CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23094, 9 August 1940, Page 4

CITY THEATRES

CRYSTAL PALACE "SLIGHTLY HONOURABLE"

Rated one of the season's most sophisticated and amusing film stories of scandal in high places, Walter Wanger's "Slightly Honourable," with a cast headed by Pat. O'Brien, Edward Arnold Ruth Terry, and Broderick Crawford, will open to-day at the Crystal Palace Theatre. It was directed by Tay Garnett. This is a picture that strikes along two entertainment fronts,- coupling a strong dramatic plot with a smart comedy theme, and scoring successfully in both departments. Cast on the Wanger theory of "the best available, players for even the smallest roles," the film features a line up of-supporting talent that includes Alan Dinehart, Claire Dodd, Phyllis Brooks, Janet Beecher, Bernard Nedell, Douglas Dumbrille, Eve Arden, Douglas Fowley, John Sheehan, and many others. , It introduces a new personality to ■ local audiences, Ruth Terry, the "Little Cupcake" of Hollywood. Miss Terry is the 18-year-old actress Wanger pulled out of nowhere and placed in the leading role opposite Pat. O'Brien. Although this is her first major screen role, advance repffrts claim that she handles her assignment like a veteran, and more than holds her own in the face of real acting competition. Ruth is cast as Ann Seymour, a vivacious and lively night club entertainer, who adopts Pat. O'Brien as "her man" when he rescues her from a manhandling admirer. Charles Starrett, Lorna Gray, and Richard Fiske are the stars of the second feature, "Strangers from Texas." Melody and excitement are the main ingredients of this bright Western film. LIBERTY . i DOUBLE-FEATURE BILL " A bright double-feature programme will begin at the Liberty to-day. The two films will be "Nurse Edith Cavell," starring Anna Neagle, a brilliant documentary film which has been highly acclaimed wherever it has been shown. A remarkable performance is given by Anna Neagle in the title role, and her performance is one of the best of her career. Few films have been more timely and more closely tied to the mood of the moment than "Nurse Edith Cavell," which presents a dramatic version of a story of heroism known to millions. Much time was spent in making the film as historically accurate as possible, and in detail it is a fine pictorial record of a magnificent human achievement. Of entirely different type is the supporting attraction, "Mexican Spitfire," starring Lupe Velez and Leon Errol, It is a brilliant comedy, full of unexpected humour. The two stars admirably suit their parts and the combination of, their acting with a fine story makes excellent entertainment. STATE " SWANEE RIVER » t When Stephen Foster presented his interpretation of the music of the negroes to the world he gained scant recognition for the genius which preserved for all time the life and colour of a fascinating people. However, his i songs were destined to become among the best-loved in the world and in them he made a memorial to himself Darr yl F. Zanuck for 20th Century-Fox Pictures has now produced a film which will further enhance the reputation of the American troubadour and which will be a hallmark in motion picture history. Swanee River," which tells the life-1 story of Stephen Foster; is having its J Chnstchurch season at' the State Theatre. It is screened in .vivid techmcolour against a new and fascinating background and 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 material—struggle, success, love, and happiness—then suffering, poverty, loneliness, and disillusion. AVON " THE STAR MAKER" "The Star Maker," which begins today at the Avon and which -was suggested by the career of the famed showman Gus Edwards, features Bing Crosby, Louise Campbell, Linda Ware, and Ned Sparks. Many Gus Edwards songs and four new numbers are heard in the picture. The picture was produced by Charles R. Rogers and directed by Pby Del Ruth. The story of "The Star Maker" tells how Bing, as a penniless song-writer and hoofer, makes his way to the top in the entertainment world by making stars out of talented children. Crosby, Linda Ware, and groups of talented children are heard in .-many new song hits. Dr. Walter Damrosch, 77-year-old dean of American orchestra conductors, , made , his debut before the cameras in "The Star Maker." The set in the film represented the interior of Carnegie Hajl, which Dr. Damrosch persuaded Andrew Carnegie to build, and which the conductor opened with a symphony concert in 1891. MAYFAIR "DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK" Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda are the stars of the thrilling adventure film, "Drums Along the Mohawk," now showing at the Mayfair. This film is in- technicolour and is directed by the celebrated director of "The Informer," John Ford. The film opens with the. marriage of Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda and their departure, with all their goods in a covered waggon, and their cow tethered behind it, for the clearing the young husband has made in the wild lands close to the Indians' strongholds. A new newsreel, shown for the first time here, deals with the life of Anzac troop's in Palestine, and covers the arrival of the 2nd Echelon in England. CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED "It's a Date," starring Deanna Durbin, is continuing -at the Regent. "The Middle Watch," starring Jack Buchanan and based on - lan Hay's story, will continue this week at the "The Firefly," starring Jeannette Macdonald and Allan Jones, begins today at the Tivoli. "Tropic Holiday," starring Ray Milland, Bob Burns, and Dorothy Lamour and George O'Brien in "Border GMan," begin to-day at the Grand. "Four's a Crowd," starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, and Edward G. Robinson and Jimmy Stewart in "The Last Gangster," begin today at the St. James. PLAZA DOUBLE-FEATURE BILL Reckless adventure in the rich fur ! country of the Canadian north woods is offered in Universale "Man From Montreal," which is coming to the Plaza to-day. Richard Arieh is seen as the young trapper who is ; unjustly arrested and charged with fur thefts and murder. Ajyiy Devine, bis co-star.-Jias

the role of a good-natured Mountie who comes to Arlen's aid., The associate feature will be "Mr Wong in Chinatown," third of the "James Lee Wong" detective, series based' on the Hugh Wiley Magazine stories. "Mr Wong in Chinatown" again concerns the adventures of the Chinese super-sleuth. This time murder comes uninvited to his own house, where Princess Lin Hwa meets a horrible death in his private study.