ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 109, 1 February 1940, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

State Theatre Programme Reviewed “The Frontier Marshal,” now screening at the State Theatre, is an exciting and well-produced drama of lhe West, lhe story centres on lhe finding of silver in Tombstone in .1877, and tiie subsequent springing up of a mushroom township which beegme almost overnight a perfect hotbed of vice ami misrule. Randolph Scott ably plays the role ol Wyatt Earp, a name certainly not unknown in tiie history of early American colonization. Earp undertakes ■ the Herculean task of converting the stables of Tombstone into something resembling a civilized community. On his first day on duty as marshal he meets Doc. Halliday (Cesar Romero). Doc. is whispered about as a killer, and whenever be enters a barroom men stop their play and reach for their guns. But Doc. is a good fellow at heart, and his disregard for life and property arises from his suffering from an incurable disease whicli lias ruined a promising career and which has driven him away from Hie woman he loves and the hope of a happy home. Nancy Kelly takes the part of the Doc.’s sweetheart, who Ims followed him throughout the country and finally finds him in Tombstone. She pleads with him to live a normal life again, but he is too embittered to think of it, and she is on the point of leaving town when, in a street brawl, a young boy is badly wounded. She wan,ages to persuade the doctor to resume bis old profession in an effort to S_ave the boy’s life. This is a tense scene, very well directed and acted in almost complete silence, with the suspense broken only by the occasional orders from the doctor to hig assistants. The operation is successful, and it appears that Sarah lias gained her point. As they go toward the door she asks the doctor if it is not better to save life thau to waste it, and he is nodding in agreement when a shot rings out and he falls. It is then Wyatt Earp’s duty to avenge his friend, and this he does jji an exciting exchange of gunfire witli the gang of outlaws who are determined that law and order shall not come to Tombstone.

The picture is very good of its type. All the characters are well played, and Binnie Barnes requires n special meed of praise for her portrayal of (lie hardboiled dance-hall girl who is also in love with the doctor. A small part which comes into tiie story and whicli should prove of special interest to people whose memory of the old-time music halls is unimpaired, is the appearance of Eddie Foy, jun.. who takes the part of Eddie Foy. Eddie Foy is a very well-known comedian on the old vaudeville stage, and in a scene in this film his son actually does one of his father's lauded acts.

“Frontier Marshal” has all the ingredients of a good Western, with that little addition of characterization and acting that, lifts it well out of the ordinary rut. "TJie Mind of Mr. Reeder,” on the same programme, features that delightful comedian and actor. Will Fyffe, and tells another story of Mr. Roeder’s adventures with crooks and adventurers. The theme here is the efforts of a gang of counterfeiters to distribute "slush” on the unsuspecting public, and of Mr. Reeder's methods of combating it.

De Luxe Theatre Akim Tamiroff, fine character'actor, is the leading player in "The Magnificent Fraud,” the main attraction at the De Luxe Theatre. He plays a French actin' who, having evaded the police for seven years because of a murder he has committed, is arrested in a South American town. Before he can be returned to France, the popular President of tiie State, whose palace is in the town, is injured by an incendiary bomb. The President's aide-de-camp, anxious that news about tiie President should appear proved incorrect and that a 10.000-dull'ir loan should be completed, demands the surrender of the actor, known as “The Man With the Hundred Faces.” The actor is to impersonate the' president. A merry story of college life in America, “Million-Dollar Legs” is tiie associate attraction. The patron of the college is u millionaire who has decided ideas on how the college should be run. One of his foibles is a dislike to athletics. King’s Theatre Opening iu the Berekendacl Institute, nursing home in Brussels, which Nurse Edith Cavell managed before and for some time during the Great War, "Nurse Edith Cavell" will end a season at the King’s Theatre today. _ When the soldier son of a dear friend of Nurse Cavell is captured by the Germans, escapes and takes refuge in the institute, the mother pleads with Nurse Cavell to a,id him to Hee to neutral Holland — which she does.

