PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20312, 22 October 1929, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE ‘ Behind That Curtain,’ which heads the current programme at the Empire Theatre, is an absorbing melodrama which combines stage technique with that of the silent screen. It is neither a silent film, with the addition of a dialogue, nor a photographed stage play, but a talkie displaying a technique of its own. The individual qcting reaches a particularly high level, and the quality and variety of the settings are admirable. Lois Moran is one of tiro leading players. She has a difficult role, yet comes through the ordeal with dying colours, and admirably suggests a loyal English girl. Warner Baxter and Philip Strange are both good, but the outstanding performance, however, comes from Gilbert Emery as the Scotland Yard official, Sir Frederick Bruce. Ho is true to typo in every characteristic, and gives a most fascinating interpretation. Of an appealing selection of supporting features the fascinating speech delivered by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stands out as an unusual offering. STRAND By means of special camera attachments and lights invented at the Columbia Pictures studios ui Hollywood, it was possible to film all the underwater action in ' Submarine,’ the special production - now at the Strand Theatre, under water. A highly-sensi-tivo lens enables the film to register objects moving at a depth of ,150 ft under the surface of the sea The nature of ‘ Submarine ’ made it impos-

siblo to use miniatures or do the work in a tank. One of the big thrills shows the sinking of a .submarine and the futile attempt on the part of several clivers to go down to it. Jack Holt not only succeeds in reaching the depth, but attaches the oxygen lines to the disabled ship. Another sequence shows Holt attaching depth bombs and buoys to a sunken craft in a tropical port. Dorothy Revicr and Ralph Graves arc featured in support of Holt. The picture is decidedly unusual, and patrons are assured good entertainment. Talkie •‘shorts" form the supporting bill. OCTAGON Two popular young players. Alary Brian and Richard Alien, have the leading roles in Raramount’s latest alltalking picture of thrills and romance which is now showing at the Octagon Theatre. Alary Brian’s voice is hoard for the first time from the screen singing 1 Celia,’ the song written especially for her. The picture deals with the adventures of two young lovers. The boy goes to New York, and when the girl follows him there she finds that ho has yielded to the charms of a wealthy society woman. Through this woman’s influence ho has made a great success. The girl’s efforts to reclaim him are fruitless until, in an exciting incident, another lover of the society woman wounds the boy. Badanova, the Moscow Art Theatre prima donna, who has had a quick rise to fame on the American screen, lias the role of the wealthy society woman. Inimitable humorous dialogues are introduced by Harry Green, of vaudeville fame, and the irresistible Jack Oakie. The rest of the cast includes some of the best character artists in Hollywood. The second attraction is a part dialogue comedy entitled ‘ Clear the Decks,’ which stars Reginald Denny.

: The story concerns the humorous ad- ; ventures of a young society man who i takes a sea trip in , the place of a I friend, using the friend's identity and j passport. Just when he has fallen in i love with a fellow passenger he finds > he is supposed to he demented, and ; has a strict male nurse who'makes him! I go to bod, and who feeds him nothing j I but goat’s milk j In addition there is an excellent supi porting programme. I I REGENT A dramatic mystery film, 1 btrange Cargo.’ heads the double-feature talkie programme now at the Regent Theatre Actors from the .London stage arc well represented in the cast, and coiises Cjiiontly the dialogue is particularly . good. The, action takes place at; sea, i and the story deals with a mysterious murder on hoard the pleasure yacht of Sir Richard Barclay. In addition to ■ the actual murder the actors and audience are mystified by a succession ot strange happenings. A stowaway, who suddenly appears before a 'toward, adds to the excitement by a threat to kill him if Ins presence becomes known. With the inexplicable disappearance of Barclay and his subsequent murder the interest is raised to a high pitch before the murderer is discovered. The principal roles are capably taken by Lee Patrick, Juno Nash, George Bnrraud, Frank He ichor, Claude King, and Warner Richmond. Hundreds of soldiers in the cantonments; scores of chorus girls in baefcstage scenes. Such is the variety of atmospheric background in ‘The ShopAngel,’ in which Nancy Carroll and Gary Cooper are co-fcatured. This ■ Paramount part-talking picture is the second picture. * The Shopworn Angel ’ is the story of a girl imbued with the ; ■ Broadway gold-digging complex, and held by the glittering life of the stage,

who falls in love with a shy. retiring hoy from the country while on his way to the battlefields, of Fiance. Their hive is mutual, hut the girl realises that the hoy loves her for what lie thinks she is and what she knows she is not. The climax Is an unexpected j one. I GRAND AND PLAZA A new Reginald Denny comedy is now showing at the Grand and Plaza Theatres, and it is the most hilarious of that comedian’s long list, of screen farce comedies. ‘His Lucky Day’ is the title of the picture, in which Denny plays the role of a young real estate dealer who tries to sell two adjoining mansions to hi>, sweetheart’s, father. The old man is to live in one of them. The other is for—well, give a guess, instead the prospective father-in-law only rents one of the houses. A gang of society crooks rent the other. Then the trouble begins, especially when the crooks single out; their wealthy neighbour for their depredations, with Denny catching Hail Columbia Irani all sides. But the girl, played by pretty Lo Rayno Du Val, is worth fighting for. so Benny pilches in, bringing the crooks to justice, saving the girl, and by a clever twist jockeying her father into the purchase of the twin homes. ‘The Inseparables.' the story of the tempestuous loves of two men and two women, starring Annette Benson, is the other attraction. EVERYBODY’S ‘ Protection ’ at, Everybody’s Theatre deals with a battle waged by a squarejawed managing-editor of a powerful newspaper against the villains of the peace. The sub-machino gun plays a very important part in working out the theme of ‘Protection.’ ‘The

Escape/ the second attraction, is another story, with its motives based on the squalor of tire underworld. KING EDWARD Colleen Moore, the petite star of many successful .productions, has an admirably .suitable role in ‘ Synthetic Sin •’ at the King Edward Theatre. This film has many fascinating features, and affords excellent entertainment to all tastes. Another good Him, entitled ‘The Escape,’ is also showing. In lids film William Russell and Virginia V alii have the featured roles.