FILM AND SIREN

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LXI, Issue 98, 10 December 1940, Page 4

FILM AND SIREN

AIR RAID COINCIDENCES AT

CINEMAS

NEW GAME FOR LONDONERS

(From The Guardian's London Correspondent)

LONDON, September 28

Most of London's theatres are closed, but cinemas are still doing good business. Audiences are told when an air-raid warning has sounded (the film stops for a few moments for the manager to make the announcement) but few people leave their seats. "

A new game for these occasions has become popular-—the matching of film dialogue with sirens. Some surprising and amusing coincidences have been noted. Here are a few:—

One of those "Crime Does Not Pay" films was being shown and the alarm sounded just as the police were bursting into a club. The owner of the club turned to' his men and exclaimed, "It's a raid, boys!" • - '■'■

The sirens went woo-wbo during "Cafe Hostess" and the hero turned to the villain and said, "Thanks for the warning."

'"Charley's Aunt" was half over when the warning announcement was made. Arthur Askey declared from the screen: "But the showmust go on!" . ■".'

During "Remember?" Biilie Burke says "They'll be here any moment now. Wait for my signal." At one performance the sirens went just then.

In "Night Train to Munich," the heroine (Margaret Lockwobd) goes to a seaside resort looking for a certain Gus Bennett. She had gat to that point in the film when it was being shown at _ one cinema when the warning went. -On resumption, a character in the film said to the girl, "Gus Bennett, lady? Just look for a man with a voice like a warbling siren."

Here are a few more remarks made by screen characters at the sounding of the alarm: MA Smith Goes to Washington," James Stewart: "This must be the night shift coming on.'* "Risky Business," George Murphy's secretary; "It's that man again." "The Blue Bird," Shirley Temple: "I am not afraid." "Swahee River"; Man in restaurant: "Do you know there's a war on?" '' ■ \ Bombs and guns were banging" outside one 1 cinema when Diana Wynward, the frightened wife of "Gaslight" looked up nervously; and said, "I can hear something tipthere." Bombs were falling on the roof of a Chinese hospital in "Disputed Passage" when the manager told the audience that the sirens had just sounded. There have been "All Clear" coin v cidences, too. One of the best hap-' pened at where "Swanee River" was being shown. The all. clear was announced and to the reassuring accompaniment of the sirens outside the audience heard Andrea -• Leeds turn to Don Ameche (who was playing a violin) and say "I like the sound of that."