ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 226, 21 June 1935, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

“Gold Diggers of 1935,” De Luxe Attraction “Gold Diggers of 1935,” First Nation-, al’s latest mammoth musical spectacle, opens at the De Luxe Theatre today. The picture is said to carry more unique and unusual numbers, greater song hits, and more hilarious fun thau any other musical produced by this company. Busby Berkeley. musical comedy genius, uot only created and staged the numbers, but directed the entire picture. The story by Robert Lord and Peter Milne is a rollicking com edy with three separate love tangles There is a play within the play, a wealthy widow producing a milk fund show at a swanky summer hotel. Dick Powell and Gloria Stuart have the romantic leads, with Frank McHugh and Dorothy Darrin a semi-comic love affair and Glenda Farrell taking an eccentric millionaire over the jumps Alice Brady has the role of the rich widow who is bilked of a considerable fortune by a theatrical producer, a part played by Adolphe Menjoti, Joseph Cawthorn, in the role of a scenic and costume artist, and the hotel manager. Grant Mitchell. The widow, which is the funniest role ever essayed by Alice Brady has two children. She is trying to marry off her daughter. Gloria Stuart, to Hugh Herbert, also a millionaire, but who is more interested in writing articles on snuff than on love. Her son. Frank McHugh, four times married and divorced, falls for the hotel hostess, and the daughter falls in love with the room clerk in the person of Dick Powell. The supporting featurettes include “A. and P. Gypsies,” a delightful musical novelty and “Vaudeville,” a series of outstanding thrills and variety acts. Barrie Brettoner, the brilliant young organist, will present a new programme of popular items. “Passport to Fame” at State Theatre What happens when a timid little clerk is mistaken for a desperate criminal is depicted in “Passport to Fame,” the fast-moving, exciting Columbia com-edy-drama which opens its rtjn at the State Theatre to-day. Edward G. Robinson is cast in the starring role of Arthur Jones, the harassed bookkeeper whose life is transformed by his resemblance to Killer Mannion. Also affected by this resemblance is Jean Arthur, the blonde Columbia player who supplie.- the romantic interest in “Passport to Fame.” As the inconspicuous little clerk. Robinson was afraid to pop the question, but he gets the necessary eenrage from the notoriety that clutters up bis life when the desperado escapes from prison. John Ford directed from the screen adaptation prepared by Robert Riskin and Jo Swelling, Columbia's ace scenarists, based on a W. R Burnett novelette which ran serially in a national mazagine. The supporting cast includes Etienne Girardot, Wallace Ford, Arthur tlyron, J. Farrell MacDonald, and Arthur Hohl. To prevent police from molesting him, the District Attorney gives Robinson a letter, or passpqrt, which is to identify him as the respectable citizen and not the public enemy whom he so strongly resembles. Killer Mannion, his double, obtains possession of the passport and thus goes, about his criminal activities with comparative immunity. I ovely Jean Arhur is cast in the picture as the girl whom Robinson has always loved, but has been too shy to woo. With big unexpected distinction and newly found courage he turns the table on his hard-boiled counterpart and crashes through to a heart-stirring climax. “Car 99,” Police Thriller at Majestic Theatre Fred Mac Murray, star of “The Gilded Lily,” and Ann Sheridan play the leading romantie roles of Paramount’s “Car 99,” which conies to-day to the Majestic Theatre. Based on information obtained from the secret files of one of America’s most efficient police organisations, the picture presents Mac Murray as a member of the wireless patrol, who places devotion to duty even above his love for a girl. Mac-Murray proves bis courage when he captures a band of bank robbers who cripple the police radio station in order to carry out a daring plot. Sir Guy Standing, William Frawley and’Dc..a Jagger are prominently featured in the supporting cast of "Car 99.” Mac Murray portrays a ycung police cadet who is encouraged in his work by his pretty sweetheart. Early in his career he proves himself a hero. Bui in a clash with a gang of dangerous bandits he loses his prisoners through carelessness, and is broken as a result. Even after his setback he persists in his loyalty to the force. Finally, in a daring coup, the bandits cripple the police'radio station and proceed to escape from the State. Their attempt just fails to succeed through the bravery and quick-thinking of Mac Murray. who wins back his post and his girl through the arrest. Individual performances have been subordinated in “Car 99” to competent and intelligent acting by the entire east. But MacMur ray, Miss Sheridan, Sir Guy Standing ano’ Frawley, in a humorous role, are particularly .deserving of mention. Capable direction by Charles Barton welds “Car 99” into a consistently pleasing, thrillfilled and highly satisfactory picture. Gene Gerrard Comedy, “It’s a Bet,” at Regent Gene Gerrard, who made «mcb a wonderful impression on all who saw him in that amusing film "My Wife’s Family.” has since then done practically nothing until he appears in this, his latest attraction, “Its’ a Bet,” commencing to-day at the Regent. More polished, more amusing than ever, Gene Gerrard leaps back into instant popularity in “It’s a Bet.” The story of a young journalist who loses his job for denouncing the inefficiency of the police force, and then proves his statements by disappearing for a whole month while the whole police force of Great Britain and the Press search for him, gives Mr. Gerrard ample opportunity of proviir