PARAMOUNT THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 229, 22 June 1940, Page 7

PARAMOUNT THEATRE

Added to two good feature films now showing at the Paramount Theatre is an up-to-date and informative newsreel which shows in detail all the happenings on the front of Avar in Europe and England.

The main feature film, "Return to Yesterday,” marks tlie welcome 19-10 appearance of that polished and popular English star, Clive Brook. Brook takes the part of Uobert Alaine, an ageing and bored actor who has graduated from out-at-elbows stock-companies, enacting plays on seaside piers and country towns, to being the screen idol of millions.

Returning to England after 20 years of life in America, Maine, on a sudden impulse, stops off at Torracombe, the scene of his first: struggles, as a young actor. Maine, who has turned into an embittered, cynical mail whose success has brought him only unhappiness, here tries to recapture some of the excitement and happiness of his lost youth. He goes back to his old boardinghouse and meets a small repertory company who are in great need of a leading man. Unaware of Alaine's actual identity, they offer him the part when they find that he "reads quite well.” Though his contract with the film company forbids his participation iu any other form of entertainment, Alaine accepts the part, and, incidentally, falls iu love with the leading lady (Anna Lee), who is engaged to the callow but very earnest: young playwright,- Peter Thropp (David Tree). The girl finds out who the new actor is, and, curried away liy her admiration of his art and flattered by his attentions, consents to return to America with him, even though she knows that he is ttnhappijy married to a wile who refuses divorce. Tliis drastic step is frustrated by the “stage mother” (Dame Altiy \\ bitty), and in file long run Maine does a "David Garrick act” and sacrifices his own personal happiness to the girl's future.

"Return to Yesterday" is well acted, well staged, and has an unusual and interesting theme. Garry .Marsh has a small part, which he plays with bis usual skill anil good humour.

The other feature. "Double Alibi,” is a good murder mystery, spiced with comedy, which holds the attention from start to finish, and which provides t: truly unpredictable murderer. Wayne Morris plays the inuii who is hunted by the police, Margaret Lindsay, the girl .'^ ie I”ece, and Roscoe Kurus, the "wise-guy" photographer who provides the comedy.