CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23752, 25 September 1942, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

* STATE “SUNDOWN” Barrie Lyndon’s tense and exciting story “Sundown” has been produced as a film by Walter Wanger and will be shown at the State this week. “Sundown” is about six white men and one beautiful girl isolated in a lonely military outpost in East Africa. Surrounded by religious natives armed with smuggled guns, they work out their destiny. The story is flashed on the screen at a breath-taking pace; full of action and high-pitched suspense. For Henry Hathaway, who directed,- “Sundown” stands as a fitting successor to his long line of hit adventure films.

Top credit for the cast goes to Gene Tierney, a beautiful and alluring new screen actress. Bruce Cabot, as the hard-headed colonial administrator, who is more at home with action than with words, fills his part to perfection. George Sanders, Joseph Calleia, Cedric Hardwicke, and Reginald Gardiner, play important roles. But more important than that is the fact that “Sundown” is a rousing good story, exciting, adventurous, and romantic, and that more than anything is the mark of a good film.

AVON “PARIS CALLING” The new Universal film, “Paris Calling,” is a modern melodrama of the European spy systems, featuring Elizabeth Bergner, who, as a pianist in a third-rate cabaret in a sea coast village, gives a fine dramatic performance. Long remembered for her international films, “Escape Me Never” and “Catherine the Great,” Elizabeth Bergner appears in a Hollywood production for the first time. “Paris Calling” will be the next change al the Avon Theatre. As the fiancee of Basil Rathbone in the opening scenes, she is the weathy hostess who entertains the aristocrats rf France in her home, 'on the eve of the Nazi invasion. When she learns that her country has been betrayed, Miss Bergner becomes part of the underground front. Randolph Scott, as the American aviator in the Roval Air Force who is left behind after the ‘ evacuation, Gale Sondergaard. and Edward Ciannelli, play important roles. MAYFAIR “JOAN OF PARIS” Paul Henreid, of “Night Train to Munich,” and Michele Morgan, a Free French actress, are brilliantly co-star-red in an exciting and realistic drama, "Joan of Paris,” now showing at the Mayfair in its second week. The romantic, suspense-laden story of' a Parisian girl’s love for a Free Frencn flyer trapped in enemy territory during the present war, forms the basis of “Joan of Paris.” When Paul Lavallier (Paul Henreid) is trying to contact the British Intelligence to arrange for an escape for himself and his four flying companions, he meets Joan (Michele Morgan), a barmaid. Through continuous perils the story progresses to a thrilling climax as the escape plans finally succeed, but nor before Joan, emulating her patron saint, Joan of Arc, pays the supreme sacrifice. CRYSTAL PALACE “NORTH FROM THE LONE STAR” The new feature at the Crystal Palace this week is “North From the Lone Star,” will Bill Elliott as Wild Bill Hickok in the lead. Deadwood is a peaceful Western community until Flash Kirby and his band of outlaws come to town. They begin gambling at Daggett’s saloon where Kirby soon wins 32,000 dollars. Unaware that his roulette operator had double-crossed him Daggett is forced to surrender his saloon when he is unable to make good on the winnings. But that is just the beginning of this fast moving story which will delight Wild Bill’s fans. A Hawaiian hula-hula with a Spanish accent is only one of the more sparkling items to be found in Lupe Velez tempestuous performance in Columbia’s "Honolulu Lu,” the supporting film at the Crystal Palace. LIBERTY “DANGEROUS MOONLIGHT” Anton Walbrook, Derek de Marney, and Sally Gray are the stars of “Dangerous Moonlight," showing at the Liberty this week. Stefan Radetzky, a famous Polish pianist serving with his country’s air force, meets Carole Hughes, an American newspaper-woman, during a vicious air attack on Warsaw. After the fall of Poland, Stefan and his friend, Mike Carroll, an intrepid Irish flyer, go to New York, where the musician is to start a concert tour in aid of Polish relief. Stefan and Carole meet again and after a short romance are married. The tour proves successful, but Mike goes to England to join the Polish forces in that country. When France falls, Stefan feels an irresistible urge to follow him Mike is killed in aerial combat wth the enemy and, later, Stefan hmself is seriously injured, losing his memory. There is ( an interesting last chapter. “Repent at Leisure,” with Wendy Barrie and Kent Taylor, is the associanc* Walt Disney’s “Little Whirlwind” will also be shown.

PLAZA “ROAD AGENT” "Road Agent.” the latest of a series of action dramas from Universal studios, starring the new cinema trio of Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo, and Andy Devine, is coming to the Plaza soon. The intrepid three are seen in the old West rounding up a gang of bandits who threaten to ruin the cattlemen. Anne Gwynne scores as the daughter of the town banker who helps Foran elude a trap set by the bandits. Richard Davies is a young leader of the cattlemen. Anne Nagel is a dance hali entertainer. John Gallaudet and Samuel S. Hinds have prominent roles. Mary Lee, 16-year-old star, makes her debut as feminine lead in “Barnyard Follies," one of the brightest and happiest films of the year, which will also be shown in the near future. CENTURY “PENNY SERENADE” “Penny Serenade,” starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, is now showing at the Century. This film carries its principals through a two-year period

and reaches a smashing climax of laughter and tenderness in a surprise ending. “Pluto’s Playmate,’’ a Walt Disney cartoon, will also be shown,