CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23080, 24 July 1940, Page 4

CITY THEATRES

MAYFAIR

“ISLE OF DESTINY” COMING

The attraction coming on Friday to the Mayfair Theatre is the Fine Arts picture, "Isle of Destiny,” which goes to the south Pacific for adventure between the United States marines and international gun-runners, and for romance between a glamour girl flyer and two wise-cracking, dare-devil marines. William Gargan and Wallace Ford are featured as the two fighting marines who have been complaining about the dullness of life at the air base on the island of Palo Pango. Then along comes the beautiful blonde dare-devil pilot played by June Lang, stopping oyer on her round-the-world flight to see her brother, the commanding officer of the base. Before she is rescued the girl wrecks her aeroplane on a jungle island, becomes the prisoner of an international gun-runner, and nearly loses her life from poisoned darts blown from a gun by the native wife of the villain. “Isle of Destiny,” a Franklyn Warner production, promises an abundance of exciting action, is photographed in Cosmocolour, directed by Elmer Clifton, and released by RKO Radio. Others in the cast are Gilbert Roland, Katherine De Mille, Grant Richards, and Tom Dugan. Not many actresses reach stardom as quickly as Linda Darnell has done. Though it is only her second screen appearance she plays the feminine lead opposite popular Tyrone Power in “Daytime Wife,” now showing at the Mayfair. Gay .and romantic. "Daytime Wife” is a comedy hit which leaves the audience, with that satisfied feeling of having been thoroughly entertained.

STATE

“ REBECCA ”

“Rebecca,” the film from the famous Daphne du Mauricr novel, is in its third week at the State. The stars in this highly successful film are Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine.

These two excellent players are supported by a cast that includes many players who would draw large film audiences themselves: George Sanders, Nigel Bruce, C. Aubrey Smith, Judith Anderson, and Reginald Denny. Joan Fontaine succeeds in an extremely difficult role and immediately demands attention as one of the best actresses on the screen to-day. LIBERTY “AN ENGLISHMAN’S HOME” “An Englishman’s Home,” a powerful and exciting story with a fine cast, is the main film at the Liberty this week. Written by Guy du Maurler some 30 years ago to warn England against the dangers of unpreparedness for war, this tense spy drama could hardly be more topical. Edmund Gwenn and Mary Maguire ■ are the stars. The associate feature, “You Only Live Once,” is a thriller, with Sylvia Sidney and Henry Fonda as the stars. AVON “ANDY HARDY GETS SPRING FEVER” The popular series of Hardy family films is continued in “Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever,” now in its second week at the Avon. Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Cecilia Parker, and Ann Rutherford are in the cast. The story is a very good one indeed. Andy Hardy, taken with the same spring fever that makes his father invest his money in j fraudulent aluminimum company, falls in love with the new dramatics teacher at his school. The feelings that this passion arouses are on a high plane.

PLAZA v

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME

Marking the return to the screen of Sigrid Gurie, who has the starring role. Universal’s drama, “The Forgotten Woman,” is coming on Friday to the Plaza.

In contrast to her previous exotic screen characterisations in “The Adventures of Marco Polo” and “Algiers,” the role for Sigrid Gurie in “The Forgotten Woman” is a modern portrayal which is declared to afford unusual dramatic opportunities. She is cast as a young wife who suddenly sees her world crashing about her when she becomes innocently involved in a murd:r.

“Nancy Drew—Trouble Shooter,” newest edition of the famous film series, will be seen in this programme at (he Plaza. Bonita Granville, who originated the character of the lovable and alert Nancy, is again starred, with Frankie Thomas as her boy friend and right-hand man.

“Calling Philo Vance” and “Tropic Fury” are now showing.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS,

LIMITED

Greta Garbo is starred with Melvyn Douglas in “Ninotchka,” which is at the Regent.

“At the Circus,” with the Marx brothers, is now at the Majestic. William Powell and Myrna Loy in “Another Thin Man” is at the Tivoli. “Dangerous to Know,” starring Akim Tamiroff and Anna May Wong, and “Renfrew of the Mounteds." starring James Newill, are at the Grand. Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell in “Night Must Fall” and Dick Powell and Pat O’Brien in “Cowboy From Brooklyn” are at the St. James.