ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 151, 23 March 1938, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

“Topper” Still At The Majestic The astounding adventures of Cosmo Topper are transcribed to the screen in the new comedy “Topper, in its- third week at the Majestic. Constance Bennett and Cary Grant are co-starred as the young married couple who, upon meeting a violent death, find themselves imprisoned in spiritual space and who can only advance to the higher plane by. achieving one good deed.

"Big City.” The stars of “The Good Earth” and ( “Captains Courageous” are united in the ( new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, Big ; City,” which opens on Friday _ at the ■ Majestic Theatre with Luise Rainer and j Spencer Tracy co-starred for the first , time. The new picture, presenting a cross-section of American metropolitan , life, with Tracy as a New York taxicab < driver who becomes involved in a war be- , tween rival taxicab companies, and Miss Rainer as his immigrant wife whom he ; barely saves from deportation, is from . the pen of Norman Krasna, the brilliant j young playwright whose “1! ury was con- ■ sidered one of the outstanding photoplays : of last yehr. The production was filmed | under the direction of Frank Borzage, i whose successes date back to “Humor- . esque” and include such memorable'hits i as “Seventh Heaven,” “A Farewell to ] Anns,” and' the recent “History Is Made < at Night.’’ The veteran character actor, ; Charley Grapewin, heads the supporting . east of “Big City,” and other well-known < names in prominent roles include Janet Beecher. Eddie Quillan, Victor Varconi, - Oscar O’Shea, Helen Troy, William De- : ma rest, John Arledge, Irving Bacon, Guinn Williams and Regis Toomey. Also i of interest is the appearance in a realistic free-for-all street battle sequence of the story of such noted names of the sports world as Jack Dempsey, James J. - Jeffries, Jimmy McLarnin, Maxie Rosenbloom, Jim Thorpe, Frank Wykoff Jackie Fields, Man Mountain Dean, Bull Montana and other athletes. “Between Two Women” At St. James Theatre A great metropolitan hospital forms the background of the dramatic story told m “Between Two Women,” showing at the St. James Theatre. Heading a strong cast are Franchot Tone, Maureen O Sullivan and Virginia Bruce. Tone gives an outstanding performance in the role of an ambitious young interne. Miss Bruce is an heiress who goes to the. hospital as. a patient and falls in lave with him. Miss O’Sullivan appears aw a nurse, unhappily married, who secretly loves the interne herself. Doctor and heiress marry and their union is a failure. She concentrates on another man, also a doctor. Tone knows that he loves the nurse. Then her husband is brought in, an emergency ease. If he lives they wil.l be separated for ever. Should he diet the way is open to them for happiness. “London By Night.” Three established stage players win new honours on the screen in Metro-Goldwyn-Maver's mystery picture, “London By Night,” which will open on Friday at St. Janies Theatre. George Murphy, former Broadway dancer, more recently in pictures has his first dramatic role and proves his ability without question. Rita Johnson, likewise a product of the theatre, who starred in George M. Cohan’s “Fulton of Oak Falls” and other plays, makes her screen debut in the feminine lead and assures her career in Hollywood. Leo G. Carroll, also a former stage actor, appears in a role of mystery and promises to become a make-up wizard of the Lon Chaney school. Others in the cast arc uniformly good in their respective parts. ■ They include Virginia Field, George Zuceo, Montagu Love and Eddie Quillan. “London By Night”, was _ adapted from the stage success, “The Umbrella Man.” by Will Scott and served as the first directorial vehicle for William - Thiele, noted Continental director who discovered Lilian Harvey. Lil Dagover and others. “Ever Since Eve” At Regent Theatre The leading feminine role in "Ever Since Eve,” which is the present, attraction at the Regent, is sustained by Marion Davies, who shares honours with Robert Montgomery. She is supported by such tfcicd and capable comedians as Frank McHugh, Patsy Kelly, Lcuise Fazenda, Allen Jenkins, and Marcia Ralston. “Ever Since Eve” has a good story full of fun and romance; a big spectacle that includes songs and dances, and it. gives the star several opportunities to display her rare blonde beauty and her taste in gorgeous gowns. Joe E. Brown King’s Attraction Admirers of the big-mouthed comedian, Joe E. Brown, should enjoy his latest picture, ‘‘Fit for. a King,” which, heads the programme at’ the King's. This time he is a newspaper correspondent, who wins his colleagues’ admiration with a sensational “scoop.’/ A of jewel thieves operating on a trans-Atlantic liner. “Dangerously Yours.” the associate feature, features -Cesar Romero. “Forty'Naughty Girls” and "Danger Patrol.” •'Forty Naughty Girls,” with Zasu Pitts anti-* James Gleason, will begin at the King’s Theatre on Friday. The comedy pair play the detectives Hildegari.e Withers and Oscar Piper in Stuart Palmer’s famous theatre mystery. They are aided and abetted by George Shelley and Joan Woodbury. “The Danger Patrol, starring John Beal, Harry Carey and Sally Eilers, will be the second attraction. “Oh, Mr. Porter!” And “Outlaws Of The Orient” At De Luxe "Oh, Mr. Porter!” the hilarious new Will Hay starring vehicle which is at tne De Luxe Theatre, presents this popular comedian in his most brilliant. screen role. The associate feature will be a drama of the East, "Outlaws ot the Orient,” starring Jack Holt. An added attraction will be the yodelling cowboy, Jack Carter. “The Mutiny of the Elsinore. ’ “The Mutiny of the Elsinore,” Jack London’s mighty dramatic novel transferred to the screen, will begin at tne Ue Luxe Theatre on Friday. The second attraction will be “Carnival Queen, starring Robert Wilcox and Dorothea Kent. George Arliss In “Dr. Syn” At Plaza Theatre The story of "Dr. Syn,” George Arliss's new starring film at the Plaza, is full of action. It deals with the smuggling exploits of a well-known Kentish fishing village more than a hundred years ago; it has humour, tension, and excitement, and shows Arliss in a completely new type of role. 'The story was written by Russell Thorndike, whose novel of this name was a best seller. Pretty nineteen-year-old Margaret Lockwood, who appears iis George Arliss’s daughter, is looked upon as one -of Britain’s greatest discoveries. “Sanders Of The River” Returns To The New Paramount