hie ability as a comedian. Judy Kelly, the lovely Austra’ian girl who plays the part of the fiancee who. although she loves her journalist, loves the good things of life as well is excellent. The blonde Helen Chandler. I as Clare, the girl who befriends Rollo (Gene Gerrard) and whom he eventually falls in love with, is very charming. The thrills in the picture are fast and furious. In one sequence Rollo persuaded by crowds of citizens eager for the capture has to dive off the end of the wharf. This involved a quick running dive from a great height, but fortunately Gene Gerrard who makes swimming one of his hobbies, was quite able to take care of himself. A very realistic smash, where Rollo, to avoid a head-on collision with Clare's car, has to drive up a steep bank and into a ditch also provided some excitement for the participants, which is spared by the spectators when they see the screening of the accident. The coloured short subject, “La Cucaraeha,” will also be shown. “Lady By Choice” Screening at St. James Carole Lombard, May Robson. and Walter Connolly have the featured roles in Columbia’s "Lady by Choice," which opens to-day at the St. James Theatre. This is the story of a fan dancer aud a broken-down drunkard, with Miss Lombard as the dancer and May Robson as the elderly derelict. Walter Connolly, well-known character player, will be seen as the police court judge who, with Miss Robson, interferes in the business anil love affairs of the fan dancer. Roger Pryor, Arthur Hohl, and Raymond Wa ! - bur are also prominently cast. David Burton directed. Miss Robson’s performance is a complete triumph. She-is first seen as a drunken derelict who has been arrested so often that even the judge has lost count. In the bitter sequences of the picture she is a well-dressed old lady who has dropped the gutter tricks which kept her in police courts. As Alabam, the

dancer, Miss Lombard turns in her usual well-finished and convincing performance. It is a picture endowed with a perfect story and cast, Paramount’s Double Feature Programme Full of fun, excitement and red hot romance, is “It Happened in New York,” Universal’s clever comedy drama coming to the Paramount Theatre to-day. An array of star names heads the cast, including Lyle Talbot, Gertrude Michael, Heather Angel, Hugh O’Connell, Robert Gleckler, and many other artists. The second attraction is “I’ve Been Around,” starring Chester Morris and Ralph Morgan. Special musical numbers will be presented by Barrie Brettoner at the Wurlitzer, including “Repasz Band March” and “Roses of Picardy.” The amusing adventures of a highly temperamental movie star who gomes to New York for the first t’me and becomes involved with a rough-and-ready taxi driver, forms the intriguing basis of “It Happened in New York.” It* swift-moving pace, brilliant dialogue and hilarious comedy situations, make this one of the most outstanding pictures of the year. Double Feature Programme at Rex Theatre The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture “Sadie McKee” will come to the Rex Theatre to-day at the head of a double-feature bill. Joan Crawford as Sadie McKee, Vina Delmar’s famous character, is the finest portrayal the etar has ever essayed. Melodrama is rampant in “Fugitive Lovers,” another Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture presented as the supporting attraction. A new theme for Hollywood, fhe action in this exciting picture takes place almost entirely aboard a great cross-country bus as it rips along westward from New York City. Gracie Fields in “Sing As We Go” at King’s The next attraction, commencing this afternoon at the King’s Theatre, is the musical comedy, "Sing As We Go,” starring Gracie Fields. In “Sing As We Go” the inimitable Gracie runs riot in the famous pleasure resort at Blackpool. In the space of a few minutes Gracie converts the theatre into the rendezvous of happiness and laughter. The fact that J. B. Priestley, of “Good Companions” fame, wrote the story specially for her really remarkable talents, is a further guarantee of an outstanding entertainment treat. As one of the factory girls in a huge cotton mill she is the leader of mirth and gaiety. But Lad times come, and the young manager is forced to close the works. 'This leaves Gracie without a job, but undaunted she sets out for Blackpool on a bicycle. You don’t know what laughing is till you see Gracie on her bicycle. Down at Blockpool all sorts of hilarious adventures await her. She becomes a housemaid, but leaves after a quarrel with a hoarder during which she threw rhubarb over him. It would be impossible for mere words to do ample justice to what follows. It's absolutely a scream. “My Heart is Calling” at Plaza Theatre Golden-voiced Jan Kiepura in the splendid musical play “My Heart is Call ng” starts its second week to-day ‘it the Plaza Theatre. Supported by beautiful Martha Eggerth, and with a leavening of comedy provided by Sonnie Hale and Hugh Wakefield. Kiepura is given full scope to exercise his remarkable vocal abilities in a number of light-heart-ed song hits, the theme song. “My Heart is Calling,” proving particularly successful. A troupe of South American operatic artists embark on a liner bound for Monte Carlo. When he enters his cabin the leading tenor, Mario (Jan Kiepura, of course), finds a quite charming young stowaway. Carla (Martha Eggerth). concealed under his bed. He manages to stave off discovery bv an inquisitive officer, and Carta tells him of her plight. Meantime the manager of Lie company, Rosee (»odpi<* Hale), receives a radiogram announe ng that the Monte Carlo contract is off. The attempts of _ the little company to gain a hearing from ll J*' pressarios in Monte Carlo lead to plenty of action, with humorous incidents before final success is achieved.