ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 182, 30 April 1936, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

Fine Acting in “These Three” at Regent Theatre Three famous stars are billed in “These Three” now at the Regent Theatre, and they do all that is expected from them, but a large factor in the success of the film is the work of those in lesser roles.- Of the stars, Miriam Hopkins has won through sheer merit the reputation of a first-rate actress, and Merle Oberon, who is bracketed with her at the head of the cast, has developed rapidly, while Joel McCrae is not found lacking when compared with them. The wrecking of three innocent lives by neighbours believing gossip may seem a hackneyed theme, but its treatment and the vivid hold one's interest throughout. Two Features Screening at De Luxe Theatre Intriguing mystery and uproarious fun are combined on the current De Luxe programme, which features two attractions, Warner Bros.-First National’s “The Murder of Dr. Harrigan,” and “Personal Maid’s Secret," also a Warner Bros. film. “The Murder of Dr. Harrigan” stars Ricardo Cortez, Mary Asdor and Kay Linaker, while “Personal Maid's Secret” has Ruth Donnelly, Anita Louise, Margaret Lindsay and Warren Hull in leading roles. For every thrill and chill contained in “The Murder of Dr. Harrigan,” and there arc many, “Personal Maid’s Secret” has a laugh to balance it. Final screenings of this programme will take place at the De Luxe to-day. "Dangerous.” The teaming of stars for the first time is always interesting, and in “Dangerous,” the Warner Bros, attraction which comes to the De Luxe Theatre to-mor-row, two young favourites in Bette Davis and Franchot Tone will be seen together for the first time. The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, a body whose opinion on pictures and performances is respected the world over, awarded its gold statuette to Bette Davis for the best work by an actress in any picture during the period just reviewed. The film that earned for the blonde star this high honour was “Dangerous.” In past productions Leslie Howard and Paul Muni have fallen under the fatal spell of the alluring Miss Davis, and now Franchot Tone finds her dangerous to love but hard to resist. Bette Davis has the role of an actress, a public idol loved by many but loving only her own career, prenared to sacrifice everything and everybody to further her own selfish ambitions. In addition to Mis,s Davis and Tone, the cast of “Dangerous” includes that character actress par excellence, Alison Skipworth, Margaret Lindsay, and Dick Foran. The De Luxe has an excellent array of screen featurettes selected for presentation with “Dangerous,” while the Orchestra De Luxe and the organ will be heard in new numbers. “Lady of Secrets” at St. Janies Theatre After a year’s absence from the screen Ruth Chatterton takes the leading part in “Lady of Secrets,” whieh is in its last day at the St. James Theatre. The part of Celia Whittaker, a woman living in the past, her youth, her love and her ideals shattered by the war and by the cruelty of her father, is not easy to act realistically, yet it is achieved with marked success by the accomplished Ruth Chatterton. As a selfish, infinitely harsh father, misunderstanding and even in his good intentions Lionel Atwill gives an excellent characterisation. “The Calling of Dan Matthews.” One of the famous novels of Harold Bell Wright, “The Calling of Dan Matthews,” has been made into a picture by Columbia, and will be shown commencing to-morrow at the St. James Theatre. Richard Arlen is starred in the role of Dan Matthews, a small-town pastor who steps on some very important toes when he goes about wiping ou: vice and corruption. The town’s amusement park, built by its leading citizen, James Strong, is the principal object of Dan’s wrath. Here the younger element is purchasing its unwholesome night life. While Strong built the place, it is being operated by a band of racketeers, who hold the business man to an iron-bound contract that would implicate him if there were any exposing being done. Dan is faced with the problem of cleaning up the place—a thankless enough task, inasmuch as the bulk of the citizens think he's just a meddling fool —without ruining Strong. Dan has a particular interest in Strong because of his daughter Hope, whom the pastor loves. But the solution is finally found and everything winds up happilv. Dramatic Story, “My Marriage,” at Plaza Theatre The dramatic story of a girl who faces the guns of the underworld to shield a society that ostracises her is shown in the film “My Marriage,” which concludes to-day at. the Pinza Theatre. Claire Trevor is a girl who has been reared in society, happy and envied, uutil a racketeer’s bullet strikes down her father, an underworld master, who has masqueraded as a pillar of society. “The Tunnel.” Coming to the Plaza Theatre to-mor-row is “The Tunnel,” starring Richard Dix, Leslie Banks, Madge Evans, Helen Vinson, and C. Aubrey Smi'tb, which proves even more conclusively the heights to which Gaumont-British directors, technicians and actors can attain, The story has for its central character McAllan, idealistic engineer, who conceives the plan of a giant sub-Atlantic tunnel, linking Britain with America. Backed by a syndicate of millionaires, he eventually succeeds in completing the project, in the face of almost insuperable odds. Appealing human interest is supplied by MeAllan’s estrangement from his wife, Ruth, when he neglects her for his work on the tunnel. No praise can be too high for the graphic way in whieh the construction of the tunnel is presented. Armies of workmen is grotesque gas-hel-mets man the great, radium drill that bores into solid rock, reducing it to a lava which they use to line the walls. Strikingly modernistic streamlined cars dash along completed sections at alarming speeds, their velocity being almost unlimited, by the creation of a vacuum. “Follow the Fleet” Concludes at State Theatre At last concluding its season at the Stale Theatre is “Follow the Fleet,” in whieh Fred Astaire dances his way through over 10,000 feet of music, comedy anfi romance as a sailor of the United States Navy. Forced into the navy from the concert platform because bis dancing partner, Sherry (Ginger Rogers) has raised a rather unaccountable objection to a closer partnership, he devotes his spare time ashore to endeavouring to better her position, but his efforts have a disastrous way of going wrong. “Show Them No Mercy!” In “Show Them No Mercy!” the 20th Century thriller, which opens to-morrow at the State Theatre, Darryl F. Zanuck has managed to catch a new slant on pictures which deal with the war against crime. Violence, intense emotional drama, spontaneous humour, and romance arc tightly packed in the speedy sequences of this new picture whieh reveals the new underworld terror in America's tight to wipe it out. The plot of “Show Them No Mercy!” carries Rochelle Hudson and Edward Norris, two innocent young iieople with their baby, into the hideout of the gang. The criminals have 200.000 dollars in “hot money. ’ and are waiting lor the hue and cry to die down. Panicky, afraid that the young-

