ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 153, 25 March 1938, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

St. Janies Theatre Showing “London By Night” 'Three established stage players win new honours on the screen in Mctro- . Goldwyu-Mayer's mystery picture, “London By Night.” which opens to-day at the St.' James 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 production 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 aro uniformly good in their respective parts. They include Virginia Field, George Zueeo, Montague Love and Eddie Quillan. "London By Night” was adapted from the stage success, “The Umbrella Man,” by Will Seott, and served as the first directorial vehicle for William Thiele, noted Continental director, who discovered Lilian Harvey, Lil Dagover, and others. He is under contract to M.-G.-M., ami his first effort indicates that he will join the ranks of the foremost directors there. Sam Zimbalist, one of Hollywood's youngest executives, was the producer. "London By Night” is a baffling mystery drama with a London background that includes in its settings a complete community built around a park, a public drinking house, a lavishly-furuished home of an English peer, and a tobaeeguist’s shop. Second Week Of “Ever Since Eve” At Regent Theatre Marion Davies has the leading feminine role in "Ever Since Eve,” which begins ito second week to-day at the Regent. Marion shares honours with Robert Montgomery. She is supported by such tried and capable comedians as Frank McHugh, Patsy Kelly, Louise 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. As the story opens, Miss Davies is a stenographer who is pestered to,death because of her good looks by various employers. I'o escape, Jbe adopts a homely disguise of dark wig and dark horn-rimmed glasses. Boh Montgomery is a novelist who cannot . keep his mind on his work because he is continually searching for lovely blondes. Just now he needs a secretary, and Marion is wished upon him by his hardbeaded woman publisher. Marion shares an apartment with Patsy Kelly. An errand takes Montgomery there one evening, and Marion, not in disguise* opens tlie door. He fails to recognise her, but is entranced with her loveliness. “Dr. Syn” Continues At Plaza Theatre Breaking away from his customary type of role, George Arliss emerges as a new personality in “Dr. Syn,” which is now in its second week at the Plaza Theatre. It is as no world-famed statesman, surrounded by pomp and ceremony, no stirring fanatic, that he appears, but as a shrewd, scheming, yet kindly old Kentish parson of .100 years ago. In those days tiie King’s men combed the little Kentish ports for stores of hidden brandies and wines, brought by smugglers from France to evade the duties. As the parson of the village Dr. Syn conducts a profitable business in smuggling, and as a result his iloek is endowed with more material blessings than is the ease in most of the seaside villages. Among the lovable village characters are the little serving girl in the inn, played by Margaret Lockwood, who is in love with the squire's handsome son, the squire himself, a somewhat crotchety old gentleman with a streak of humour, the village doctor, coffin-maker, school teacher, and many others. Majestic Theatre Screens “Big City” More than ordinary originality has gone iuto the making of the picture "Big City,” which begins to-day at the Majestic Theatre, with Luise Rainer and Spencer Tracy eo-starred. There is no pretence at. picturing the emotions rampant in any metropolis. Instead, the story devotes itself to the human adventure of a humble taxicab driver and his immigrant bride. The city is merely background. Miss Rainer, academy award winner for her role as Anna Held in “The Great Ziegfeld," and also for her part as O-Lan, the Chinese farm woman in “The Good Earth," retains the same human qualities that made those roles so powerful. Traey, who was the priest in “San Francisco” and the seaman in “Captains Courageous,” now becomes a hackman with the same human touch that made his previous charaeterisatioDS stand out as the most impressive in years. The story is a drama of romance and tribulation in the seething life of the city. It could he any city. As it happens, it is New York, because we recognise Jack Dempsey’s famous restaurant in the shadow of Madison Square Garden and many of the sporting fraternity who dine there. The supporting cast was carefully chosen and they achieve their respective roles effectively. Scarlet Pimpernel Story At State Theatre A young British actor makes a sensational film debut iu "The Return of the Scarlet l.’impernel,” which begins at the State Theatre to-day. He is Barry K. Barnes, who has the unenviable task of portraying Sir I’erey Blakeney, a role brilliantly created ou the screen by Leslie Howard. Despite this handicap Barnes puts up a magnificent performance and there is uo 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 the men of terror—“that deinned elusive Pimpernel.” And this sequel is even more thrilling than the excellent Howard version. Nearly everyone is familiar with the Baroness Orczy character, the English dandy who devoted his life to the rescue of innocent victims of the French Revolution. "The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel” takes up the story at the point where the identity of the Pimpernel is known to the tyrant Robespierre and his chief of police, (Jhauveliu. But even this knowledge does not prevent the audacious Sir Percy from rescuing victims from under the very shadow of the guillotine. In an effort to trap the Pimpernel, Chauvelin kidnaps the beautiful Lady Blakeney, imprisoning her in Paris. Sir I’erey follows, and greatly daring, effects her rescue, but is then himself foiled by foxy Chauvelin. With Lady Blakeney recaptured and facing execution within a few' days, Blakeney engineers a coup which, in a thrilling climax, results in the downfall of the regime of tyranny, the capture of Chauvelin, and above all. the rescue of his adored wife.

“Forty Naughty Girls” And “Danger Patrol” At King’s The murder of a Press agent in a theatre dressing-room and the even more mysterious killing of the leading man of a show in full view of the entire audience form the setting of “Forty Naughty Girls," KKO Radio’s new comedy thriller, which again brings the popular sleuthing team of Inspector Oscar Piper and his schoolmarm aide, I lildegarde Withers (James Gleason and Zasu Pitts) to the screen. It comes to the King’s Theatre to-day. With its swift action and engrossing mystery taking place within a few short hours in its backstage setting, the story is said Io be the most puzzling of all the Piper-Withers films. Packed with danger and excitement, KKO Radio's new thrill romance, “Danger Patrol," the second feature, brings Sally Eilers and John Beal to-

gether with Harry Carey in an unusual type of screen offering. The lives of the men who make and transport the world's most treacherous explosive, nitroglycerine, form the background of the story, whose plot turns on the romance between the two young people. Miss Eilers plays the daughter of Carey, an old-timer at the perilous busines of handling the dangerous liquid, and Beal a newcomer who is taken in hand by Carey to learn the tricks of the profession. Sea Story And Comedy Romance At De Lyxe Acknowledged by admirers of Jack London to be his most exciting and, popular story, “The Mutiny of the Elsinore, which commences to-day at the De Luxe Theatre, tells of life aboard a windjammer, of the hardships and dangers that sailors on these romantic vesse.s have to face. A t'ast-movingi eomedyromiince played against the colourful background of a big tent ls th ,® theme of Universal’s “Carnival Queen, the associate feature. The yodelling cowboy, Jack Carter, will appear in the stage to-day and to-morrow. “Stella Dallas” Showing At New Paramount To those who appreciate first-class drama “Stella Dallas, ’" showing nt the New Paramount 'Theatre, has an instant appeal. At least five people in the cast distinguish themselves with outstanding performances. The first of these is Barbara Stanwyck in the title role. In the opposite role, that of Stephen Dallas. John Boles scores It triumph of restrained and convincing acting. As Ed Alunn, the drunken, jovial tipster, Alan Hale shows hiniwelf at> a flue character actoi.