PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20635, 7 November 1930, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

M6EHT In-' The Divorcee/ which opened today at the Regent Theatre, Norma Shearer again conclusively proves that she. has few compeers on the talking screen. The star, who has a poise and beauty all her own, gives an intensely moving portrait of a woman who in an attempt to meet the standards of a sophisticated society gives herself up to a promiscuous living, and almost succeeds in losing her husband into the bargain. Miss Shearer is seen as Jerry Bernard, daughter of a physician, who after three years of married life discovers that Ted, her husband, has recently carried on a liaison with Janice. Bit-terly-hurt,, she forces herself to accept the explanation of her husband that he still loves her only and that the affair was "simply an unimportant phenomenon of the current moral code of modern civilisation. ' . "When, however, she subsequently meets her husband at his own game arid gives herself to his best friend, Ted looks at. things, in an entirely, different light and deserts ; her. Utterly disillusioned, Jerry abandons herself to a period of free living. After a notorious eiistenee a climax reveals to her the; futility of her actions, and in an unex pected. manner she contrives to ,wm her husband'back again. . The plot carries with it several minor situations, including a pathetic interlude in which the husband of a woman ■whose beauty has been ruined as the result of an automobile accident is torn between loyalty to his wife and his love for Jerry. "■; ■ ' +. , ■. In directing ' The Divorcee ' Robert Z. Leonard has seen to it that the pace of the narrative never lags for one moment. The costumes and settings ot the production are unusually luxurious, while brilliant photographic effects arc achieved particularly in a beautiful yachting sequence.and in modernistic interiors. The work of Miss Shearer s supporting cast cannot be too highly praised. Chester Morris, as the husband, shows himself to be a natural-bom actor; Robert Montgomery, as one of her lovers, plays his part with extreme naturalness and simplicity; while Con rad Nagel, as the husband of the beauty-marred victim of the automobile accident, is able to overcome an unsympathetic role. Others who share honours in minor roles include Florence Eldridge, Helene Millard, Robert Elliott, Mary Doran, Tyler Brooke Zelda Sears, 'Georgo Irving, and Helen Johnson. Among the suuno> '" - .*•' - to be found ' The General,' a comedy all in colour; ' Frolicking Fish,' Walt Difcney cartoon; and Hearst Movietone News reel. CHILDREN'S PROGRAMME. At the Saturday ing session at the Regent Theatre a special collection of films has been selected for presentation to ohildren ' Let Her Go, Gallaghor,' heads the list, and in this exciting story Junior Coglan has tho lead ing role. T'-o Our Gang Rascals will be featured in an entirely new comedy, and ' Frolicking Fish,' an exceptionally fine talking cartoon, will also be presented. 'THE ROGUE SONG.' Tho exploits of a band of robbers m the fastnesses of the Caucasus Mountains provide mnny exciting incidents in.' Tho Rogue Song,' the Metro-Gold-wvn-Mayer production which is coming shortly to the Regent Theatre. The picture is one of the most ambitious and successful of tho operettas that have yet been translated to the ■ talking* screen. Lawrence Tibbett, a noted principal of tho Metropolitan Grand Opera Company of New York, takes tho r6le of Yegor, the chief of the. outlaws, and his outstanding personality and fine voice make him ideally suited to the part. T! settings are realistic, and the whblo film is nhntocraolied in technicolour. Catherine Dale Owen is cast pa the Princess Vera, who is the cause of many of Yegor's most daring exploits.

EMPIRE

The success of ‘ This Thing Called Love ’ attained on the speaking stage should ensure a brilliant success for this smart Patlie comedy in dialogue picture form, which commenced at tho Empire Theatre to-day. Edmund Lowe and Constance Bennett are featured. As a stage play it was' one of the season’s big successes. The amazing ■situations that have boon worked out in this picture by tiio author, centring on the idea of modern marriage, in which the wife stipulates that she is to receive a salary and that neither wife nor-husband is to be denied other lovers, provide a great deal of entertainment and much amusement. Miss' Bennett plays the part of the s v ''"Low©) ■ as tli© husband who has just come from Peru, where ho spent ■fifteen years in mining ventures, is seeking a real homo, but accepts this arrangement,' believing that bo can arouse his wife’s jealousy and win her over to the good old-fashioned idea of married life. Others in the cast include Zasu Pitts, lloscoo Karns, Hut a Taylor, Stuart Erwin, and Cnrmelita Geraghty. . , A well-selected programme of short, talkies is also screened, the films including a Pa tho sound news and audio review, a - colour symphony, 1 The Toy Shop,’ an educational gem, entitled ‘ Alpine Melodics,’ and ‘ The Arabian Knight.’ . The orchestra, under Monsieur I)e Bose, will render a full programme of popular selections.

