ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 207, 30 May 1938, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

Mark Twain Classic At State Theatre I David O. Selznick’e inspired teclinicvlour production “The Adventures of T<mi Sawyer” is now in its second week at the State Theatre. Mark Twain a very human comedy is a story written lor adults and produced for adults. even though it is about children. As this heart-warning drama unfolds on the screen, audiences will alternately chuckle at the adventures and escapades of the irrepressible Tom and his cronies, laugh at the pranks that plagued Aunt Polly and the neighbours, thrill to the drama of Inju Joe and Aluff Potter, glow with the young romance of Tom and Becky Thatcher, gasp at their light for life in the bat-infested cave, and grow misty-eyed as the picture awakens poignant memories of the past and makes them re-live similar scenes in their own lives. “In Ohl Chicago.” To filmgoers generally. "In Old Chicago,” which begins at the State Theatre on Friday, is notable as a tremendously stirring spectacle on a scale rarely attempted in Hollywood. But to thousands of the more discerning, this production is also interesting for an additional reason in that it records a milestone in the film career of Alice Brady. For nearly four years, until she became Mrs. O'Leary of “In Old Chicago,” this famous actress has always appeared in films as the tluttery woman of wealth whose antics were always good for spontaneous laughter from the audience. Casting heads and producers, sensing her flair for the comic, seldom permitted her any other roles. They forgot, it seems, that she had a long and arresting history on the stage as a dramatic actress, the role of Mrs. O’Leary gave Alice Brady an opportunity once again to demonstrate her unquestioned dramatic talents, and she took full advantage of it.

“Adventures Of Marco Polo” At Plaza Theatre

“The Adventures of Alarco Polo,” now showing at the Plaza Theatre, is a rollicking story of the- adventures of a bold A’enetian traveller at the Court of Kubla Khan, with Gary Cooper in- the principal role. It is seven centuries since Alarco Polo, aptly described as the first commercial traveller, set out from his native Venice to negotiate treaties between his own great trading nations and the mighty empires of the East. It took him three years of hard travel, through unknown difficulties and dangers, before he was able to present his letter to the Emperor at his Court in Kambalu, Peiping. lie remained in the Khan's service for 17 years, and finally left as his ambassador to the Shah of Persia; The life of such a man needs little false colour added to it. The film shows, among other things, how the /Venetian first, mot such diverse substance as spaghetti, coal, and gunpowder, and how he treasured such. -a great discovery which would change wifys of life in the AVestern world. Grace Moore In “I’ll Take Romance” At Regejnt Theatre The star of “One Night of Love,” Grace Aloore, is associated with Melvyn Douglas in “I’ll Take Romance,” now showing at the Regent Theatre. The glorious voice of Grace Aloore is heard in some glamorous songs, while the story is a most entertaining and satisfying one. The story deals with the attempts of James Guthrie (Melvyn Douglas), agent of the Buenos Aires opera, to persuade Elsa Terry (Grace Moore) to fulfil her contract obligations, obligations she had decided to renounce by singing at Paris. But Guthrie’s task becomes difficult when Helen AVestley, Elsa’s guardian, refuses to countenance the Buenos Aires proposition. Aud in spite of presents of flowers, dogs, books and what not, Guthrie is unable to secure an introduction to put his case. But it is the singing which makes the production outstanding and even when she descends to “She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain,” old-time hill-billy favourite,.Alls? Aloore has the power of entrancing with her voice. Her duet with Frank Forest in an aria from “Aladame Butterfly” is magnificent, while many other delightful numbers are to be heard.

“Arsene Lupin Returns” At Majestic Theatre Starring William Warren, Melvyn Douglas, and Virginia Bruce, “Arseue Lupin Returns,” now showing at the Majestic Theatre, is a thrilling drama of a gentleman crook. One of the screen’s most fascinating criminals iu the earlier days, Arsene Lupin has been cleverly reincarnated by Melvyn Douglas, the story being cleverly portrayed and full of excitement.

