CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25139, 21 March 1947, Page 9

CITY THEATRES

MAYFAIR “BEDELLV’ Four popular stars, headed by Margaret Lockwood, play the principal roles in Vera Caspary’s new story “Bedelia,” which continues its season to-day at the Mayfair Theatre. Miss Lockwood is Bedelia herself, while lan Hunter is Bedelia’s husband, Anne Crawford his business partner, and Barry K. Barnes a crime investigator. It is an exciting and thrilling study of a lovely, callous woman, who marries and murders for heavy insurance stakes. At the story’s opening she has been supremely successful, and is about to repeat her success. However, the inevitable slip occurs, and from that moment the chase is on, with Barry K. Barnes straining every nerve to prevent a crime that only he, and the criminal, know is imminent. The film, which was directed by Lance Comfort, is a thrill from start to finish. Its locations swing from the sunshine of the South of France to the bleak Yorkshire moors.

PLAZA

“JOHN HALIFAX—GENTLEMAN” “John Halifax—Gentleman,” which continues its season at the Plaza Theatre to-day, is the story of a poor boy who -wanders into the English village of Nortonbury searching for work. He is fed by little Ursula March from' the great house nearby. Then old Abey Fletcher comes along and leaves his crippled son, Phineas,-on the footpath while he pays a visit,to a friend. While he is away Lord Luxmore's carriage dashe? into the invalid’s chair, and but for John’s timely action the cripple would have been killed. Quaker Fletcher is so grateful that he offers John work. That is all he needs. He advances quickly; and later, when he returns to Nortonbury to rescue its people during a slump, he meets once more and marries Ursula, the ward of Lord Luxmore. The story covers half a century. In the leading roles of this all-English film are John Warwick, Nancy Burne, Ralph Michael, and D. J. Williams.

CRYSTAL PALACE

“INTERMEZZO” Ingrid Bergman, the beautiful young continental actress, is starred in the David O. Selznick production, “Intermezzo—a Love Story,” with the late Leslie Howard and Edna Best. This picture, a dramatic love story set in modern Europe, will begin a season at the Crystal Palace Theatre to-day. Miss Bergman plays the role of “the other woman” in a story which concerns a famous violinist who returns home to Stockholm to rejoin his wife and two children after an absence of some years. Hoping to settle down to a quiet existence, <he finds himself restless and anxious for a life of youth and gaiety. He urges his wife to accompany him on a second honeymoon to the places he visited while on tour, but she says she is devoted to her home. When he meets the lovely young pianist who teaches his daughter, he is strangely attracted by her, and is unable to resist her charms. He goes away with her. The film has an unexpected climax. “Intermezzo” was directed by Gregory Ratoff, and Leslie Howard was associate producer.

MAJESTIC

“MILDRED PIERCE” “Mildred Pierce,” the screen adaptation of James M. Cain’s novel of the life of a grass widow, continues to-day at the Majestic Theatre. It marks the peak of the career of one of the screen’s most important personalities —Joan Crawford, who in the title role, offers an intensely human characterisation of a woman bedevilled from without by the vagarieAf fortune and the cruelties of those ror whom she cares most, and from within by a passionate, illogical devotion to the very persons who plot her destruction. The fine dreams which Mildred Pierce has for her children, especially the unregenerate Veda (Ann Blyth). on whom she lavishes most of her attention, rule her life. Separated from her husband (Bruce Bennett), she swallows her pride and finds employment as a waitress. She prospers and marries a second time, and the film takes a dramatic turn when her husband (Zachary Scott) is found dead at a beach house. Other leading parts are taken by Jack Carson and Eve Arden. The film was directed by Michael Curtiz.

LIBERTY

“WHISTLE" STOP” Interest is sustained from start to finish in “Whistle Stop," the Nero Films’ picture which is the main feature of the week at the Liberty Theatre. The excitement begins when, after ap absence of two years in the big city. Mary (Ava Gardner) returns to her home town of Ashbury stylishly clad in silk and mink, but 'with only 30 dollars in her pocket. She has come back to choose between Kenny (George Raft), a ne’er-do-well whom she loves, and Lew Lentz (Tom Conway), a wealthy man of shady character who wants to marry her. An excellent plot is built up in this film, which also features Victor McLaglen. The experiences of six young stage aspirants, who scheme by hook or crook to have their talent recognised by a stage producer, make up the story of “Young and Willing,” the supporting feature, which stars Susan Hayward and Eddie Bracken.

ST. JAMES’

“SWAMP FIRE” Full of action, most of it supplied by former swimming champions, Johnny Weismuller and Buster Crabbe, is “Swamp Fire.” Paramount’s thrilling picture which opens to-day at the St. James’ Theatre. This is’ a fastmoving story of bar pilots who steer ships through' the treacherous channels and over the sand bars of the Louisiana bayou country. Weismuller plays the part of a discharged Navy veteran who has a psychological handicap stemming from his loss of a ship during the war. His fellow pilots trick him into regaining his confidence, and he comes through nobly. Along the route he tangles on several occasions with Buster Crabbe, who portrays the villain in this picture. Marsha Hunt. John Carroll, and Hume Cronyn star in the supporting feature, “A Letter for Evie.” The picture tells a warm and human story.

EMPIRE

“THE DOLLY SISTERS” “The DoHy Sisters.” 20th CenturyFox s Technicolour musical film, starring Betty Grable. John Payne, and June Haver, is the main feature at the Empire Theatre. The story is based on the life of two glamorous sisters who became famous on the New York stage manv years ago. The film is packed with music, dramatic excitement. and dazzling spectacle. Betty Grable is seen as Jenny Dolly while her equally talented sister, Rosie, is played by June Haver. John Payne is a song writer, whose romance with Jenny almost broke up the sister team. Tommy Handley, one of England’s most popular comedians, is starred in “It’s That Man Again,” the supporting feature, which is based on the wellknown radio show.

CENTURY

“YANKEE DOODLE DANDY” A part which won him an Academy Award is played by James Cagney in “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” which is screening at the Century Theatre. It is a story of George M. Cohan, the greatest song and dance man in the '•how world of America. All Cohan’s best melodies, including “The Yankee Doodle Boy.” “Give My Regards to Broadway.’’ and “Over There” are played. Starred with Cagney are Joan Leslie. Walter Huston and Irene Manning. Michael Curtiz, who has an impressive list of film hits to his credit, was the director.