PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20778, 28 April 1931, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT lu the most brilliantly-acted ami mosi colourful role of her career, not evei excluding i Whut Price Glory 1 am ‘ llamonn,’ Dolores Dei Rio is makmj: her debut in talking pictures at tin Regent Theatre with the opening o United Artists’ ‘ The .Bad One,’ will Edmund Lowe. Not only docs the star excel all hoi previous efforts on the screen in tin matter of characterisation, but she lends through the medium of her voice alternate elements of vibrant force ami charm. ‘ The Bad One ’ is entertainment at its very best, with enough of music and drama mixed with its comedy tc make it universally liked. Jt is replete with thrilling episodes, tinctured with amusing situations, and near the end with a touch of melodrama am! near tragedy when the star and her lover arc embroiled in a breath-taking prison revolt. its action is quite lively, with rare witticisms ami a smart dialogue prevalent throughout the length of the production. Jt is evident that the director, George Fit/.inaurico, brought out all'the best recognised elements of entertainment into this initial presentation of Miss Del Rio as a talking star. Miss Del Rio, who is seen as an entertainer in a Marseilles seaport cafe 'frequented by sailors, reaches the top of her dramatic career in the court room scene whore she is compelled to make damaging testimony against her lover, played by Edmund Lowe. Her desperate plea to save him,-once she has placed him within the shadow of the death house, will live in motion picture history through its sheer intensity of sold. The programme is completed by a succession of onjoyablo'talking and singing featurettes. The box plans are at The Bristol and the theatre. PRINCESS ( Our Blushing Brides,’ now showing at the Princess Theatre, offers a refreshing stylo of entertainment, a great deal of which is duo to the charming performance given by Miss .loan Crawford. The story is one that is full of interest, dealing with the careers of three girl assistants employed in a largo store. These rolc.s are played by three very attractive actresses in Joan Crawford, Anita Page, and Dorothy Sebastian. The picture presents in a novel manner the different ways _iu which each girl makes her bid lor happiness. The first, Dorothy Sebastian, moots a wealthy young man and marries him, only to find that his wealth is merely a blind, and that he is a swindler. The second, Anita Page, unhesitatingly gives her love to the son of her employer, ' but finds that he is not prepared to marry when tho question of social standing enters into their relationship. Tho other, Joan Crawford, is the battler, who lights for herself and later for her two, friends, eventually finding a romance which'seems to bo well worth waiting for.’ ’The story is simple enough, but it is excellently carried out, and the acting of the three girls is very convincing. Robert Montgomery is very successfully cast opposite Miss Crawford, ami Ray-

mold Hackett does somo useful work ii support of Miss Page. Not the leasi interesting features of tlio film are tin sumptuous mannequin parades wliicl form part of tbo settings. The dia loguo moves easily and ,witli plenty o: humour to a happy conclusion. The supporting programme is a varied am interesting one. | " EMPIRE The great popularity of that best ol screen plays, ‘ .Romance,’ is well evidenced by the very large attendances which daily reward the great picture at the Empire Theatre. Greta Garbo, the Swedish beauty and star actress, is responsible for a performance ol the part of “ Itita Cavallini,” a role that it is tlio ambition of every leading actress to play, that places her right in the van of emotional actresses of live present day. Jt .would.be difficult to name another who could so adequately portray the character of the ill-starred opera singer to whom true love came too late. Greta Garbo is admirably supported by Lewis Stone, who, always good, excels himself as Cornelius Van Tnyi, and Gavin Gordon, a young actor of ability, whoso resonant voice and clear enunciation arc a treat to listen to in the role of a young clergyman in love with Rita. The short subjects forming the first part of the programme arc of exceptional merit, and standing forth prominently there'-is tlio animal comedy ‘ Not So Quiet on the .Canine front.’ which is astonishingly . well played by tho popular talking dog actors. Box plans are at Tho .Bristol and also at the theatre. ■ STRAND ‘ Oh, Sailor Behave ’ is amusing large audiences at tho Strand Theatre this week. Ole Olsen and Chiu Johnson are prominent in tho production, which is actually a romantic story of Italy, with singing and dancing, and with the love interest supplied by Irene Delroy. Cliarles King plays opposite her. The story centres round Nanette Dodge, an American heiress, who visits Italy and meets Charles Carroll, a reporter, with whom sho falls in love. Their romance is interrupted by a call to England. When .Nanette returns to Italy she finds Carroll entangled both politically and socially with Kind, whom his paper lias sent him to interview. Nanette has been married to Rrinco Kosolf, who somo time previously became entangled with Jus wife’s sister, and tbo prince is engaged in a plot to ruin the girl’s happiness. The prince is finally shot, and Carroll extricates himself from his difficulties. ‘Scarlet Rages’ is also screened, tlio story being of much dramatic interest. Tho box plans arc at tbo theatre and The Bristol. ROXY In ‘ Concentratin’ Kid,’ at the Roxy, Hoot Gibson is seen as a youth who falls in love with a wireless singer whom be has never .seen. Ho is determined to find the lady who has enthralled him, and unwittingly becomes enmeshed in tho intrigues of a gang of cattle thieves, with sensational, and at tho same time, romantic results, Hoot Gibson plays in Ids well-known style, and with the introduction of some modern ideas Ivo keeps up to date with Ids tricks, even though they arc based on the “ wild and woolly ”

west. Kathryn Crawford plays the heroine admirably. Included in the supports are ‘ Chinese Blues,’ an episode of the ‘ Sporting Youth,’ and other attractions. OCTAGON The glamour of Italian scenes is in the story of peasant life, ‘ The Three Sisters’ offered at the Octagon Theatre this week. This triple story is an intensely interesting and human one. Marta, played by Louise Dresser, and her. children, are living in a village when war breaks out. One daughter leaves to become a nrima donna, one decs the country because of a stabbing affray in defending her mother, and the third dies in childbirth during an Austrian advance. Marta hastens to Romo with the child, only to have it taken from her. There aro excellent shorts. Book at the theatre or at The Bristol. KING EDWARD The latest production at the King Edward' Theatre is ‘ Mountain Justice,’ in which Ken Maynard plays the leading role as Ken M‘'lavish, who goes into the mountains of Kentucky with' the object of avenging the murder of Ids father. Hu has no sooner made his way into tho mountains than ho becomes mixed up in a feud between two families. Ho has adopted tho pose of a deaf, wandering fiddler with tho object of being able to listen to what is said without others knowing that Ivo can hear, for it is his plan to find out who sent the threat to his father. He meets Coral Harland and antagonises ono Lem, a young man who is in lovo with tin girl, and this gives rise to further complications. There is a good supporting programme.