From this human gesture an idea is born, fostered by tiie intrepid nurse and three close women friends. ' Before long hundreds of fugitive civilians and convalescent soldiers 'are being spirited across tiie Dutch border, much to the consternation of counter-espionage operatives. But tiie day of reckoning is inevitable, and when it conies Nurse Cavell and her laith'ful accomplices arc arreslcd, nml brought to trial before a Prussian military court. Thc astounding decision of that august tribunal is history, as well as its tcrritlic repercussions among all nations. Anna Neagle’s brilliant portrayal of Nurse Cavell is eoinplcniented by outstanding characterizations from tin: strong supporting cast. Especially noteworthy is the work of Edna May Oliver, as a Belgian Countess; May Robson, as a pastry cook whose son is befriended by the famous nurse; Zasu Pitts, as a Largewoman who helps to smuggle the fugitives out of tiie country ; George Sanders, as head of the German counterespionage service, and H. B. Warner, as Secretary of tiie American Legation. Plaza Theatre Particular interest is given to the entertaining modern romance this week at the Pinza Theatre, "Hotel For Women,,” by an unusual setting and tbe bright acting a large cast of accomplished players ■ i • Dealing in dilightful manner with tee social life of a large hotel which caters exclnsivelv for women, this pictnie has as its lending player Elsa Maxwell, well known throughout the United Stales for the lavish entertainments given under her charge. She acts as a directive force Io the production,’and adds points Io its enjoyable plot by her witty ’comments and experienced generalizations on tin 1 many unexpected situations. Other players are Linda Darnell, a new actress of great ability, Jean Rogers, Ann Sol hern. James Ellison, JoLin Halliday. Lynn Bari. June Gale, Joyce Compton, Katherine Aldridge. Amu Dinehart, and Sidney Bliickiuer. One memorable highlight ol "Hotel lor Women” is (be song, "Whistle a Little Melody.” written by Elsa Maxwell and sung liv her Io her own iiceoiiipaiiimenl ns a feature of the typical Maxwell parly she gives in lhe course of the story.

St, Janies Theatre Revolving around “Ginger Ted, ’ an English remittance man and beachcomber who is continually making a public nuisance of himself on a small island in the Dutch Miilav. "The Beachcomber,” bused mi a storv by W. Somerset Maugham, is being shown at tile St.’Janies Theatre. "Ginger Ted's" drunken escapades are a constant source of irritation to Miss Jones, the missionary, and her brother, Dr. Jones, whose efforts <o civilize the natives are blocked by "Ginger Ted” at every turn. Clmrles Laughton further enhances Ins acting reputation as “Ginger Ted,” and Elsa Lanehcsler's work as Miss Jones ;s delicately subtle. Majestic Theatre '■Goodbye. .Mr. t'hips,’ based on James Hillon’s 'best-selling ‘ novel of the same Illi is being received with warm enihusinsm nt the Majestic 1 heiitre. Gooilhie. Mr. Chips’’ is the story of a kimll.v sc'-hmdnmsler who passes almost his entire life teaching—nml learning—in a great

school for boys. His work, ideals, romance, marriage, and tragedy of his w ~*? death, his activities during the World War, are played over a period of 60 years., during which lie watches changing generations of boys grow up and send him their sons.

Regent Theatre Easily tiie most unusual 11 Im ol recent months, and one of the most licnrt-warni-ing and touching. "On Borrowed ’lime, a Melro-Goldwyn Mayer production, wi.l lie released at the Regent Theatre to-day. It has every kind of laughter, from the heartiest roar to lhe most delightful chuckle; and it has tears and suspense, and an inspiritional lift that will be well remembered by audiences.

Simply. "On Borrowed lime is the story of an old grandfather who desperately tights Death Io prevent, the grandson he admires from falling into the hands of an unscrupulous aunt. Lionel Barrymore, as the grandlather, gives a gem of a characterization, and be is surrounded by an exceptional cast, tn tiie role of the mysterious stranger. Air. Brink, personification of Death, is Sir Cedric Hardwicke, noted British stage aud screen personality. The role of Pud. the grandson, falls Io eight-year-old Bolls Watson, most talked of youngster at present iu Hollywood plays. Beulah Bondi, the devoted grandmother, Eilv llaylon plays the liyprotical Aunt Demetria, Merkel the warmly human maid. Marcia. Nat Pendleton the asylum guard, Henry Travers, the Grandpa Vunderhof iu the stage version of “You Can't Take It With You,” Dr. Evans, Grant Mitchell Pilbeam the lawyer, Charles Waldron the Rev. Murdock, lan Wolfe, Charlie Wentworth, church organist, Phillip Terry the young law clerk, James Burke the sheriff, and Truman Bradley, James Northrup.

Tudor Theatre Funiluinentally a documentary record of the exploits of the Royal Air Force in the first month of the present war and the war effort of the British people, Alexander Korda's dramatic production. “’lhe Lion Has 'Wings.” is the main attraction at the Tudor Theatre. About a scientist who brings himself buck from the dead. “The Man They Could Not Hang” is the associate attraction.