PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20985, 26 December 1931, Page 6

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE In ‘ Song o’ My Heart,’ liis first audible picture for the screen, John M'Cormack, tho world’s greatest lyric tenor, sings eleven songs, logically introduced in the action of the delightful lyrical romance, which returns to the Empire Theatre today. Through the medium of Fox Movietone the voice that _ has always been proclaimed great is considered to be made greater. Of the entire, repertoire ‘ I Hear You Calling Me, ‘Rose of Tralee,’ and ‘Little Boy Blue ’ are perhaps the most appreciated melodies. ‘ Little Boy Blue .is based, on the poem by Eugene Field,, and set to music by Ethelbert Nevin. In ‘ Little Boy Blue ’ Frank Borzage, who directed ‘ Song o’ My Heart,’ has deftly introduced a pictorial effect of a little boy, his dog, and his toy soldiers, giving an added human touch. ‘ I Hear You Calling Me,’ which is so identified with the great tenor that he rarely fails to ■ include it as an encore during his concert programmes, is a composition of Charles Marshall, with lyrics by Harold Hartford. ‘ Rose of Tralee ’ is a Glover-Ditson effort. Reservations may be made at The Bristol. REGENT The screen’s most unique stellar personality, loved the world over for himself, his songs,' his vivacity, comes to tho Regent Theatre to-night in his now starring Paramount picture ‘ The Smiling Lieutenant, ’ directed by Ernst Lubitsch, maker of ‘ Tho Love Parade ’ and ‘The Patriot.’ He is Maurice Chevalier, the smiling French entertainer, whose love-making . and lovesinging have made him the idol of two continents. ‘ The Smiling Lieutenant is a rollicking romance, with all tho love and song appeal of his first moving picture, ‘ Innocents of Paris,’ with all luxury of setting and story of ‘ Tho Love Parade ’; with the star of another Chevalier screen success, ‘ The Big Pond, Claudette Colbert, in one of the leading feminine roles; with another bright screen light, gorgeous Miriam Hopkins, in an equally leading role; and with Charlie Ruggles, lovable comedian, in an important supporting part. Tho story deals with the delicious romance of a young lieutenant _ of the guards, whose smile gets him involved with two women, one a cabaret performer, whom ho loves and wants to marry, the other an old-fashioned princess who, loves him and whom he is ! forced to marry. How this marriage turns his life topsy-turvy, and how the unwanted wife turns the table on her rival is the amusing topic of the romance. The Regent has a further attraction in ‘ The Old Woman in the Shoe,’ a / pantomime produced by Miss Lily Stevens and Mr/lec Regan. Box pl'ahs are at the theatre., OCTAGON ' One of the largest casts ever as- . signed to a moving picture production is seen in ‘Fighting Caravans,’ Paramount’s tremendous epic of the old West, based on Zane Grey’s famous novel. ‘ Fighting Caravans,’ which will show at the Octagon Theatre to-night, has Gary Cooper and Lily Damita in the romantic leads as the young scout and tho French girl pioneer of the 1863 trek across the continent to the land of gold. Ernest Torrence and Tnlly Marchall, popular character actors of the screen, continue the characterisations they created in ‘ The Covered Wagon.’ Fred Kohler, as the man who tries to prevent the success of the journey, plays the “menace” part, with Frank Hagney as his henchman. The cast of ‘ Fighting Caravans ’ also includes Eugene Pallette, May Boley, Eve Southern, Sid Saylor, Roy Stewart, Frank Campeau, James Marcus, Helen . Hunt, E. Alyn Warren. James Durkin, Dolores Johnson, Marven Morgan, Peggy Eleanor, Rae Daggett, Blossom MacDonald, Ernie Shields, James Farley, Walter Downing, Donald MacKenzie, Bruce Warren, Guy Oliver, Jack Carlisle, Harry Lee, Rose Gore, Pauline French, Scott Seat<n, Sidney De Gary, Jack Richardson, Frank Brownlee, Bill Cooley, Tiny Sanford, Jane Darwell ; Jane Keckley. The story of ‘ Fighting Caravans ’ centres around the trek of hundreds of gold-seeking