CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23176, 13 November 1940, Page 5

CITY THEATRES

♦ STATE “LILLIAN RUSSELL” Alice Faye. Don Ameche, and Henry Fonda are the stars in “Lillian Russell," the next attraction for the State. This musical comedy was directed by Irving Cummings, a stage actor who was the real Lillian Russell’s last leading man. Lillian Russell was famous for her singing voice as well as her splendid acting and great beauty, and Alice Faye sings many of the songs Lillian popularised. Among these are "After

DON AMECHE The Ball is Over.” “Rosie. You Are My Posie,” “My Evening Star," “The Band Played On” (“Strawberry Blond”), and many others. Don Ameche has the role of Lillian’s composer-husband, who struggled to write her greatest stage success. It is Ameche’s third composer role and his acting again is outstanding as it was in “Alexander’s Ragtime Band’ and “Swanee River." Henry Fonda is cast as Alexander Moore, the newspaperman who fell in love with Lillian when they were both young, but failed to tell her about it. Fresh from his triumph in “The Grapes of Wrath,” Fonda gives another stirring portrayal in a highly dramatic role. “Turnabout,” based on Thorne Smith’s story, is now showing. PLAZA DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME The screen’s most famous horror' actors, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi will be seen next Friday at the Plazc in “Black .Friday," a film that is saic to be among the most thrilling eve) produced. Karloff is a surgeon who per forms a daring operation, in which h< transplants part of the brain of a crim inal into the brain of a mild colleg* professor, who then is led unconsci e ously into a life of ruthless crime. Announced as a blend of romanci ' and comedy, with colourful dance re vues, Universal’s musical film, "Ma He’s Making Eyes at Me.” is the asso I ciate feature. “Cheer. Boys. Cheer,** and “Gambling j on the High Seas,” are now showing

MAYFAIR “TOM BROWN’S SCHOOLDAYS” COMING “Tom Brown’s Schooldays,” described as the “best-loved book of three generations,” makes an appealing film, which begins at the Mayfair on Friday. The stars are Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Josephine Hutchinson, Freddie Bartholomew, Jimmy Lydon, and Polly Moran. The role of Tom Brown is portrayed by sixteen-year-old Jimmy Lydon, sensational screen discovery, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, the brilliant character player, is cast as Dr. Arnold, the martinet schoolmaster who believed in building a strong empire by building the characters of the future citizens. Directed by Robert Stevenson for RKO Radio, “Tom Brown's School Days" also features Josephine Hutchinson, Ernest Cossart, Gale Storm, and Hughie Green. A most powerful, down-to-earth drama, enriched by the drawling wit of a courageous family, is Darryl F. Zanuck’s version of “The Grapes of rath.” now showing at the Mayfair. John Steinbeck’s sensational novel makes a stirring film with a deep human appeal, and unlike so many other entertainments, will not be easily forgotten. Each member of a brilliant cast gets the spirit of the Joad family, and to make a faithful reproduction of the original story, the man who wrote the screen play (Nunnally Johnson) conferred with Steinbeck over , the completed script, when he was preparing to bring a fearless novel to the screen. Henry Fonda plays Tom Joad, the man who takes knock after knock because he is a champion of the hungry people. AVON “FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS” The Avon has "French Without Tears,” an excellent light comedy, as its race week feature. The film is now in its third week and is drawing appreciative audiences with its flippant theme concerning the flirtations of young men in France. Witty dialogue, a plot which is an achievement, and a succession of changing situations—mainly unexpected—are matched by the acting of a cast without a weak member. To the sparkle and romance of the story Ellen Drew and Ray Milland add the principal share, five others lending a flawless support being Janice Darcey, Guy Middleton, Jim Gerald, Roland Culver, and David Tree. CRYSTAL PALACE NEW DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME Excellent entertainment is promised in the new double-feature programme coming to the Crystal Palace on Friday. The main film is “Cross-Country Romance” starring Gene Raymond, Wendy Barrie, and Hedda Hopper, and the supporting attraction is “Stage to China,” starring George O’Brien. The race week programme at the Crystal Palace is one to be highly recommended. It consists of an English thriller, “The Spider,” with Derrick de Marney and Diana Churchill, and an American mystery-crime film. “Girl in 313,” with Florence Rice and Kent Taylor in the leading roles. A special support shows last week's Melbourne Cup race. rtkie English film is excellently produced and acted, and is one of the brightest and most amusing thrillers to be seen for a long time. LIBERTY “THE AMAZING MR WILLIAMS” The Liberty’s race-week double-fea-ture programme includes a crime thriller. "Babies for Sale.” starring Rochelle Hudson and Glenn Ford, and “The Amazing Mr Williams.” a detective comedy, with Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas. Joan Blondell always makes an exceptionally charming secretary of the dumb kind, and this time she is in love with number one detective of the city’s police force, CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED “The Road to Singapore,” with Dorothy Lamour and Bing Crosby, is at the Regent. “Dad Rudd. M.P.,” with Bert Bailey and Fred McDonald, is at the Majestic. “I Take This Woman,” with Spencer Tracy and Hedy Lamarr, is at the Tivoli. “Roberta,” with Irene Dunne. Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rogers, is at the Theatre Royal. With it is “Said O’Reilly to McNab,” with Will Fyffe. “Between Two Women” (Franchot Tone. Virginia Bruce, and Maureen O’Sullivan), and "Hawaiian Buckaroo.” are at the Grand. "Everybody Sing.” with Judy Garland and Allan Jones, and “Code of the Streets,” are at the St. James. REX, RICCARTON The Rex Theatre. Riccarton to-night. Thursday and Friday will present those six humourists of the radio. Naughton and Gold, Nervo and Nox. Flanagan and Allan in “Frozen Limits.” Also screening is Edgar Wallace’s “The Terror,” starring Wilfrid Lawson. CENTURY, ST. ALBANS “Algiers,” with Charles Boyer and Sigrid G'urie, is being screened at the Century Theatre, St. Albans. With it is “Magnificent Fraud,” starring Akim Tamiroff. The new film opening next Friday is “Swanee River.”