sters will disclose their refuge, the gangsters are all for putting them out of the way. Through a series of exciting scenes, the picture reveals how the welllaid plans of the Department of Justice draws the net tighter and tighter about them, until the mobsters flee, leaving one of their number behind. In a smashing climax, Cesar Romero and Bruce Cabot, leaders of the gang, decide to shoot Miss Hudson and Norris. But a daring ruse on the part of the two intended victims gives them the upper hand just as the federal men arrive on the scene. “Exclusive Story” at Majestic Theatre A dramatisation of the real-life activities of a New York newspaperman, who exposed a gang of racketeers, is presented in “Exclusive Story,” featuring Franchot Tone and Madge Evans, whieh will screen finally this evening at. the Majestic Theatre. The story briefly is that Ace Acella. New York gang leader, crashes in on a policy racket run by negroes, and in rivalries with another gang one man is killed and Michael Devlin, storekeeper, threatened. Devlin’s beautiful daughter, Ann, enlists, the aid of an ace newspaper reporter, Tim Higgins, and the newspaper’s attorney, Dick Barton, to smash the gangsters. i Subsequently events move fast. “A Tale of Two Cities.” Many -and various are the roles in which Ronald Colman has appeared on (he screen, and in “A Tale of Two Cities,” commencing to-morrow at the Majestic Theatre, he will be seen in a role which still further demonstrates his versatility.' Cast as Sydney Carton, Ronald Colman, older and more restrained than he used to be, plays quietly and effectively, making a convincing portrait of the man who, after a lifetime in which he hais won neither love nor respect, reveals himself in a heroic sacrifice. In this role he is supported by a big cast of wide reputation, including Elizabeth Allan, Edna May Oliver (giving another of her unforgettable portraits), Basil Rathbone, a superb villain ; Henry B. Walthall, an old favourite of the silent days in a striking role; Walter Catlett as a spy; and such other outstanding players as Donald Woods, Blanche Yurke and Isabel Jewell. “A Tale of Two Cities,” while, perhaps, not the very best of Dickens, offers unrivalled opportunities to the film, for its essentials are all played in the broadest dramatic sense, and the swift and changing background of England and revolutionary France make colour in portrayal the essential thing. Gracie Fields in “Queen of Hearts” at Paramount Gracie Fields cannot fail to make new friends and hold old ones in her latest laughter hit, “Queen of Hearts.” which concludes this evening at the Paramount Theatre. Miss Fields is seen as a young seamstress who falls in love with a matinee idol and suddenly finds herself involved in all sorts of amazing adventures. “When Knights Were Bold.” With the coming of every Buchanan picture the public are immediately on tiptoe with expectancy for some new, real song hits, and they will certainly not be disappointed in Jack’s latest success, “When Knights Were Bold,” which will be presented at the Paramount Theatre to-morrow. Two. of the numbers which enhance the entertainment value of the film, “I’m Still Dreaming” and “Let’s Put Some People to Work,” sung in Jack’s own inimitable breezy style, are destined to be instant favourites. Both songs are logically’ introduced into the story, Jack, as Sir Guy de Vere, the new Lord of Beechworth Castle, using the latter in his love making with his beautiful cousin, Lady Rowena. Somewhat embarrassed by the lady’s coolness toward him, the

new Guy finds it a difficulty in expressing his ardour in mere words; so he puts his feelings to music and sings to her, “Let’s Put Some People to Work,” the words of which aptly plead his cause, but eventually earn for him—a slapped face. Of course, no Buchanan picture would be complete without an interlude of tapdancing. and it is therefore no surprise when Sir Guy, after a particularly “heavy” night and an equally heavy blow on the head from a falling suit of armour, goes back in his dreams through the centuries, and finds the sandy floors of lug ancestors’ castle distinctly to the liking of his tapping feet.