ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 307, 25 September 1939, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

State Theatre Two exciting and thrilling pictures are featured at the State Theatre this week. U’lie main feature, "Blind Alley,” has action right from the start, when the home of a psychiatrist is invaded by an escaped prisoner' whose record ol killings is formidable. With his seizure of the estate, all members of the household and several guests are subjected to a reign of terror. One of the compelling features of this picture is the revelation of what makes the criminal. Though bis life is in danger, the professor asks questions. The killer answers and in this verbal battle the dark story of a criminal is bared. Chester Morris' is the criminal aud Ralph Bellamy the psychiatrist. “Blind Alley” is a vivid film, with exceptional artistry. "Alissing Daughters,” the other, feature, shows the inner workings of the American Bureau of Missing Persons, that colourful and efficient section of the metropolitan police department which handles the eases of missing girls. ‘‘Return of the Cisco Kid.” Warner Baxter dons again the sombrero and silver-mounted guns of the most famous character in "The Return of the Cisco Kid,” the next attraction at the .State Theatre. A strong supporting cast includes Lynn Bari, Cesar Romero, Henry Hull, Kane Richmond, C. Henry Gordon, and Robert Barrat. Theatre Majestic Picturesque in setting, stirring in motive, authentic in details and thrilling in song, “Song of the Plains” ie in its second week at the Theatre Majestic. Nelson Eddy plays a young law graduate of the 1860’s, who battles against unscrupulous railroad interests. Other memorable portrayals are given by Lionel Barrymore, Virginia Bruce, Edward Arnold and A r ictor AlcLaglen. Eddy s songs include “Dusty Road,” “When Irish Eyes are Smiling," “Pat. Sez He,” “Where Else But Here,” “Home, Sweet Home,” “Song of the Plains,” and “Love’s Serenade.” “Ice Follies of 1939.” Next attraction at the Theatre Majestic will be “Ice Follies of 1939,” starring Joan Crawford, James Stewart, Lew Ayres, and Lewis Stone and the celebrated International Ice Follies. The film includes beautiful scenes in technicolour. St. James Theatre The succ'essful fight to prevent the spoliation of California’s famous redwood forests by big lumber interests is told in “The Valley of the Giants,” adapted from the Peter B. Kyne novel, and showing nt the St. James Theatre. Charles Bickford, Wayne Alorris and Claire Trevor are the stars. The picture has plenty of action. / Audiences will see a curious parallel between the methods employed by the exploiters of move than 30 years ago and those men who are. known today as racketeers. Qraft and corruption, legalistic trickery, and physical violence all have their part in the story, but it is the last-mentioned method that gives this picture its more thrilling moments. Plaza Theatre A professor and a waitress skip through a series of hilarious adventures in “Good Girls Go To Paris,” the bright feature at the Plaza Theatre. The story is of the affairs of a young Englishman (Melvyn Douglas), professor of Greek at a inidwestern university, who finds in the Aesop fable? the answers to the many perplexities he encounters in American life; and the escapades of a pert, blonde waitress (Joan Biondell), who has every intention of going to Paris, but whose conscience prevents her from going by the “gold-digger” route. The show is a bright one, with fun all the way. Regent Theatre Basil Rathbone, of whom it can be. said that he has never given an indifferent film performance, and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., who has his famous father’s dash and personality, are the stars in “The Sun Never Sets.” now at the Regent Theatre. The theme of the film is the traditions and the high sense of duty of the British diplomatic service. Rathbone as a veteran Gold Coast administrator, and Fairbanks as his brother, find themselves up against the problem of locating and destroying a secret wireless station which is stirring up unrest throughout the world. As the station is actually operated by the leader of a scientific expedition there are difficulties in the way of the administrators. “Four Daughters.” “Four Daughters,” from the Cosmopolitan Magazine story by Fannie Hurst will be the next attraction at the Regent Theatre. A Warner Brothers production directed by Michael Curtiz, the film stars Priscilla Lane, Rosemary Lane, Lola Lane, Gale Page, Claude Rains, John Garfield, Jeffrey Lynn, and Dick Foran. Also in. the cast arc Frank AldHugh and ALay Robson. Paramount Theatre Another of the new virile roles that Robert Taylor is now being starred in is his in “Stand Up and Fight,” now at the Paramount Theatre. The likeable auo ever-popular Wallace Beery is co-starred with Taylor. , The picture has all the elements ol the best action Westerns, including two bare-knuckle tights between its stars, a saloon brawl, a jail dynamiting, a race between train and stagecoach, a covered wagon wreck, and a series of gunfights. “The .Murder Mau,” the associate picture, shows the method by which American police arc able to block all roads leading out of a district, and to make a house-to-house canvass in that district within a few minutes of the committing of a crime. Spencer Tracy plays the lead. De Luxe Theatre Dick Powell is not a singer in his latest picture, “Hard To Get,” now at the De Luxe Theatre. Instead ho runs a combined petrol station and ear eunip. Most of the interest—as well as the complications—arises from his 'efforts to show some capitalists his plan to establish a chain of like camps. Olivia de Ha villa nd plays a spoiled heiress who orders petrol aud oil at Powell’s station, and then finds, she is without a cent, to pay for it —she is compelled to work out her bill by sweeping out and making the beds in the ten bungalows of tlie camp. The associate attraction, “The 13th Man,” is a film of murder mysteries and battles of wits. King’s Theatre The real-life story of Vernon and Irene Castle, world-famous dancing team ol 25 years ago, is portrayed by those famous dancers of today, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, in “The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle.” now showing at the Kings Theatre A feature of the film appealing to everybody is that 24 of the popular lunes of 25 years ago are featured, either as back-ground music, dance music, or as sung by the two stars. “Waitin’ for the Robert. E. Lee,” ‘‘By the Light ol the Silvery Moon.” "Missouri Waltz,” "Oh. You Beautiful Doll.” “Pretty Baby,’ "Darktown Strutters’ Ball,” and other pre-Wnr hits are revived. Tudor Theatre There are thrills, suspense and action aplenty in “The Man in the Iron Mask,” now showing at the Tudor Theatre. There are all the ingredients for satisfactory entertainment —love, war. swordplay, a king’s wickedness, and all the glamour of the France of Louis XIA’. The featured players are Joan Bennett and Louis Hayward. The second at I faction is one of those that everyone likes because it represents the life of everyday folk. The title is “Aly Wife’s Relations,” nnd the stars are the Higgins Family.

New Opera House

“Professor Matnloek,” which begins next Friday fit the New Opera House, is the inside story of Nazilaud nnd a man of medicines whoge only crime is that be is a Jew. The film shows the utter ruthlessness of the Gestapo and has been described ns "the most effective indictment of Nazi tyranny and persecution the screen has produced.”