CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25365, 12 December 1947, Page 9

CITY THEATRES

MAYFAIR “TEHERAN” “Marshal Stalin had been advised that an attempt on my life was in preparation and consequently he asked me to be his guest in his apartment at the Russian Embassy.” These words, which were broadcast by President Roosevelt from Washington after his return from the Big Three meeting at Teheran in 1943, form the basic theme of the ' film “Teheran 6 which opens to-day at the Mayfair Theatre. Set against the background of the conference, the film is a spy thriller which involves a young war correspondent, Pemberton Grant (Derek Farr) and a lovely Russian ballerina, Natalie Trubetzin (Marta Labarr). Pemberton goes to Teheran where he accidentally meets Natalie whom he knew and fell in love with in Rome before the war. He comes across a clue which leads him to* 'the discovery of one of the most closely guarded secrets of the day—the approaching visit of the Big Three. With Natalie’s assistance he also discovers the plot against President Roosevelt. Thrilling adventures follow the discovery until they succeed in disclosing the* plot and preventing the assassination. The film, which was made in Italy, was produced by John Stafford and directed by William Freshman. Pamela Stirling, Manning Whilev and McDonald Park are also included in the cast.

AVON “TIME OUT OF MIND” “Time Out of Mind,” Rachel Field’s story of a woman who sacrificed her own happiness to bring out the musical genius of the man she loved, will open at the Avon Theatre to-day. Phyllis Calvert makes her debut in an American production, and Robert Hutton co-stars as the moody, eccentric composer and pianist. Ella Raines takes the part of Hutton’s possessive sister, and Helen Carter is introduced to the screen as the composer’s society wife. The story concerns' the servant girl’s attempts to enable Hutton to follow a musical career. She borrows money to send him to France where he marries When his father-in-law arranges to present him at a Symphony Hall debut, the composer feels that his first American appearance was arranged for no other purpose than to allow his wife to display ..him to her friends. He ruins the performance and becomes addicted to drink. The servant girl, who realises that she is in love with him. nurses him back to health and arranges for him to present a symphony. He meets with great success. The musical highlights of the film are the two concerts where an original concerto and symphony are played and a sequence in Hutton s home where he plays “A New England Tone Poem.” The music was written by Miklos Rozsa. * STATE “THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER” Politics and romance are blended to make “The Farmers’ Daughter” thoroughly enjoyable entertainment. This R.K.O. Radio comedy-drama, which continues to-day at the State Theatre, stars Loretta Young. Joseph Cotten arid Ethel Barrymore in a sprightly show with some melodramatic episodes. Katie, a young farm girl bent on taking a nursing course, arrives in the city penniless and is compelled to take a temporary job as maid in the home of Glenn Morley, a young congressman. and his mother, a power in local politics. Katie’s directness and clear thinking quickly make her a favourite with everyone except Glenn’s fiancee. A Congressional vacancy occurs in the town and Katie confronts one party’s candidate with records of his past political career. She is immediately invited by the opposition to stand for Congress and Glenn and his mother give their blessing to her daring venture. An attempt to smear her character sends Katie home crushed, but Glenn follows her. Her father tells them to go back and fight the thing out. This they do, one winning an election and the other a wife. Charles Bickford, in the humorous role of the Morley butler, provides many laughs. Thn film was produced by Dore Schary.

MAJESTIC “IT HAPPENED IN BROOKLYN” Frank Sinatra, Kathryn Grayson, Peter Lawford and Jimmy Durante are the stars of M.G.M.’s new musical, “It Happened in Brooklyn,” which will open to-day at the Majestic Theatre. Sinatra is cast as the music publishing-house shipping clerk, Miss Grayson as the girl who has turned to teaching when she is persuaded that her voice lacks the romantic warmth for light opera, Lawford as a shy English song writer who has never heard of jive, and Durante as a hospitable school janitor who takes them all under his wing and tempers their troubles. The actual plot involves Sinatra making good his promise to show Lawford the path to success in his beloved Brooklyn, a promise which entails his having to hand over his girl, Miss Grayson, to his songwriting rival. The story provides an adequate framework on which to hang the singing and dancing talents of Sinatra and Miss Grayson, Lawford’s romantic appeal and Durante’s comedy antics. New numbers in the film include “The Brooklyn Bridge. ’ “The Song’s Gotta Come from the Heart,” “Time After Tfrne,” and “I Believe.” Miss Grayson also sings the Bell Song from “Lakme” and combines with Sinatra in a duet of an aria from “Don Giovanni.” Richard Whorf directed this film and the producer was Jack Cummings.

