Cinema Reviews

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23131, 21 September 1940, Page 3

Cinema Reviews

STATE “MY SON, MY SON” Undoubtedly one of the finest film productions, “My Son, My Son,” now showing at the State, will be seen more than once by those who enjoy a really 'good drama. The story, true to life and unforgettable, is adapted from Howard Spring’s novel, “O. Absalom," and produced by Edward Small for United Artists. The leading players, exceedingly well cast, include Madeleine Carroll, Brian Aherne, and Louis Hayward. Others who give sterling performances include Henry Hull, Josephine Hutchinson. Laraine Day, Sophie Stewart, and Bruce Lister. One of the most pleasing features pf the story is its lack of unnecessary detail. It begins when William Essex (Brian Aherne) and Dermot O’Riorden (Henry Hull) are young men living in poor circumstances and ends when they are middle-aged men proud of soldier sons. William Essex is. a novelist who becomes famous. As he grows richer, he showers upon his son those things which he himself could not have in his early life. His son, Oliver (Louis Hayward), grows into a charming but unscrupulous young man, thoroughly spoilt by his father. Essex goes into a mine as a worker to gather material for a new book, and there he meets an artist. Livia Vaynol (Madeleine Carroll). They fall in love with each other, but Essex tells her that he is not a free man and sends her away without knowing her name. Soon after this his wife is killed, so he spends roost of his time with the O’Riordens. Maeve O’Riorden (Laraine Day) is a keen yoifng actress and Essex dramatises one of his books for her to play the leading role. She is a great success, and at a party which Essex gives in her honour after her first performance, Oliver brings Livia Vaynol. Essex falls in love with her again and they become engaged. Oliver starts a campaign of persecution against Livia and makes life very unpleasant for her and his father. There are dramatic developments before father and son become friends and the problems are solved.

LIBERTY “LITTLE OLD NEW YORK”

A story of the robust days on the New York waterfront in 1807, introducing the first launching of a “ship without sails,” is depicted in Darryl F. Zanuck’s latest triumph. “Little Old New York,” now showing at the Liberty Theatre. The trials and tribulations of a hard-working young inventor (Richard Greene) form a basis for the story, and he is supported by such well-known screen favourites as Alice Faye, Fred Mac Murray, Brenda Joyce, and Andy Devine, together with many other famous screen players. Action, romance, daring, and abundant humour, in that turbulent, era,

-make "Little Old New York” magni- '• ficent entertainment. The story opens with the arrival of Greene (Robert Fulton) from England, at the rapidlygrowing city of New York. Greene - Stays at the Bull’s Head tavern, which is owned by Alice Faye (Pat O’Day). .■'Disappointment is met . by Greene, Livingstone (Henry Stephenson) /.has suffered financial troubles. Per- £ suasion by his niece. Brenda Joyce Livingstone),*-, changes the £ Chancellor’s mind, and'the building of |the steamship is commenced. Greene’s SLtQfflculties have only begun. Rival fearing that the inven||w>n will put them out of business, do H ■

MAYFAIR

“JOHNNY APOLLO”

An unusual story is told in the new film at the Mayfair, “Johnny Apollo, ’ It is of a man who is sent to prison on a charge of embezzlement and of the effect the imprisonment has on him and on his idolised son. The father is played by Edward Arnold, the son by Tyrone Power. Edwara Arnold has a particularly difficult role to play, as he has to be at the same time a criminal justly accused and, a man who is highly respected by his fellow prisoners and by his fellow citizens. Tyrone Power has a difficult task also; he is required to show how a son may lose faith in his father and then regain it simply by going through troubles of his own. The film opens with the indictment of Edward Arnold on a charge of embczzlement; he is a very wealthy stock-broker and his son is at college happily engaged in study and sport. When the news of his father s disgrace is broken to him, the son is horrified and mortified. He leaves school, has a stormy scene with his father, and leaves the house the night before his father is sent to prison, ♦swearing he never wants to see him as time goes on, the son finds that he cannot get a job with any of his father’s old friends, that changing his name does not help, for . his employers, always find out his real name soon—and that he believes m his father’s innocence. To try to have his father set free, the son goes to a shady lawyer, and so finds himself in the company of people who live on the edge of the law. One of these is a habitual criminal, another a girl who entertains in a cafe; the girl is honest, but by some queer chance Johnny Apollo as the son now .becomes known believes that the criminal is ?real friend to him. He is wrong in thfs belief as he soon finds when he is arrested for work he takes part in. Tho elimax of the story, is reached rn hj d ei \hdf er mlsmle?stend e ?ng" |rows! Tl tertainer W Lamour) Thes is an interesting supporting programme

