PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20555, 6 August 1930, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

RECENT Two films of outstanding merit are included ou the programme being presented at the Regent Theatre. They are ‘ The Awful Truth ’ and ‘ The Woman Racket,’ and will be shown for the last time to-night, owing to the opening of ■ Journey’s End ’ at this theatre to-morrow afternoon. ‘.The Awful Truth ’ is a Paths picture featuring the well-known Broadway star, Ina Claire, described as the best-dressed woman on the . American stage. It is a story of a wife s pride and a husband’s jealousy, two ratal blocks to marital happiness. ‘ The Woman Racket presents a rather intriguing story of a night club entertainer who falls in love with and marries a policeman. Sickening of a domestic life, she back to the waieby of the dub. There she tails under the influence of a now proprietor, who endeavours to use her tor nis own ends in a refined gambling house. The unfortunate girl becomes involved ,in a murder, and naturally her husband, who is now a detective, is assigned to the case. The story rs very logically developed, and the denouement skilfully conceived. EMPIRE Just as one always expects, reading of a high order when one opens a Peter B. Kyno story, so also one may ex- ■ pect screen entertainment of a high order at the Empire Theatre this week, while * The Three Godfathers,’ one of the most charming of all the American author’s tales, is being screened. It has been made into an excellent talking picture. The story of ‘ The Three Godfathers ’ concerns, three outlaws who, find a baby in the desert and adopt her. Two of .the godfathers die in bringing her back to civilisation, and the youngest remains to watch over a little Spanish spitfire who certa : nly keeps the screen sizzling with her performances. In this role Maria Alba shares histrionic honours with 'Charles Bickford, as the chief godfather.; Splendid sound supports and an excellent musical programme are also presented,' OCTAGON Daring drama, catchy songs, jazzy ensembles, and clever comedy in a motion picture that is the last word in talkie entertainment. In a nutshell that description fits ■ The Broadway Hoofer.’ now at the Octagon Theatre. In it all the gorgeous glamour of a stage extravaganza is brought to the screen with startling realism. It tells a touching love .story of a ■ beautiful musical comedy favourite (Marie Saxon) and a burlesque dancer (Jack Egan). ’ , , , • The • story of a circus clown who fell in love with his ward is told in ‘Painted Faces,’ starring _ Joe E;. Brown, which is also showing. An excellent supporting cast includes Helen Foster and many’ other fine, players. Laughs Wend with heartaches—thrills mingle with tensely dramatic ‘situations—and throughout there is a vivid, -fascinating back ground of scene and sound. PRINCESS ■ Edward Everett Horton, one of the most popular-comedians of the talking screen, is at his best in. ‘ The Aviator;’ the principal feature of the programme at the Princess Theatre. The photoplay is one of the funniest farces .that has been seen in Dundein, and it should prove exceedingly popular with all who enjoy genuine humour. Horton ia already established_ as a great comedian, and much of his success is due to his apparently serious demeanour when performing the most antics. Patsy, Ruth Miller is an outstanding success in the leading feminine role. The supporting films are well chosen, and provide excellent entertainment. They include a news-reel, a comedy sketch, a pleasing revue, and ‘ two first-class musical numbers. ," •EVIDENCE.’

'Evidence',’ an arresting and intelligent drama, in which Pauljne Frederick makes her. bow to the public in her first talkie role, will be the attraction at the Princess Theatre next Friday. This film- will provide yet another demonstration of the astonishing versa- , tility of the Warner Bros.-Vitaphone . producers. In the past few months V they have presented, through the Princess Theatre, a wide, variety of entertainment, ranging from colourful extravaganza to delightful comedy and historical drama, and in ‘ Evidence,’ their latest offering, they bring to the screen an-entirely now typo of picture, which should give quite as much pleasure and satisfaction as any of its predecessors. ■ ‘Evidence’ is an arresting and intelligent dramas emotional to a degree, but ; kept, within reasonable bounds by a refreshingly novel restraint, which, happily, the American film studios are now recognising as essential to good work. Pauline Frederick long ago established herself on the legitimate stage, and just prior to going to , Hollywood for the production of ‘Evidence ’ had com- • pleted a sixty weeks’ engagement with ‘The Scarlet Woman,’ one of the outstanding stage successes of the past year or two in America. She undoubtedly possesses extraordinary emotional genius, and, since she has a speaking voice of rare character and richness, she should prove invaluable to the talking picture studios. Her portrayal of the character of Myra Stanhope in ‘ Evidence ’ should have the effect of enhancing the reputation for effective and talented acting which she' undoubtedly earned on the silent screen. Conway Tearle, one of the leading figures in' ‘ The Golddiggera of Broadway,’ has an important role in ‘ Evidence,’ and other male players of note are William Courtenay, « Lowell Sherman, and Alec B. Francis. Myrna Loy and Madeline Seymour fill attractive parts well. STRAND A picture filled with fun and delicious satire and love and a number of other -things, called * Hard to Get,’ is. the , current attraction at the Strand Theatre. It is splendid entertainment, and ; it is important because of the fact that ' it is Dorothy Mackaill’s first independent film since her cinematic separation from Jack Mulhall, who used to appear with her in so many First NationalVitaphone offerings. Mulhall is also starring independently now. The man who’s making love to Miss Mackaill in ‘Hard to Get ’ is another Irish lad, however, Charles Delaney. Louise Fazenda, Edmund Burns, Jack Oakie, and other well-known supporting artists enliven the cast of ‘ Hard to Get.’ A, bright supporting programme of short ta|kio subjects is shown. ROXY • Only a few more chances remain for • the public to see ‘ Welcome Danger.’ a rollicking Harold Lloyd comedy at the Roxy Theatre. From the time Lloyd makes his first appearance on the screen till the- final lade-out the audience is kept ut a high pitch of excitement with this him. Most it the story ia conducted in the Chinese underworld

of, New York, so that mystery and drama are .features of the story. - Tho management of this theatre announces the coming of ‘So This is College.’

KING EDWARD Antonio Moreno and Estelle Taylor are the stars in ‘ The Whip Woman ’ which is now being shown at the King Edward Theatre. ‘ The Whip Woman ’ is a sensational story of Hungary after the war. It deals with a beautiful peasant girl, much sought by mem, who repulses them nil, only to fall in love with a dissolute nobleman. The adventures that befall them both makq up a story that holds interest from beginning to end. ‘ Her Dancing Daughters ’ is the supporting feature.