Arseno Lupin is the reformed jewelthief whose past threatens to catch up with him. Having settled down for the virtuous and law-abiding life of a gentleman farmer on a pleasant French estate, with the prospect of marriage to Virginia Bruce not far distant, he naturally is disconcerted to find that his name is being taken in vain by an unknown criminal. America is the first setting for the bogus Lupin’s activities, but his attempt to steal a huge emerald (the property of Lupin’s future father-in-law), is rewarded only with a paste imitation. This, however, brings a very able if somewhat self-opinionated American detective (Warren Williams) on the trail, and his inquiries become somewhat troublesome to the real Lupin. The concluding scenes contain two murders, and the solution of the whole affair leads to a stirring climax. “The Firefly.” “The Firefly,” which will begin on Friday at the Majestic Theatre, is the combination of music and drama for which the public has been waiting. The story makes ijo sacrifice for music. Yet, in the interesting fashion of life itself, the melody rings in at opportune moments. Here is Jeanette MacDonald more romantic and far more talented than ever before. Here, too, is Allan Jones, brilliant young tenor, who has accomplished in “The Firefly” what Nelson Eddy did in “Naughty Marrietta.” Warren William, a star of his own right, gives a picturesque character to the screen in the characterisation of Major de Rougemont, staff aide of Napoleon, who also loves “The Firefly.” Others in the cast are Billy Gilbert, Henry Daniell, .Douglas Dumbrille, Leonard Penn, Tom Rutherford, Belle Mitchell, George Zucco, Corbett Morris and. Alatthew Boulton. Double Star Programme At De Luxe Theatre Sumatra is the setting for Universal's melodrama of self-sacrifice, “The Crime of Dr. Hallett,” which heads the new programme at the De Luxe Theatre, with Ralph BellamJ, who figured prominently in “The Awful Truth.” in the principal role of Dr. Hallett, the doctor seeking a cure for "red fever” .in Sumatra. When his young assistant (King) loses his life, Dr. Hallett holds himself responsible and in order that the dead man may reap the honour for discovering the antidote to the fever, he takes the dead man’s name—-and money—mid carries on the research. In brief, his “crime” is forgery with the higlii'r't possible motives. Those motives are misconstrued, however, by the dead man’s wife when she unexpectedly comes to Sumatra. Also screening is “She Married An Artist,” an amusing comedy. “Wings Over Africa." "Wings Over Africa” and “No Time to Marry” are the new features coming to the De Luxe Theatre on Friday. “The Bad Alan Of Brimstone” At St. James Theatre The powerful “bad man” portrayal of Wallace Beery, the uniformly fine work of such stellar supporting players as Virginia Bruce, Dennis O’Keefe, Joseph Calleia, Lewis Stone, Guy Kibbec, and

Bruce Cabot, and the distinguished direction of J. AValter Ruben, have combined to bring to the screen an absorbing drama in “The Bad Alan of Brimstone.” which is now in its second week at the St, James Theatre. Recapturing the spirited and lawless era of the old frontier days of the AVest of the ’eighties, the new picture offers a thrilling panorama of stagecoach travel, gold rush hysteria, crooked politics, and the rule of the trigger. Packed with action from start to finish, the colourful story reveals how law and order came, to the town of .Brimstone when desperadoes such as "Trigger” Bill, portrayed by Beery, ruled with an iron hand. "Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry.” Judy Garland and Sophie Tucker, who rode to triumph together in “Broadway, Melody of 1938,” Alickey Rooney, in the •/almost grown up” role of' an American jockey, and little Ronald Sinclair, British boy actor discovery, form an unusual and interesting quartet in “Thoroughbreds Don't Cry,” which comes to the St. James Theatre on Friday. It is the com-edy-drama of the friendship of two boys, a girl, and a boardinghouse-keeper, played against the background of races, thoroughbred horses and the American turf. “The Thin Man” Returns To New Opera House One of the greatest film successes of recent years, reissued in to many requests, “The Thin Alan,” is - now showing at the New Opera Hottse.'J" It is inconsequential comedy, with William Powell and Alyrna Loy, the stars, at their best. The east includes the famous terrier, “Asta,” seen more recently as “Air. Smith” in ‘The Awful Truth.” “The Thin Alan” is at once brilliaiit comedy and stirring mystery drama. The director. AA'. S. A'an Dyke, lias made it a masterpiece of film technique and the action moves swiftly mid without gaps in the sequence. Powell plays the part of Nick, a retired detective, ami Alyrna Loy that of his wife, his jolly companion mid bis real friend. The domestic fun’and happiness interpreted by these two bubbling up through nil the tensest: situations is a genuine joy. Aluureen O’Sullivan is in a prominent supporting part. “Trader Horn.” “Trader Horn, which will begin its AA T ellington season on Friday, will be screened at the Opera House. “Three Smart Girls” Screening At New Paramount Deanna Durbin is now at the New Paramount Theatre iu a special return season of the picture that made her famous, “Three Smart Girls.” Possessing a lyric soprano voice that electrifies all who hear it. Deanna makes her movie debut in one of the gayest comedydramas ever to come out of Hollywood. It deals'with the madcap adventures of three lovely daughters of a New York milionaire who join in a conspiracy to break up their father's romance with a fortune-hunting beauty. “Double Danger” And “Night. Spot” At King’s Theatre Two excellent pictures, “Double Danger” mid “Night Spot” are the principal attractions at the King’s Theatre, both dealing with the underworld. Preston Foster plays the leading role in “Double Danger,” a story in which the old use of setting a thief to catch a thief is followed. The famous Konger diamonds are stojen by one pair, who are in turn robbed by the other, and then the commissioner of police invites both pairs of thieves to his home for the week-end. and sets a trap which has an unusual sequel. The second feature, "Night Spot.” is u gangster picture which runs true to type. There is u night club, u beautiful dancer who falls in love with the detective who joins the club orchestra to get “inside information,'' mid an exciting finish with gun play on the parapet of a New York building. Tavo Splendid Pictures At Tudor Theatre Devid O. Selzniek, outstanding producer of successful pictures, has achieved another big hit with "Nothing Sacred,” starring Carole Lombard and Fredric March, now at the Tudor Theatre. “Nothing Sacred” is a hilarious dramatisation of life in New York City, just as Selznick s previous film. “A Star is Born,” dramatised the life in Hollywood so successfully., The second feature is “That I Alay Live,” with Rochelle Hudson and Robert Kent.