CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23085, 30 July 1940, Page 4

CITY THEATRES

MAYFAIR “DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK” COMING When Walter D. Edmonds, who was raised in the traditions of New York State’s beautiful Mohawk Valley, wrote his biggest of best-sellers, “Drums Along the Mohawk” (coming on Friday to the Mayfair), it was immediately recognised by Darryl F, Zanuck as one of the finest screen possibilities he had ever encountered. Accordingly the book was purchased by 20th Cen-tury-Fox who proceeded to give it top importance on the schedule. This is evidenced by the names associated with Zanuck’s production of “Drums Along the Mohawk.” John

Ford was made director. Claudette Colbert was starred with Henry Fonda, whose family hails from the Mohawk Valley. Other names in the cast guaranteeing excellent entertainment are Edna May Oliver, Eddie Collins, John Carradine, and Dorris Bawdon. A new colour process is used in the film “Isle of Destiny,” showing at the Mayfair this week. William Gargan, Walter Ford, June Lang,-and Gilbert Roland have the leading roles. There is also a Donald Duck Walt Disney coloured cartoon. LIBERTY « DAY-TIME WIFE ” At the Liberty, “Day-time Wife” is showing with “All at Sea.” Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell are the stars of the comedy “Day-time Wife.” Mrs Jane Norton (Linda parnell) determines to find out what -it is that secretaries have and wives haven’t, when her husband, Ken (Tyrone Power), repeatedly pleads business appointments after office hours. In “All at Sea” Sandy Powell plays the part of an A.8..wh0 gets himself into numbers of difficult situations and gets himself out of them by saving the British Navy in scenes full of humorous surprises. PLAZA i DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME An excellent double-feature programme at the Plaza this week includes a dramatic story of crime and justice and a fast-moving amateur detective film in the Nancy Drew series. “Forgotten Woman,” starring Sigrid Gurie, is the crime drama, and “Nancy Drew —Trouble Shooter,” starring Bonita Granville, is the amusing amateur detective story. , Sigrid Gurie plays the part of a woman wh'/ is charged as an accomplice in a murder and hold-up because she happened to be in the car in which the criminals were known to have escaped. CRYSTAL PALACE DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME It is not often that Christchurch theatregoers are able to see films of French production. “Double Crime in the Maginot Line,” which is now showing at the Crystal Palace, is unusual, in that it retains all the distinction of its foreign production, and yet is able to grip the imagination of an Englishspeaking public. “The Marines Fly High,” Richard Dix, Chester Morris, and Lucille Ball, is quite a different type of film. It has adventure and humour of the lighter kind. It tells of the activities of the marines of the United States in settling disputes and rebellions in some of the smaller dependencies. STATE “ SWANEE RIVER” COMING The singing romance, “Swanee River,” coming soon to the State, stars Don Ameche as Stephen C. Foster, the handsome composer; Andrea Leeds and AJ Jolson are in the leading roles. Filmed in tecfanicolour, the lovely old settings of the story are endowed with striking realism and rare charm. The life of Stephen C. Foster, the great American song writer, was composed of the very elements which make for thrilling motion picture ma-terial-struggle, success, love, and happiness—then' suffering, poverty, loneliness, and disillusion. The great love of his life was lovely Jane McDowell, who became his wife and the mother of his daughter Marion. Andrea Leeds plays the part 'of Jane. Now in its fourth week at the State, “Rebecca,” the film from Daphne du Maurier’s best-selling novel, is attracting large audiences. 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 who would draw large film audiences themselves: George Sanders, Nigel Bruce, G. 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. CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED “Ninotchka/’ starring Greta Garbo, Melvyn Douglas, and Ina Claire is in its second week at the Regent. At the-Tivoli, “Merrily We Live,” starring Brian Aherne. Constance Bennett and Billie Burke, is showing. “The Circus,” starring the famous Marx Brothers, is continuing at the Majestic Will Hay in “Oh! Mr Porter,” and Walter Connolly in “Penitentiary," are the stars of the new programme at the Taylor and Jean Harlow in "The Man in Possession" and Bill Boyd in “Partners of the Plains begin tp-day at the St. James. CENTURY THEATRE “The Story of Irene and Vernon Castle” and “Git Along Little Dogie” Comprise the attractive new programme which begins to-day at the dheatre, .St Albans.

AVON « STRONGER THAN DESIRE 51 COMING Virginia Bruce and Walter Pidgeon in their second appearance as a romantic team score again in “Stronger Than Desire,” melodramatic romance of New York society, coming on Inday to the Avon. The story is a combination of happy married life, legal intrigue, a blackmail plot growing out of a flirtation, and a murder mystery with a photographic clue that provides something new in the unravelling of crime puzzles. Pidgeon plays a prosperous lawyer whose wife suspects him of a flirtation and retaliates with one ot her own. to discover that she has been playing into the hands of a blackmailer who threatens to compromise her. In a struggle over her letters he strikes her. She instinctively picks up a revolver on his desk, shoots him, and flees. From then on the story moves on to a gripping climax. The latest of the Hardy family films, “Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever, is now in its third week at the Avon. Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Cecilia Parker, and Ann Rutherford are m the Ca, The story is a very good one indeed. Andy Hardy, taken with the same spring fever that makes his father invest his money in a fraudulent aluminium company, falls in love with the new dramatics teacher at nis school.