, and is continually in and out of gaol; his love for Gloria Dickson is in vain, for she refuses to marry him until he gives up fighting. At last, after a particularly bad fight, she pfersuades her priest to visit him in gaol and to talk to him. The priest does this, and the young man becomes reformed. He and Gloria get married, and all is well for a time. On the night when the husband agrees to resign from the Waterfront Club presidency, so that he and his wife may leave for the country to start farming with a friena, he Is embroiled ' ih ‘ a fight with a drunk man. In the fight the brother of Dennis is killed, and Dennis refuses to give the police any information. He is determined to kill the murderer himself. To prevent this, Gloria resorts to trickery and at last succeeds in getting her husband locked up. In a very exciting finish the husband escapes from gaol, and the film ends In a satisfactory way for everyone. Larry Williams and Sheila Bromley also have important roles. Nancy Drew is a schoolgirl, wjjo gets an idea that the old lady who has left a very large sum to her school has disappeared rather too suddenly and mysteriously to a secret rest-house. So, with her young friend, she sets out to find the rest-house and to rescue the old lady. When the young detectives get to the rest-house they find that what they thought is true; but they also find that they have to deal with a very ruthless group of men, who are determined to get the old lady's money. In the lonely country resthouse Nancy Drew and her assistant get into a difficult situation, but get out again by a series of clever and daring moves. This film will go far to increasing the popularity of this new series of pictures that have been so successful in America. MAYFAIR « MR SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON ” “Mr Smith Goes to Washington,” the new film at the Mayfair, is now in its second week. Perhaps when it is said that the man who made “Mr Deeds Goes to Town,” “You Can’t Take It With You.” and “It Happened One Night” made “Mr Smith Goes to Washington,” it will be seen immediately that this is a film that is probably outstanding. James Stewart, in the title role, gives an excellent performance that will surely win him an important award. With him in the star roles are Jean Arthur (who was in both “Mr Deeds Goes to Town” and “You Can’t Take It With You”), Thpmas Mitchell (the king of the beggars in “The Hunclibank of Notre Dame”), Edward Arnold (the famous star of “Come and Get It”), .and Claude Rains, one of the best-known character actors in Hollywood. Frank Capra’s directing of this film makes scene . after scene memorable and yet binds the whole so that it can be remerpbered as a complete and satisfying film, the photography is good, but not, as in some films, so good that it makes the audience forget the film, the story, the acting, the settings. One member of the audience, recalling this scene or that, will immediately be reminded of others equally good. “Mr Smith Goes to Washington” is full of surprises and extraordinary things that combine to make a film that will be one of a very few “best” films that people can remember. Mr Smith is the leader of Boy Rangers in his state, and he is very much surprised and honoured when he is chosen as senator. He goes to Washington, and sees the statues of the menwho have always been his heroes. In the Senate he sits in a desk that was once occupied by one of the heroes. He is sworn in, and sets about doing his best for his country. His first bill will be one to introduce a boys camp in his home state. But Mr Smith finds that the game of running the United States is not a clean game, and his finding out of this politicians secret makes him very unpopular with the senators guilty of graft. In his efforts to have justice done in his country, Mr Smith stages a 23-hour stonewall in a magnificent scene in which acting and direction are of the highest quality. . w The things for which Mr Smith fights are those for which Lincoln died: liberty and justice for all the people. At this time no one can fail to be moved bv this film. And no one looking for excellent entertainment should fail 'to see it. ,

STATE «VIGIL IN THE NIGHT” The author of a number of stories which have been transcribed successfully to the screen, Dr. A. J. Cronin, is responsible for “Vigil in the Night, which opened a season at the otate Theatre yesterday. All the film stones written by Dr. have <■ outstahding virtue in their obvious sincerity, and “Vigil in the Night , is ho exception. The story is simply told but is none the less impressive for that. “Vigil in the Night” tells a powerful story of nursing life without b ec °™: ing at any stage too “powerful. And it is here that the chief charm of the sincere ' acting of Carole Lombard and Brian Aherne, the principal players, makes the film such a truly notable one. Carole Lombard is known to be one of the most versatile ot Hollywood actresses. She has appeared with equal success in comedy and dramatic roles; but her popularity is based on characterisations such as she gives in “Vigil in the Night.” Where most actresses have to convey their emotions