PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20987, 29 December 1931, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE

What is probably the finest musical production yet brought to the screen is being shown this week at the Empire Theatre; Telling a story of Irish life and the life of the musical world, with all its laughter and tears, its successes and its failures, the picture is interpreted by a cast with whom hardly a fault can be found. But head and shoulders above them all stands the figure of the great Irish singer John M'Cormack, whoso glorious tenor voice is heard in half a dozen lyrics which will be remembered long after the picture itself has passed into oblivion. Without M'Cormack the film would still be a fine study of Irish life, but with the singing of the tenor it becomes an epic film. As a simple and understanding villager with a broken romance, M'Cormack has the sympathy and affection of all his neighbours, and it is smalL,wonder that that marvellous voice of his, enriching the still, evening air, makes him the ; adored centre of a group of enchanted ■ children. Again, as the master of melody in a great New York theatre, ho holds some of the most critical audiences in the world uuder his magic spell—for, has he not suffered, as all artists must suffer, to achieve real greatness? The singing in the theatre, indeed, is a masterpiece of recording, and though it would be impossible to say which song he sang best, it must be said that the marvellous rendering of ‘ I Hear You Calling Me ’ is one of the triumphs of the sound screen. No less appealing, however, is his soug to his old sweetheart, ‘ Rose of Tralee,’ just before he departed for America. In contrast with this is a merry little song for the ’ young villagers, ‘ Kitty, My Love,’ and again the song ‘ The Little Toy Dog is Covered with Dust ’ stirs' the emotions with its sweet pathos. The actual story has been entrusted to a highly accomplished cast, and the great performance of J. M. Kerrigan and Farrell Macdonald, who as the two old Irish cronies sincerely attached to each other, and yet cloaking their affection by a sort of continuous quarrel, is but another instance of the exceptional quality of the production. Maureen O’Sullivan makes a charming little heroine with all the Irish warmth and sincerity, and the difficulties that her crabbed old aunt places between her and her sweetheart win a ready sympathy from the audience. There is a strong supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and The Bristol.

RECENT

The star-director combine which produced' the lyrical fantasy, ‘The Love Parade,’ Maurice Chevalier and Ernst Lubitsch have made another rollicking love drama, modern, swift, up to date, in which Chevalier sings. Supporting the star are two of screendom’s most distinguished' leading ladies, Claudette Colbert and Miriam Hopkins, and Charlie.. Haggles, ; the ; joyous coniedian. ‘ The Smiling Lieutenant ’ gives Chevalier' ample opportunity, to project his personality by his voice. ‘ Oscar Straus, the famous . Viennese ■ composer, and Clifford Grey, lyricist, prepared the original music, for the production.. In commenting on the introduction of music into ‘The Smiling Lieutenant,’ Jesse L. Lasky, Paramount production chief; 'said: “ Although music on the screen'may not he generally favoured by the public at this time, we have had innumerable requests for more of Maurice Chevalier’s singing.' He is' in a class by himself on this score, and ‘The Smiling Lieutenant’ will give him ample apportunity to present the typo of song ■ which . the world public demands'from bim.” . ' In this'rollicking and fantastic story of a young lieutenant whose handsome presence, charming smile, and captivating love-making' win the hearts of two girls, Chevalier sings three songs. They are, ‘ While Hearts are Singing,’ ‘ One More Hour to Love,’ and ‘ Jazz Up Your Lingerie.’ Both Miss Colbert and Miss Hopkins join in the singing. Chevalier, the lieutenant, falls madly in love with Claudette, a beautiful cabaret performer, and is divinely oblivious to the charms of all other girls. ■ Unwittingly, ho insults a visiting princess, who, captivated by the smiling soldier, persuades the king, her father, that he is the man, she must marry. Chevalier is forced into the marriage, but he refuses to recognise any marital claims. He tries to continue his affair with Claudette as if nothing had happened. Miriam, the princess, prim and proper, calls Claudette to the palace, and berates her for stealing her husband. Claudette ridicules Miriam’s oldfashioned clothes and ideas. Taking this cue, Miriam transforms herself into a beautiful butterfly. Claudette,, seeing the turn events have taken, suddenly leaves the State, and Chevalier, entranced by the new Miriam, , falls in love all over again—with his wife.

ST. JAMES

Joe E. Brown is invariably funny on, the screen. In ‘ Broadminded,’ the present film at St. James Theatre, he is particularly so. As the guide and mentor of a rather irresponsible man of. means, who tends to neglect his duties when there are pretty girls on the horizon, ho is perhaps even more ludicrously funny than he was in ‘ Sally,’ ‘ Sit Tight,’ or , ‘ The Lottery Bi'ido.’ His inimitable antics are a continual source of merriment. 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 bis 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 the first beautiful girl be meets on the journey. Ona Munson is delightful in the role of the pretty trouble-maker. Marjorie White, with prottinoss 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, sends his son into more complications instead of fewer. A splendid portrayal of a very modern girl who sets her cap for the rich youth, played by William Collier, jun., is given by Margaret Livingstone. The casting is perfect, and the story is crammed with mirth-making possibilities, the director having bridged the gap between comedy and melodrama with remarkable understanding. Joe E. Brown has had many triumphs, but none quite so big as this one.”

STRAND

Beautiful' Ann Harding, who made sunk a wonderful appeal in Holiday ’ and ‘Eat Lynne,’ is making a welcome reappearance in ‘ Girl of the tioldpu West ’ at the Strand Theatre. For Qve£ a, quartet of & 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 it 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 Janies 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 actor H. B. Warner shares the honours with Lois Wilson. Olive Borden and James Ford are also in the cast. The film is a striking adaptation of Ernest Pascal’s famous story. ‘ The Dark Swan.’ The box plans are at The Bristol.

OCTAGON

The story of , the hardy frontiersmen transporting necessities across the 1,600 miles of unconquered territory lying between, the Mississippi and the goldfields of California is the basis of ‘Fighting, Caravans,’ now . showing at the Octagon. Into the spectacular drama of conquest is woven,. with all ~tho charm of Zane Grey’s talent, a beautiful love story, of a man and a girl who meet as the dangerous trek begins, carry. their love through a series of palpitating adventures, and reach the promised land together. Gary Cooper, as the reckless young scout of the expedition, ■ gives one of the most convincing portrayals of his interesting career, with Lily Damita as the lovely heroine, a reincarnation of the pioneer womanhood, ' whose courage will always he one of the wonders, of history. Fred Kohler, the gigantic “bad man” of a score of memorable pictures, and Ernest Torrence and Tally Marshall, as the two enjoyable old scouts, are thoroughly delightful. 1 Fighting Caravans ’ was filmed on the same vast dimensions as ‘The Covered Wagon.’ Hundreds of players, scores of great “prairie schooners,” thousands of horses and mules enact its historic drama and romantic story against beautiful natural backgrounds. Exceptional photography brings thrilling vistas of the wide open West to the screen; capable direction has injected real, vital action into the rapidly changing scenes. ‘ Fighting Caravans ’ has a great theme. It is a charming love drama, beautifully acted, finely directed, interestingly told. It is really a moving picture that lives—and will live.

KING EDWARD

A special Christmas programme, 'Chasing Rainbows,’ is being shown at the King Edward. The east includes Charles King, Bessie Love, Marie Dressier, Polly Moran, and Eddie Phillips. Tho supporting programme includes a Mickey the Mouse cartoon, ' Traffic Troubles,’ and the eleventh episode of ' Heroes of the Flames.’