Easterners into the wild lands of tho West about 1860. During the danger-ridden march westward Gary Cooper, a scout for the party, falls in love with a courageous girl of the Caravan. Reserves may be secured at the theatre. ST. JAMES A gala matinee this afternoon marked tho appearance of Joe E. Brown, the comedian with the big mouth and comical antics, who has been seen in many uproarious farces, but who is said to excel himself in ‘Broadminded,’ the _ comedy specially chosen as the Christmas attraction for the St. James Theatre. To quote a review:—‘ Joe outdoes himself in the character of a timid follower of the eternal female, who, by an odd turn, is appointed guardian of a young waster with tons of money and no brains. It is the wish of this youth’s father that Joe remove him as far away from women as possible. So Ossie Simpson (as Joe is called) sets out for the West in a baby car, taking his charge with him. On the road the pair meet with some most astonishing adventures that will reduce you to acute convulsions, and to make matters delightful for the waster, but terrible for Ossie, the lad falls in love with tho first beautiful girl he meets on tho journey. Ona Munson is delightful in tho role of the pretty trouble-maker. Marjorie White, with prettiness and an unerring comedy sense becomes in turn the object of the tepid attentions of Ossie ; and Holmes Herbert is the millionaire father, who, full of good intentions, s nds his son into more complications instead of fewer. A splendid portrayal of a very modern girl who sets her cap for tho rich youth, played by William Collier, jun., is given by Margaret Livingstone. Grace Hampton is the solicitous aunt, and Bela Lugosi, famous as Dracula, plays a hot-headed Spaniard who resents tho arrival of Ossie and his party. The casting is

perfect, and tire story is crammed with mirth-making possibilities, the director having bridged the gap between comedy and melodrama with x'emarkablo understanding. Joe E. Brown has had many triumphs, but none quite so big as this one.” A particularly fine supporting programme will be screened with ‘Broadminded.’ It is advisable for intending., patrons to reserve early for to-night. The plans are at Hall’s fruit shop. STRAHD Commencing at the special Boxing Day matinee this afternoon; beautiful Ann Harding, who made such a wonderful appeal in ‘ Holiday ’ and 1 East Lynne,’ made a welcome reappearance in Dunedin in her greatest triumph, ‘ Girl of the Golden West,’ which has been selected as the special Christmas attraction for the Strand Theatre. For over a-quarter of a century this drama has gripped audiences in all countries, and once it was made into a silent picture. But it remains for Ann Harding’s superb artistry to invest the story with a glamour and a grip never known before in its history. Ann Harding as “the girl” will long be remembered. The story is almost too well-known to repeat here. It is one of love, sacrifice, adventure, and not a little fun in the hard old days of the West. It moves along evenly, and not a moment of it allows the audience to lose interest. A splendid cast supporting Miss Harding includes James Rennie, Harry Bannister, J. Farrell MacDonald, Arthur Housman, and Bert Roach, the popular and rotund comedian. A second offering will be ‘Wedding Rings,’ a delightful romance, in which that superb ac,tor, H. B. Warner, shares the honours with Lois Wilson. Olive Borden and James Ford are also in the cast. The film is a striking adaption of Ernest Pascal’s famous story, ‘The Dark Swan.’ It is pointed out by the management that patrons would be well advised to reserve early for tonight. The box plans are at the theatre. KINS EDWARD At the King Edward Theatre, commencing to-day, a special Christmas programme ‘ Chasing Rainbows,’ will be shown. The cast includes Charles King, Bessie Love, Marie Dressier, Polly Moran, and Eddie Phillips. The supporting programme includes a Mickey the Mouse cartoon, ‘ Traffic Troubles,’ and the eleventh episode of ‘ Heroes of the Flames.’