with a wealth of gesture, Carole Lombard can obtain the same effect with a minimum of action. Much the same could be said for Brian Aherne, whose restrained acting is perfectly suited to Carole Lombard’s performance. Yet the chief acting Honours are disputed by Anne Shirley, as Carole Lombard’s sister, a nurse who feels that her work is anything but fine and good. Briefly, the story deals with the nursing careers of the sisters —the one earnestly devoted to her work, the other feeling that her work is drudgery. Carole Lombard shields her sister when her carelessness leads to the death of a patient at a country hospital, and leaves to start again in a large institution which has many patients but little money. Hero she meets Brian Aherne, a young doctor whose ambition it is to provide the hospital with a satisfactory isolation ward. His warnings to the hospital directors of the disastrous effects of an epidemic when the hospital was not provided with sufficient equipment to deal with the cases fall on deaf ears, and the threatened epidemic arrives. In the meantime Carole Lombard has left the hospital as a result of a misunderstanding, but she returns with her sister when volunteers are required to deal with the epidemic. The dramatic climax is reached when Anne Shirley is given an opportunity to atone for her previous failings, and a surprise finish caps a most successful film. A widely-varied programme of short subjects completes an entertainment which has to be seen to be appreciated. CRYSTAL PALACE THRILLER AND COMEDY A double-feature programme composed of a thriller and a comedy will please many patrons of the Crystal Palace this week. The first part of the programme consists of a musical comedy starring the versatile Vic Oliver; this is “Around the Town,” the story of. the career of a casting agent for dancing and singing shows. The second film is the main feature, “Barricade”; this stars Warner Baxter and Alice Faye in a series of most exciting action scenes in China at the beginning of the war with Japan. Alice Faye is in the role of an entertainer who has witnessed a murder —to what extent she is involved is not made known till the end of the film—and who is fleeing from the interior of China with a false name and a faked Russian accent. Warner Baxter is a wandering newspaper ’ "man With a grudge; his chief trouble is that he cannot keep away from drink. TheSe two meet in a train oh the way from Kalgah to Shanghai, and Baxter Very quickly finds that the Russian accent is pretended, that Alice Faye is afraid of something, and that there is probably a good story behind her fear. There is a good story, and Baxter follows it by following the former entertainer to a village that is attacked by bandits. The two travellers find refuge with the American Consul, who refuses to leave until he receives orders from the States. Baxter and Alice Faye have many adventures before they finally ■ come to the happy end of the story. Charles Winninger, Arthur Treacher, Keye Luke, and Willie Fung ate also in the cast. “Around the Town’’ is the story of a casting agent who tries to win favour with producers; mostly he is unsuccessful, but with one producer he finds favour and thus the audience is shown numbers of dance and song numbers, including some well trained ballets, by British variety players. With Vic Oliver the featured players are two hill-billies, two charladies, the Rhythm Sisters, Maurice Winnick’s Band, and the Tin Pan Alley trio. This is a well-mixed programme which wil) appeal to many. CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED “The Women,” starring Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford, is at the Regent. “Hitler, The Beast of Berlin,” is at the Majestic. “Catherine,” starring Danielle Darrieux and John Loder, is now at the Tivoli. Cary Grant and Constance Bennett in “Topper” and William Boyd in “Hopalong Rides Again” are at the St. James. Loretta Young and David Niven- in “Four Men and a Prayer” and Fred Mac Murray in “Cocoanut Grove” are at the Grand. HOLLYWOOD THEATRE Stanley Lupino and Sally Gray are the stars in “Hold My Hand,” and Corinne Luchaire, Edna Best, and Barry K. Barnes head the cast in “Prison Without Bars,” the two attractions to be screened at the Hollywood Theatre, Sumner, to-night and on Monday and Tuesday. CENTURY THEATRE David Niven and Ginger Rogers are starred in “Bachelor Mother,” the comedy film which is the current attraction at the Century Theatre, St. Albans. . « DEAR OCTOPUS” REPERTORY SOCIETY’S PLAY The Repertory Theatre Society’s current production, “Dear Octopus,” has proved successful in Christchurch, as it did in London. The high standard of the production is being acclaimed, and is attracting capacity houses to the Radiant Hall. An additional performance has been arranged for Monday evening, proceeds to be given to the Sick, Wounded, and Distress Fund. Reserves for to-night and Monday are at the D.I.C. ROLLER SKATING ———s A repetition of the roller skating duo presented last Wednesday evening by Misses Rhona Thomas and Joan Chamberlain will take place at the De Luxe skating rink to-night. Spectators will be admitted for 6d,