PARAMOUNT THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 298, 13 September 1941, Page 12

PARAMOUNT THEATRE

The new programme at the Paramount Theatre is made unusually topical by the presentation of a news film received by airmail which shows incidents in Russia within recent weeks. Scenes in the mobilization of the Russian Army and of Russian industry are included, and there are pictures not only of Stalin but also of tnose three generals who are the men of the hour, Marshals Voroshilov, Timoshenko and Budenny, Also shown in support of the feature, “City for Conquest,” is a Warner Brothers featurette, “Remember When,” a nigger minstrel show staged in a beer club of the._gay nineties. Another item in this unusually strong supporting programme is "The Singing Dude,” ,a technicolour film combining a rodeo and a musical revue. If any one personality can be said to typify any one form of art, s-urely Jimmy Cagney typifies the film. This dynamic actor's verve and individuality has never been better shown than in his latest film. "City of Conquest.’’ The “city” is New Yorn, and those who seek to conquer it are its seven million people. Out of the millions the film has chosen a small group of characters to individualize the theme, and of this group young Danny Kenny (Jimmy Cagney) is the leading spirit. He is a blithe and golden-hearted youth who never likes to fight unless he has something to fight for. He has no ambition save a desire to be happy iu a fairly humdrum existence, and the one love of his life is Peggy Nash, the girl who grew up with him in the New York slums, and whose dancing feet will not let her rest or accept .the easy going philosophy which Danny finds so comforting. Though Peggy loves Danny, she is fired with the ambition to be a dancer and to see hpr name bn the lights of Broadway. While at a restaurant one night she meets a professional dancer, who immediately sees her possibilities and who finally wins her away from Jimmy and her old friends. In order to salvage his pride and perhaps to keep up with Peggy ou her way to fame. Jimmy also becomes a “big shot” in another profession, but disaster befalls him on the eve of his biggest triumph. From then on he has to take a ba.ck seat and watch his youngey brother, a musician, make his way. Iu the meantime Peggy has not found everything to her liking. In the end a reconciliation brings peace and happiness to the couple, but neither achieve it in quite th® way planned.

The thread of the story is held in the hands, or rather the mouth, of a garrulous old-timer (Frank Craven) who interprets the moods of the city and its ways in an original aud amusing manner. Ann Sheridan plays the part ot Peggy in a much “de-oomphed” manner which brings out her real talent for acting and does not rely solely ou glamour and tine clothes for her appeal. Others in the cast are Donald Crisp, 'Frank McHugh, Blanche Yurka. Thurston Hall and Joyce Compton. Anatole Litvak directed the film.