PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20586, 11 September 1930, Page 9

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT The cross-section of New York life—all its glamour and the cunning of the underworld—is being shown at tne ' Regent Theatre in ‘ Side Street. it is a radio picture of romance ana drama, richly flavoured with liumoui. : Throe brothers, a policeman, a surgeon, and a leader of an underworld ' gang are pitted against one another, but their loyalty as brothers is never severed and they guard an unfalteung love. For the first time in nearly a quarter of a century of screen work three brothers, each of whom has achieved individual success, are brought together in a picture. The trio is made up of the Moore brothers—Tom, Matt, and Owen—and it is difficult to realise that a better trio could be found to fill the three featured roles. There is Tom as a conscientious Manhattan trarflo “ cop,” Matt as the police surgeon, and Owen, the king of an underworld gang, keeping his means of livelihood ■ secret from his brothers. An engrossing plot, splendid dircc- ,. tion, beautiful photography, and a good performance upon the part of Joan Crawford make up ‘Montana Moon, the second attraction. Miss Crawford, who shows herself to be more of a dramatic actress with each new vehicle, has the role of a society girl, who, tir.ing of the conventional boredom ot New York activities, takes a group ®* friends out West to visit her fathersranch in Montana. Here she impetu- ; ously marries a cowboy, who in the ' light of her recent distaste for hypo-critical-mannered Eastern gentlemen i seems to her to ho the real man she has always wanted. EMPIRE When a film in which mother love plays a big part is to be made, who can produce it with better feeling than women artists of film craft? raramount’s general manager of productions, at Hollywood pondered that question some months ago, and his answer is seen in ‘Sarah and Son, which will he finally screened at the Empire Theatre this evening. The director of the film is Dorothy- Arzner, Paramount’s only woman director and one of the few women engaged m that of this powerful drama is Ruth Chatterton, who has many successful pictures to .her credit. I'rederio March supports Miss Chatterton in the leading male role. The story concerns a poverty-stricken young. singer who is deserted by her husband, and who is forced to suffer separation from her infant son, whom she loves very much. > She shapes her destiny for one purpose ' —the reunion of herself and her boy. } A full supporting programme of films, and music is also presented. OCTAGON 1 Maurice Chevalier, that irrepressible i star of the Paris musical comedy stage, > makes his second appearance on the * audible screen in ‘ The Love larado, • a gay, lavishly-produced operetta, TvJush completes a two-week season at the Octagon Theatre to-night. In * The Love Parade Chevalioi sings, dances, and inasmuch as the picture's action takes place in the rnythi- , cal kingdom of Sylvania, makes love to the beautiful queen. Cast in a romantic, dashing role that suits personality to the. proverbial t, Cheva her, from opening sequence to the final fade-out, is a joy to watch and a double joy to listen to. In support of the H 'star is Jeanette MacDonald, a nowand charming leading lady, whose ususual beauty and ability to wear gorgeous ; clothes mark her as a new find in the world of motion pictures. Miss MacDonald, however, is an accomplished actress, and the possessor of a beautiful singing voice, having starred in several Broadway musical comedies before attempting her present role on the scree q. The remainder of the programme includes several shorter films. PRINCESS The memory of George Arliss’s performance in ‘ Disraeli ’ will always surr. vive, and while the “sly’’.charm of his voice lingers from that epic film, he ’s , here once again making a further impression in ‘ The Green Goddess. H® is appearing at the Princess Theatre, this time in a talking screen version of a famous stage presentation. Cast in a very different role, Mr Arliss is himself, witty, sophisticated, urbane—the prince of actors. He climbs to heights no other has achieved in the kind of part he fills in The Green ‘Goddess.’ Here is a melodrama immense with thrills, humour, ringing climaxes of tragedy, and human interest. William Archer s P' a >’>P duced incidentally in reply to a taunt that a stage critic could not himself write- a play and make it go, was one of Mr Arliss’s greatest stage successes. Would he lose caste in .attempting a talking picture transfer of a show that had assisted to make bun? . For answer see .and hear-the man in the screen version. . If the stage impression, of llie Green Goddess’ was strikingly suc- . hessful, then.the picture is doubly so; ; for all the depth and the height possible in cinema photography have gone into the building of the picture by Vitaphone. .As a talkie Ihe Gieen ; Goddess ’ is flawless, as a spectacle well done. For graphic, smart entertainment, the Princess’s offering has had few bearing comparisons. Ihe story? To say it intrigues is melloived comment. Set in unknown India, iu Himalayan fastness, the plot has to do with two Englishmen and a woman stranded in the wilda of the lulls when their plane crashed, at the mercy of a band of tribesmen and their cruel rajah —the Rajah of Rukh, Mr Arliss, no other. Ho rules his savage people, repiote from the world. They are fanatics, but not he. . It happens that at the hour the lost wanderers tumble from the clouds to the abode of the Rajah of Rukh his three, brothers have been apprehended in India for murder, and are to die. Charmingly the rajah extends hospitality, the while preparing a propitiary sacrifice to the green goddess. He sees an opportunity to wipe off part of a debt ho fancies is owing by the “lords of. creation.” Thereafter is swift action, with Mr ; Arlisa arrayed in alternate charm arid devilish cunning. ROXY Ramon Novarro will bo seen for the ' last time in ‘ Devil May Care ’ at the Roxy Theatre this evening. In this i his first talkie, Novarro plays the part ; of a dashing young lieutenant of ’ Napoleon’s' day. It is a film that pleases to the utmost. A splendid talkie supporting programme is also shown. FILM OF OPEN SPACES. ‘The Virginian,’ which will be shown at the Roxy to-morrow, has the dis- ’ tipetion of being the first talkie to be filmed and recorded entirely out of doors. Notable members of the cast include Gary Cooper, Richard Arlcn, Mary Brian, Eugene Pallette, Chester i Conklin, and Walter Huston. On Saturday, at 215 p.m., the manage- ' ment has arranged to present a series of attractive short films, including three two-reel comedy gazettes and other

pictures more suitable for children. Iu con jaction with these items will bo a screening of ‘The Virginian.’ As Western pictures are always popular with the young, this treat should bo much appreciated by those who attend Saturday’s matinee. STRAND The current programme at the Strand Theatre has received its share of support from tlie public, and as a result the fascinating Alice White has considerably added to the list of her enthusiastic admirers. In ‘ The Girl from Woolworths ’ she gives a finished performance and some really bright entertainment results. The supporting films are above the average, and hold the interest till the end. A ‘ Close Call’ cartoon hailed as a friend of * Mickey the Mouse,’ provides some uproarious comedy. PLAZA The king of drama, Emil Janriings, is seen in one of his best characterisations in ‘ Betrayal,’ a fine story of Vienna, which is screening at the Plaza Theatre. Gary Cooper and Esther Ralston are also seen in this film. Also shewing is ‘ Honeymoon Hate,’ starring Florence Vidora clever comedy drama. The supports a*re few, but good. This bill will bo finally presented to-night. XING EDWARD ‘West of Broadway,’ starring Priscilla Dean and Arnold Gray, supported by Victor VaConni and Vera Reynolds in ‘ The Little Adventuress ’ will bo screened finally at the King Edward Theatre to-night. There is a good supporting programme.