CRYSTAL PALACE “REBECCA” A return season of the ever popular film “Rebecca,” based on Daphne du .Maurier’s novel, will continue at the Crystal Palace to-day. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, “Rebecca” tells the story of an unsophisticated girl who becomes the bride of the wealthy and socially prominent Maxim de Winter. When she goes to live on his vast Tudor estate, she learns to her horror that her life is being dominated by the past of Rebecca, her husband’s first wife. The memory of Rebecca is kept alive bv Mrs Danvers, the housekeeper, who resents the second Mrs de Winter, and does everything in her power to harrow her. After an elaborate ball given at the home, the story moves to a rather terrifying climax. Among the settings constructed for the production of the film were London streets, taverns. a coroner’s office, a boat-shed facing a wind-swept bay on the coast of Cornwall and the Tudor estate. The film is released by United Artists. ..nd included in the cast are Judith Anderson. George Sanders, Nigel Bruce. C. Aubrey Smith, and Reginald Denny. It was produced by David O. Selznick.

, PLAZA “THAT WAY WITH WOMEN” Combining a trio of well-known stars with a fast-moving story, Warner Bros.’ “That Way With Women” will’ open, at the Plaza Theatre to-day. Produced by Charles Hoffman, the film teams Dane Clark. Martha Vickers, and Sydney Greenstreet. It tells the story of a retired automobile magnate living in luxury on his estate in Pasadena, who suddenly finds his enforced retirement intolerable and secretly buys himself a half-interest in a dilap dated petrol station. His companion is Clark and the two men build up a sound business. An organised gang of racketeers hears of their success and attempts to extort money from them, but have little success. The magnate’s daughter suspects that her father has a secret interest and finally meets and falls in love with Clark. The film reaches a climax when the two partners land in gaol as the result of trumped-up charges by the racketeers and on their release, find their opponents. Clark goes back to work at a factory in Detroit, taking the magnate with him. Clark, however, finds that life is intolerable without his companion’s daughter, and he hurries back home. Offering able support to the stars are Alan Hale, Barbara Brown, and Don McGuire.

LIBERTY “GREAT EXPECTATIONS” The most unusual of the Charles Dickens’ novels, “Great Expectations,” is adapted to the screen in the film which will open to-day at the Liberty Theatre. Set in England, with an allBritish cast. “Great Expectations” stars John Mills as Pip, the poor boy of the blacksmith’s shop, who comes into a fortune, which is left him by an unknown benefactor. The film is a J. Arthur Rank production. The main femsle lead is taken by Valerie Hobson, and others in the cast -are Bernard Miles. Martita Hunt, and Frances Sullivan The opening sequences of the film are uncanny and suggestive, as Pip, in the fog of the fen country, runs across the marshes to deposit flowers on a grave in the tumbledown cemetery. Gsllows erected on the towpaths give more suggestion to the eeriness of the setting. The story closely follows the novel, and Miss Favisham, the eccentric hypochondriac who lives in the vast house, the main room of which is still set for her wedding breakfast which was never eaten, is reproduced strikingly. The plot is handled powerfully and this film has been accepted as a masterpiece in both England and America. Humour and pathos are skilfully blended, little deviation being made from the original story (too long to permit of filming), and the social habits and' manners of the early nineteenth century are shown to perfection, the men with their monstrous cravats and hats, the women with their innumerable petticoats and wrappings.

EMPIRE “I’LL BE YOUJt SWEETHEART” “I’ll Be Your Sweetheart,” which commences at the Empire Theatre today. is dedicated to the song-writers of the early twentieth century. The story deals with their struggles against the music pirates of the time. The film is set in London arid touches many colourful aspects of London life when the Old Tivoli and Alhambra music halls were in their heyday. Margaret Lockwood stars as the music-hall favourite of the day. with Vic Oliver starring as a struggling ael Rennie and Peter Graves are featured /as rivals for Miss Lockwood’s favours. Bill Elliott has a girl to free, a bandit mob to wreck, and a reign of terror to avenge in “Lone Star Pioneers,” the associate feature at the Empire. There is a wealth of action in the film before Elliott manages to attain these objects.