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED

"Balalaika." starring Ilona Massey, -and Charles Ruggles Men,” an unusual story of international intrigue, is at the Tivoli. Preston Foster, E S'SerßalpAosa», and Andy ‘ S Banners Claude Rams Fay Bainter.’ and Jackie Cooper. S ‘‘The Return of the Cisco Kid., 3 ‘‘Aif Baba S Go J e a s m to S Town,” with EdMay Oliver and Maureen O Sullivan, are at the Grand. ——

AU^urns 1 out well in the end of this 1, feature is “City . of Chance ” an exciting film concerning •theinning of a gambling den and the attempts of a worpan reporter to break in and got a "scoop, about it. Lynn Bari, C. Aubrey Smith, Donald Woods, and Amanda Duff are starred.

AVON

“THE SECRET OF DR. KILDARE”

The third of the popular series of hospital films, ‘‘The Secret of Dr. Kildare,” is now in its third successful week at the Avon. The film has excitement, mystery, and humour for its three chief ingredients. It is successfully produced and acted. Lionel Barrymore, as old Dr. Gillespie, has a part which suits him admirably, and the other stars are Lew Ayres and Helen Gilbert.

\ millionaire consults Dr. Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore) about his daughter, who proves to be a problem case. She has a horror of seeing a doctor, so X)r. Gillespie assigns his assistant (Lew Ayres) to find out what is the matter with the girl, without her knowing that he is a doctor. Jimmy Kildare and the rich girl, Nancy (Helen Gilbert), become friendly, while Dr. Gillespie delves deep into his scientific research. He believes that he can find a complete cure for pneumonia, and works day and night on his theory. He collapses from overwork, but will not give up in spite of the threat that his life is in danger. Dr. Kildare knows that if he leaves Dr. Gillespie:, the veteran will not be able to carry on the research, and so have an enforced holiday. Kildare decides to desert the laboratory, and pursue the problem of Nancy. Dr. Gillespie and pretty nurse Mary Lamont (Laraine Day) are very bitter about the decision, but Kildare ignores them and concentrates on his problem patient. She suddenly goes blind. Dr. Kildare is bewildered and goes to -Dr. Gillespie fot advice. The old doctor says he will not help Kildare. but by apparent coincidence he gives a lecture which helps Kildare bring about the cure; Jimmy Kildare is delighted with his achievement. Dr. Gillespie goes back to his research, and Nurse Mary Lamont is happy, too.

PLAZA

“OPENED BY MISTAKE” AND

“CASSIDY” FILM

A bracing programme of thrills and adventure, evenly tempered with a rich vein of comedy, is presented m , the new double bill at the Plaza : Theatre. Another in the popular Hopalong Cassidy series, “Range war,, features William Boyd in western romance. The other film goes by the unpretentious name of “Opened by Mistake,” but there is something delightfully fresh in this novel version of the trunk murder mystery. Charles Buggies and Robert Paige are the principal players. , . The ever-resourceful American newspaper man is the central figure in “Opened by Mistake.” Robert Paige is introduced as a reporter who evades the responsibility of an assignment overseas by arranging for a friend to send uninformative cables for him. At short notice he learns ■that he is expected home by the next boat, and.'in a frantic rush to appear as though he went overseas, he buys a trunk from a lost-luggage auction and boards the liner from the quarantine boat. A woman tries to buy the trunk from him, and his suspicions prove well-founded when he finds a woman s body inside it. The girl proves to be a federal agent seeking a lost bag of United States bills. Since both are suspected, they go into hiding, and are assisted by-. Ruggles, who t plays the part of an eccentric gambler. They have many daring escapes in an endeavour to trace the murderer, and they are finally placed in a difficult predicament when they discover that their quarry is a fiend who poisons women with exotic perfumes. The dialogue is liberally sprinkled with bright repartee, and Ruggles plays a characteristically amusing role. The western film tells the story of cattle barons .trying to prevent the establishment of railroads because they bring prosperity to the small ranchers. The; adventure of the picture is enhanced by the grandeur, of the scenery in which it is . filmed.