PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20983, 23 December 1931, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

- REGENT

A galaxy of famous stars not generally associated in one picture keep the fun moving in ' Reaching for the Moon,' now at tho Regerft Theatre. They are Douglas Fairbanks, Bebe Daniels, Edward Everett Horton, Claude Allister, and Jack Miilhall. Fairbanks has a role which affords b|m ample scope for his many talents, and gives him every opportunity for infusing his personality into it. A second wolf of \Vall street, he crashes his way into the picture, dashes madly through it, and carries off the final wedding scene in an equally impetuous manner. As a Napoleon of finance he is superb, arid as a lover—a very new and ingenious lover—he must appeal to the sympathies of all who see the picture. CHILDREN'S MORNING SESSION. At the Regent Theatre on Saturday '(Boxing Day), at 10.30, there will be a special morning session, with a special programme for the children. ' Fighting Caravans' will be the main feature, and there will also be 'Mickey Mouse' cartoons, and the Regent miniature pantomime on the stage. Children will be admitted everywhere for sixpence. The stalls will be filled first. Although tho main picture is 4 Fighting Caravans,' the morning matinee will be at the Regent and not at the Octagon. EMPIRE The latest power in the personality of Richard Barthelmess has never been quite so evident as it is in his latest First National starring vehicle, ' The Lash,' now showing at the' Empire Theatre. He is cast as a dashing young vaquero, avenger of his people's wrongs, in 'those dangerous days following Mexico's ceding of California to the United States. In the supporting cast are Mary Astor, Marian Nixon, Barbara Bedford, James Rennie, Fred Kohler, Erville Alderson, Robert Edeson, Mathilde Comont, and Arthur Stone. The play is an adaptation of the widely-read novel of the Bartletts. Bradley King, most distinguished dialoguist of \the talking screen, did the conversation! 4 The Lash ' was directed by _ Frank Lloyd, a man responsible, with the star, for many sensational Barthelmess successes. 4 Bubbly,' the stage presentation, is proving a popular feature on the current bill, and Stan Lawson's pot-pourri of song and dance is being enthusiastically received at every session. ST. JAMES A bright and clever comedy, ' The Virtuous Husband,' heads this week's bill at the St. James Theatre. Its sparkling dialogue, # shrewd humour, and scintillating wit cannot fail to impress, and the cast to whom has been entrusted the narrating of the interesting tale the film contains is an exceptionally good one. Elliott Nugent gives an exceedingly good account of himself in the role of Daniel Curtis, the young husband determined to stand by .his iron-bound principles at any cost, and Jean Arthur makes a fine job of the role of Barbara Bolwell, a disillusioned bride, who causes a great deal of heartburning and not a few complications before the film winds to its amazing close. Betty Compson. is also effectively cast as ■ the sophisticated young woman who has no illusions whatever about the high-prin-cipled young Curtis, whom she invariably refers to as "a poor fish."- The supporting programme includes some very interesting news reels, a clever cartoon, and a Slim Summerville comedy. Box plans are at the theatre, Hall's fruit shop, and The Bristol. OCTAGON Nance O'Neil, one of the greatest emotional actresses on the American stage, plays the grim, tragic, repressed Myra in the Inspiration-United Artists 4 Eyes of the World,' the Henry Kingdirected screen drama being shown at the Octagon Theatre. Miss O'Neill, being one of the most familiar theatrical figures, plays this stark, gaunt woman of mystery with rare artistry and skill. ' Eyes of the World,' which was adapted from the novel by Harold Bell Wright, is a bitter-sweet romance in the virginal mountains and valleys of California, and contrasts the simple ethics of a mountain girl with the selfish purpose of a designing woman. Heading a cast that was chosen with especial reference to ability are Una Merkel, John Holland, Miss O'Neil, Brandon Hurst, Hugh Huntley, Fern Andra, Frederic Burt, William Jeffrey, Florence Roberts, Eulalie Jensen, and Myra Hubert. ' Gun Smoke,' the second attraction, is an up-to-date "Western " production, starring Gary Cooper. STRAND Joan Crawford, who is amongst the most popular screen players, scores another success in. ' Laughing Sinners ' at the Strand Theatre. The story centres round a young cabaret singer, Ivy Stevens, who, driven to desperation by the news that her sweetheart (Howard Palmer) has married a wealthy girl,, attempts to commit suicide. Through the good offices of the Salvation Army she is saved, and Carl, a young; officer, pleads and sympathises with her to such purpose that her shattered selfrespect is restored. She becomes interested in the work of the Salvation Army, and in serving those less fortunate than herself she forgets her misery. A year or so later coincidence so works that she meets Howard again, and, persuaded by one of his friends, she has sufficient drink to make her lose all sense of responsibility and com'mences to sing riotously. Hearing the din, Carl comes to Howard's room, where he finds Ivy, and on Howard's boasting that she is again his sweetheart Carl knocks him down. Undaunted by this set-back, Carl again shoulders the task of Ivy's rehabilitation, and the story reaches a satisfactory conclusion. The box plans are at the theatre and The Bristol. KIM EDWARD During the unfolding of the plot of 4 Body and Soul,' which will commence to-night.'at the King Edward Theatre, a thrilling aviation sequence is introduced. As a young American ace hops off, under orders to shoot down an enemy balloon, his friend vaults into the plane and rides with him. In accomplishing their errand one of them is killed and the surviving flyer lands the ship just inside the British lines. After propping the dead body up in the cockpit he sends the plane back over the enemy lines with its ghost pilot. ' Body and Soul' features Charles Farrcll. Playing opposite him is Elissa Landi, the sensational English screen and Broadway stage star, who is heralded as tho film's prize find of the year. Myrna Loy and Humphrey Bogart are also featured in this Fox drama, which Alfred Santell directed. The story, which was adapted from the stage play 4 Squadrons,' tells of a young officer in the Royal Flying Corps who meets and falls in love with a beautiful girl, only to find himself facing a court martial when the girl is charged with being a spy.