PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20864, 6 August 1931, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT > "Without a shadow of doubt, ‘ Tons of Money,’ closing at the llegent Theatre to-night, is the most devastating comedy ever placed on celluloid. Ralph -Lynn’s good-natured fooling and the numberless : quips and witticisms leave, one absolutely helpless. The plot is humorous enough in itself; but Lynn, Yvonne Arnaudj and the scintillating dialogue—simply ™ ar * vellous. This picture, too, definitely establishes Lynn as a most finished comedian, and Tom "Walls (Ljnns other half in ‘ Rookery ’) will have to bolt his door securely if he is to keep Ralph out of his sacred sanctum ot public acclaim. Some splendid featuiettcs round off this entertainment. EMPIRE One of the most beautiful musical spectacles presented through the talkies is * Viennese Nights,’ produced by the famous Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein 11.. which, after a successful run at the Empire Theatre, closes to-night. .It is presented throughout in techmcolour, the picturesque scenes being lent their correct atmosphere; the action and talking are very good, hut none of these has the appeal of the lilting music and splendid singing. This music will fill the air for months to come. Mr Leslie V. Harvey’s organ interlude and several good supports comprise the remainder of the bill. OCTAGON Two fine films are now at the Octagon Theatre, and will conclude a week’s season to-night. The principal attraction is ‘Brothers,’ in which Bert Lytell has a fine dual role. The film has a good story, which is well presented. A comedy of the sawdust ring is the other picture, entitled ‘Rain or Shine,’ 'whichtintroduces a new comedian to the screen in the person of Joe Cook. There are good supports. STRAND ‘Kismet’ has non the admiration of many Strand Theatre patrons since last Friday, and rightly so. ‘Kismet, besides boasting spectacle, fine acting, and .a good story, is a charming work of Bible days. Otis Skinner makes his screen debut in ‘ Kismet,’ the cast of which includes well-known personalities. Good featurettes are screened. PRINCESS An entertaining story and witty dialogue are contained in ‘ The Bachelor Father,’ which concludes its local run at the Princess Theatre to-night. Marion Davies is ideally cast as the pseudo-daughter of a rich British bachelor who is alleged to have three children in various parts of the worldOne of them turns up, and Miss Davies carries through the deception with that amount of quaint humour which has made her one .of the leading comediennes of the silver sheet. The supporting programme is interesting and diversified. KING EDWARD A double-feature programme of unusual merit was offered last night at. the King Edward Theatre. ‘ Scotland Yard,’ the chief picture, concerns the death of a young detective > in tho course of rounding up a gang’of lawbreakers and the means used by his sister to avenge his untimely death. How she becomes the- “ widow ” of a notorious gangster and then finds that her supposed husband is still alive makes the picture extraordinarily interesting, and the climax proves to be entirely unsuspected. Edward Robinson, Alice "White, Neil Hamilton, and Frank M'Hugh are the featured players in ‘ The Widow From Chicago,’ the other film.