ST. JAMES THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 16

ST. JAMES THEATRE

“Mary Burns, Fugitive” A lino dr<na of American crime lif“ is presented in the Paramount picture. “Mary Burns, Fugitive.” which opened its Wellington season at the St. James Theatre yesterday. It tells the story ot a girl who falls in love with an all-star football quarter-back, only to have her love dashed by tiie discovery that he is, as murderer and bank looter, Americas publie enemy number one. Not only that, by the association of one night she ia branded ae an accomplice, spends a term in a penitentiary, escapes, and is thence forth relentlessly pursued both by the criminal and the law. Plans for a rapid flight on honeymoon to Canada are shattered by the sharp-shooting of the Federal men. Then follows the drudgery of prison life for an innocent victim ot circumstances; the touch-and-go escape from jail, and the growth of another love over which the earlier tragedy casts thshadow. The picture touches the heights of drama, and action is swift as the law closes round Don Wilson, elusive to th t last. For Wilson still loves Maty Burns, while she loathes him. and not the least interesting scene is that in which he finally-closes on her in a church. Meanwhile, finding work’in a hoe-pital, Mary is loved by a wealthy explorer, in whose lonely house the climax is reached. The result is that Wilson will pursue her no more, she will be freed from the clutches of the law. and —well, a wealthy explorer will have a wife who can make coffee. Sylvia Sydney gives' a great performtuice as Mary Burns, and she B supported in ti fine cast by Melvyn Douglas, Alan Baxter, Pert Kelton, Wallace Ford and Brian Doulevy. A well-varied support ing programme includes a Popeye the Sailor cartoon. KING’S THEATRE “A Message to Garcia” In “A Message to Garcia,” which has now been transferred to the King’s Theatre to continue its season, three of America’s favourite stars, Wallace Beery, John Boles, and Barbara Stanwyck, are together iu a story packed w-th excitement and romance. The story of the film is obtained from a short essay written bv Elbert Hubbard about an incident of fact in the Spanish-Ameri-can War of about 36 years ago—the carrying of an important dispatch to General Garcia, of the Cuban forces. As the young lieutenant, Rowan, who is entrusted with the task of carrying this important message from the President of tho United States, trapped in the swamps of central Cuba, John Boles is superb, and his fair young guide on this perilous journey, Raphaelita, played by Barbara Stanwyck, is a fitting companion for him. The third member of the trio, swashbuckling Wallace Beery, needs no mention except to say that his acting is quite up to the usual Beery standard, which enables him to carry the whole picture before him. A laugh a minute is provided in “Here Comes Trouble,” presenting Paul Kelly. Ariine Judge, and Mona Barrie, which is also to be seen at the King's this. week. A rollicking tale of the high seas, it tells of a merry mixup on a. Havana luxury liner, with Paul Kelly as the third engineer, protecting his manicuring sweetheart, Ariine Judge. Besides its comedy, the pictures provide thrills, drama, and not a little romance. PRINCE EDWARD AND KING GEORGE A Judicious blend of music and comedy, drama and’thrills, is offered in the doublefeature programme which at the King George Theatre.. Lower Hutt, this afternoon, and the Prince Edward Theatre, Pctone. this evening Warne’’ Baxter, Mona Barrie and Alice Faye ar* the stars of “King of Burlesque,” a brilliant musk-ale lavishly embellished with song and dance scenas. The story of “Death Flies East” is based on mysterious happenings in the midst of the-13 passengers of an aeroplane. STATE, PETONE The peerless comedians of innumerable Ben Travers farces fully maintain their standards of hilarity in “Foreign Affaires,” which comes to the State Theatre, Pe tone, to-day. Their efforts at. diplomacy seeni only to net them more troubles than they seek to escape, and the situations in which they become involved, while embarrassing for them, arc hilarious to behold. Able assistance is lent by Robertson Hare. Norma Varden and Marie Lohr. PALACE.. PETONE Charlie Chapliu’s first picture for five years. “Modern Times,” commences at the Palaeo Theatre. Pctone. to-day with four sessions at 10.15 a.m., 1.30 p.m., 3.45 p.m. aud 8 p.m. aud shows again on Monday and Tuesday nights nt S p.m. The story of “Modern Times.” which was written by Chaplin himself, is of a factory worker in a huge steel plant, going through a mechanical routine of tightening bolts on a moving track. This nightmare of cold shining steel, mam moth dynamos, pulleys, levers and switches provides p veritable pttradJ-v for Chaplin’s inimitable brand of eomedy. However, Ute blue denims of the working man soon give way to the more familiar baggy trousers, huge shoes-,'hat and stick of the beloved little tramp. Front then on Charlie's life is a series of diflieulties.