PRINCESS

Al Jolson! The star of 1 The Jazz Singer ’ and ‘ The Singing Fool ’ is here again in a play in which ho reaches even greater heights—‘.Say It With Songs. 1 And Davey Leo is with him. In this tender, enthralling drama Jol son plays the part of Joe Lane, former prize fighter, but now a writer of songs and radio entertainer. The world looks rosy to him, and ho believes that Phillips, the man who is hacking him, is doing so for friendship, but finds out ' that it is to win tho loro of Lane’s Infuriated with jealousy, Joe attacks tlio man, who falls, strikes his head on the kerb, and dies. Joe is sentenced to a long term in Sing Sing. Feeling that In's wife will suffer from the disgrace, he urges her to divorce him, tell mg her that he no longer cares for her. This she does, putting their child ir. a ho vs’ school, and taking a position as nurse in the office of a surgeon who was a for ier dever. When Joe has served his term ho re turns and visits t’’e school where his " little pal " is. The child follows hur as he leaves, and is run over by a track, after which he can neither walk nor-talk. The surgeon consents to operate onl> if Joe promises to give the child up to his, mother. He at first refuses, but later thinks better of it, and goes to the surgeon, who operates r -d restores the' child’s power to walk. Speech comes through hearing a record of the song * Little Pal.’ which his daddy had often sung to him. This is a meagre outline of an ordinary enough story which Jolson glorifies

into a thing of moving beauty. There are many tears in ‘ Say It With Songs, but the laughter outweighs the sorrow and the story sweeps on to a happy ending. Davey Leo is his own delectable babj self, Marian Nixon is exquisite as the young wife and mother—but it is Jolsou who makes of ‘ Say It With Songs ' a masterpiece, utterly unlike “ho masterpiece,- oi other geniuses. An excellent supporting programme lias been secured for this week, and includes ‘ French Leave,’ a comedy ot the trenches; offerings by Harold Bauer, the world-famed pianist; Knight M'Gregor, a baritone singer; a sketch by Burr MTntosh, and selections l>y Henry Halstead’s Orchestra.

OCTAGON

‘Temptation,’ which came to tho Octagon Theatre to-day, is a human interest drama with real heart appeal. Interest centres about Julio Becker, a hard-working girl, who decides that life shall not cheat her of the material comforts. She decides to marry Sam Gordon, a thrifty, middle-aged, prosperous German. Shortly before the time scheduled for her marriage to Sam, she meets Larry Donovan, .who: has served a prison term. Her sympathy 1 for him changes to love. He falls in love with her at first .sight. Good sense tells her to marry Sam, but she cannot stifle her lovo for Larry. Julie goes ahead with her plans for her wedding to Sam. Driven to desperation by what he interprets as her coldness, Larry plans to return once more to his career of crime. How Julie sacrifices all prospect of material comforts to save him from, his own moral weakness, supplies tho rest of the action for the story. Lois Wilson plays the leading feminine role, Larry is played with splendid restraint b.y Lawrence Gray, and Billy Bevan gives a convincing portrayal of Sam Gordon. This splendid feature is supported by Octagon featnrettes, including the third of the famous horoscopes, ‘ People Born in March,’ another Edward Everett Horton comedy, ‘Ask Dad,’ screen snapshots, and a Fox Movietone News.

STRAND

Swift-moving, tense in drama and rich in realism, ‘Officer O’Brien/ Pathe’s all-dialogiio melodrama of tho underworld and the law, is now being presented at tho Strand Theatre with William Boyd as the star. The .title role in this production pliers Boyd his finest dramatic opportunity, since ‘Tho Volga Boatman/ and certainly it provides his best talking picture part to date. As the lieutenant of police, who runs to earth a notorious vico-leader in the face of possible ruin and at the cost of his sweetheart’s love, Boyd is given an opportunity for some high-powered dramatic _work that is enhanced by speed . action' and many thrills. The story _ contains romance and some relishing comedy. Dorothy Sebastian in tho role of tho girl is charming as usual. Ernest Torrence, playing Bill’s crook father, gives a capital performance, and Clyde Cook is excellent in a character role of Limo, a crook. Half Haroldo makes a sinister and effective gang leader of the suave type. Bright talkie supports complete tho programme. ~

ROXY

‘With Byrd at tho South Pole’ heads tho new bill at tho Roxy Theatre. Photographed by two of Paramount’s ace cameramen, Joseph Rucker and Willard Vander Veer, ‘With Byrd at tho South Pole ’ depicts a dramatic story. _ Prom the ( moment that Byrd and his party establish themselves at their camp (Little America), 2,300 miles beyond tho last outpost of civilisation, to that thrilling moment when Byrd and Balchen set out in their giant Fokkor piano tomiako tho first flight over the South Polo ever attempted by man, ‘ With Byrd at tho South Polo ’ remains first and foremost a picture of vivid action. This dramatisation of the Byrd polar exploration is the first picture of tho “ bottom of tho world ” ever photographed.

KING EDWARD

‘ Tho Drake Case,’ an unusual murder trial court-room talkie, will conclude its brief season at the King Edward Theatre this evening. Gladys Brockwcll is starred, and with her in the cast are several favourite screen players. To-morrow’s programme will bo beaded by ‘ Strange Cargo,’ one of the most baffling murder mysteries to come through the talkies. It is a story of a wealthy man who disappears while on a cruise in his yacht with several friends. Suspicion falls on everyone in turn, until something is found that puts a decidedly new aspect on tho mystery.