CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23444, 26 September 1941, Page 4

CITY THEATRES

AVON “ONE NIGHT IN THE TROPICS” From its beginning in New York city to its wind-up on. a tropical isle, "One Night in the Tropics” manages to combine neatly the finest of popular rriusic, hilarious comedy, and romance. The story of the film presents Allan Jones as a young insurance man with Robert Cummings as his best friend. Cummings is engaged to marry Nancy Kelly, but his ex-girl friend, Peggy Moran, proves a stumbling block to the marriage plans. Romantic mix-ups which ensue when Jones sells Cummings a million-dollar “love insurance" policy provide the basis for numerous comedy complications. . Jones has one of his best roles to date, and sings in effective style three of the five Kern numbers which comprise the musical score. Nancy Kelly is seen in a comedy role for the first time, and also has some singing and dancing scenes. 1

MAYFAIR

«SCOTLAND YARD ”

In "Scotland Yard,” a thriller romance at the Mayfair, John Loder and Nancy Kelly are the stars. The story is laid in the London of to -day. Amidst the difficulties brought on by black-outs and bursting bombs it is doubly hard for Scotland Yard to work. Tenacious Inspector Cork— Edmund Gwenn —is hot on the trail of Dakin Barrolles, charming gentleman crook portrayed by Henry Wilcoxon. During the chase, Dakin breaks into the house of brutal Sir John and lovely I.ady Sandra Lasher, played by John Loder and Nancy Kelly. Just before his capture by Cork, Dakin manages to snatch a locket from Lady Sandra. Dakin stages a getaway and joins the army in an attempt to elude the long arm of the law. But Dakin is wounded at Dunkirk and surgeons have to rebuild his face. They remodel it after Sir John’s, as it appears in the stolen locket. The excitement of the Scotland Yard case is now complicated by a disguised hero-villain and the story continues in most entertaining fashion to a satisfactory end.

STATE

“LADY HAMILTON”

The next attraction for the State will be “Lady Hamilton,” the picture that was screened for Mr Churchill and Mr Roosevelt at their historic meeting. It is reported that Mr Churchill has seen the film five times.

The story concerns the spectacular career of Lady Emma Hamilton, wife of Sir William Hamilton, who was the daughter of a blacksmith. Her rise to prominence in Neapolitan society began with a profitable deal between the bankrupt Charles Greville and his uncle. Sir William. For ceding his sweetheart, then Emma Hart, to his uncle, Greville received funds to pay off his debts. Although the lady at first resented the exchange, her instinct for power and luxury told her that it was probably the chance of a lifetime. Vivien Leigh is Lady Hamilton in the film, Laurence Olivier is Lord Nelson. CRYSTAL PALACE “ THE BIG BOSS ” The new film at the Crystal Palace, starring Otto Kruger, John Litel, and Gloria Dickson, is "The Big Boss,” a political racket film. Otto Kruger is seen in the title role, portraying a ruthless politician whose best paying racket is one in which his associates buy up large sections of poor land, which is then greatly improved by convicts at the state’s expense. A reform candidate for governor, played by John Litel, wins the election and promptly sets out to break Kruger's corrupt machine and abolish the chain-gangs. A hard-hitting, shrewd newspaper reporter, in the person of blonde Gloria Dickson, is determined to swing along with the governor and offers him all the help she can give. However, Kruger is not to be deterred so easily, and continues with his schemes on a larger scale than ever. He finally runs afoul of the law, though, by murdering one of his henchmen and leaving telltale fingerprints. , . There is a stirring end to the picThe associate feature is ‘ Rovin Tumbleweeds,” starring Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette in one of their heroic Westerns.

LIBERTY

«THE GREAT AMERICAN

BROADCAST ”

The gay, fascinating story of the courageous, talented people who first nllea the air waves with song and laughter is told in “The Great American Broadcast” at the Liberty. „ From the same studio which produced “Alexander’s Ragtime Band, “Tin Pan Alley,” and others, the film, “The Great American Broadcast, stars Alice Faye, John Payne, Jack Oakie, and Cesar Romero. Alice Faye makes the Gordon and Warren tunes, “Long Ago Last Night," "! Take To You” “I’ve Got a Bone to Pick With You!” "Run, Little Raindrop, Run, )( “The Great American Broadcast, “Where You Are,” and “It’s All In a Lifetime,” as popular as those songs she has sung in previous Futures. The featured cast of The Great American Broadcast” includes Mary Beth Hughes, the Wiere Brothers, the Nicholas Brothers, and the Four InkS *Tlfe associate feature is “Girl from Avenue A,” starring Jane Withers. PLAZA « THREE MEN FROM TEXAS ” The latest William Boyd film for the Plaza will be “Three Men From Texas,” the next attraction. The action takes place in the California of the turn of the century, when land grabbing by eastern speculators was at its height. Cassidy, played as usual by William Boyd, is asked by a citizens committee in the harassed region to bring law and order to the place. He and Lucky (Russell Hayden) are involved in many adventures before they succeed in bringing law and order to the community. , . Esther Estrella is a leading player. The associate feature will be a rollicking comedy, “Meet the Chump, starring Hugh Herbert, who is the guardian of a very wealthy estate. According to the terms of the legacy, the money is to be , turned over to his nephew., played by Lewis Howard, when the latter becomes 26 years old —provided he gets married the same day. This the youth has intention of doing, but his uncle suddenly realises that somehow, a mere 5.000,000 of the sum total- has disappeared Herbert plays six other people, besides himself before he clears up the matter.

CYCLING

HANDICAPS FOR SOUTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP The following handicaps have begn declared for the 36-miles South Island cycling championship at Southbndge on S< Scr.—R. H. Knight, B. N. Evans, C. R. Evans. D. A. Morland, A. J Howison IJmin.—W. Good. I. Sutherland. R. Sutherland W G. Howison, R. Slack. 3Jmin.—J. H. Newlove, C. Coman, A. Clemence, M. G. Drake. rilmmir smin Loper, E Guthrie, W. Gilmour. D. Swanston. 7!mln. —T. Peach', J. Palmer, A. Poiter, A. Day, R. Rolton. J. Burrows. . lOimin.—J. Parfitt, L Young, C. Skiffingt0 i4min.—A. Smith, L. Arnst, H. F. Wright