Paul Robeson, Leslie Banks and Nina May McKinney are starred in ‘‘Sanders of the River,” which is now at the New Paramount. Spectacular scenes of African rivers and native life, songs by Robeson in an ideal setting, and a powerful character study by Leslie Banks are features of the .picture, which hag been

enthusiastically received wherever it has been shown. Paul Robeson gives a picturesque portrayal of Bosambo, the native chief. “Stella Dallas.” Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles and Anne Shirley appear in “Stella Dallas, which begins at the New Paramount Theatre on Friday. It is a dramatic story of a woman who marries above her station, who cannot possibly fit in with her new circumstances, but who in the end makes a great sacrifice for the sake of her daughter Spy Drama Now At The State Theatre The State Theatre’s present attraction, “Lancer Spy,” starring George Sanders and Dolores Del Rio, has risen above the majority of spy dramas. The secrecies of war, the official intrigues, and the magnitude of the demand made upon the indJvidual, have been deftly woven into a film which, simple in story, is deep in the quality of its presentation. “Return of tlie Scarlet Pimpernel." A young British actor makes a sensational film debut in "The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel,” a new London Filins’ production, which begins at the State Theatre on Friday. He is Barry K. Barnes, who han the unenviable task ot portraying Sir Percy Blakeney, a role brilliantly created on the screen by Leslie Howard. Barnes puts up a magnificent performance, and there is no doubt that he is a discovery of first-class importance. Only 28 years of age, Barnes has the technique of a man twice as old. The film, as the title implies, is a further chapter in the adventures of the man who struck terror into the hearts of men of terror —“that demned elusive Pimpernel.” And this sequel is even more thrilling than the excellent Howard version. Sophie Stewart plays opposite Barnes.