PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20988, 30 December 1931, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE

STRAND

KINS EDWARD

REGENT

ST. JAMES

OCTAGON

John M'Cormack charmed another largo audience at the Empire last night with bis singing in ‘ Song o’ My Heart.’ Even without John M Cormack, the famous Irish tenor, the picture would be an outstanding one, but with M‘Cormack it becomes an epic of the screen. As a. simple and understanding villager with a broken romance M'Cormack has the sympathy and affection of all Ins neighbours, and it is small wonder that that marvellous voice of bis, 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, lie holds some of the most critical audiences in the world under his magic spell. The singing in the theatre, indeed, is a masterpiece of recording. The marvellous recording of ‘ I Hear You Calling Me ’ is one of the triumphs of the sound screen. No less appealing, however, is his song to his old sweetheart, ‘ Rose of Tralee,’ just before he departed for America. In contrast with this is a morry 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 performances of' J. M. Kerrigan and I'arrell 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. A delightful comedy fl-nd a news reel complete the programme. The box plans are at the theatre and The Bristol.

Maurice Chevalier, the genial Frenchman has a role which could not have suited him better in ‘ The Smiling Lieutenant,’ which is being shown at the Regent Theatre. In addition there is the delightful little dancing pantomime arranged by Miss Lily Stevens and Mr A. Regan to make the evening s enjoyment complete. ‘ The Smiling Lieutenant ’ has the quick charm ot unexpectedness. It is a very exceptional talent that can handle character, plot, talk, and whimsy so unerringly, making of the most ordinary tale a sparkling, vivacious comedy-romance of the most striking kind. Cheyalier gives his customarily brisk and spirited performance in the role of Nikki, the romantic young lieutenant, whose ill-timed smiles and winks on parade are intercepted by a Royal princess, who imagines herselt to be the subject of them. And Claudette Colbert, the fascinating brunette with the beautiful eyes, makes a completely delightful and enthralling Franzi, with Miriam Hopkins as Princess Anna, coming into her own at last, sitting at a piano in daringly alluring negligee, tempting her husband by her vigorous rendering of ‘ Jazz Up Your Lingerie,’ an exhortation which she herself follows with startling and .romantic results. The pantomime is beautifully and excellently done. The opening chorus and dance last night were .perfect, and among the items which followed Ine Dance of the Wooden Doll ’ was as good as any, although the delightful little costume duo featuring A Bicycle Built for Two ’ was no less enthusiastically received. The news series contained in the supporting programme are of more than usual interest, including scenes from some of the world’s greatest speed experiments, such as the Schneider Cup event, the speed boat championship of the world, and other international feats. Mickey the Mouse, with the equally amusing Minnie, provides a delightful intex*Jude in tho form of ‘The Birthday Party,’ a cartoon comedy in Disney’s best vein, which cannot fail to please.

Joe E. Brown has made the biggest hit of his career in ‘ Broadminded,’ a most amusing farce now being screened at the St. James. The opening scene of the film is a particularly uproarious one. It is the “ baby party ” of a young woman who is destined to play an important part m subsequent events, and it offers great opportunities to Brown, who has the part of Ossie Simpson, a young man who extracts as much enjoyment as ho can from life,' and who is obviously a very popular person among his friends. It so happens that he is also popular with a wealthy financier, his _ uncle, whose son finds himself forced into an engagement. Young Hapkett is told that he must leave the city for a time in order that he can break with his old associates, and Ossie is sent with him as a guardian. The situation, of course, is one from which the audience expects a great deal, and it is not disappointed. After some exciting experiences in a small car, tho pair are able to assist two young ladies who are having some trouble with their car, and this is the start of a double, romance which has some very unpleasant interruptions. The supporting programme consists of a variety of short items -which include some enjoyable singing and not a little humour. The news films contain a description of tho last Oxford-Cambridge boat race. Tho box plans are at Hall’s fruit shop and the theatre.

‘ Fighting Caravans/ a stirring story of pioneer days in the American West, featuring Gary Cooper and Lily Damita, is enjoying much popularity at the Octagon. Cooper is seen as a young scout, who has been brought up by two old frontiersmen, played by Ernest Torrence and Tully Marshall, who continue the characterisations they created in ' The Covered Wagon.’ These three constitute the principal scouts for the train, but dissension enters in through the appearance of a girl, played by Lily Damita, whi is travelling alone and who is befriended by Cooper. About this time the wagon train is coming into the “ bad country,” and when a burning stage coach is found beside the trail, with crew lying near it, the scouts redouble their efforts to pick up traces of the Indians in the vicinity. Included in the band of men accompanying the train is a suspected traitor, played by Fred Kohler, who is looked on by the old scouts with not a little suspicion on account of the fact that he was the sole survivor of an attack on an earlier wagon train by Indians. How well-founded their suspicions are is given striking proof when the train is attacked by the ferocious red men just as it is fording a river in the fastness of a wild range of mountains. The train is divided in half by the river and a fierce fight breaks out, but the Indians have the advantage of information supplied through the treachery of the renegade. When all seems hopeless, a daring act by the young scout defeats efiasts a! i&e &xsek ssd a

portion of tho train wins through to safety. There is a strong supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and The Bristol.

' Heading a generous offering at the Strand Theatre is ‘ The Girl of the Golden West,’ featuring Ann Harding, James Rennie, and Harry Bannister. It was into a reckless atmosphere, where law and order wore absent, that David Belasco brought his girl, where she lived among the wild miners, to one of whom she eventually gave her heart ; ho was not worth it, but through the girl’s influence she worked a change in his nature which set him on a new trail, and in the end the girl’s belief in him was quite justified. Tho story is dramatic and full of thrills. ‘ Wedding Rings,’ the second production, is a story of a different typo. The principal parts are taken by H. B. Warner, Lois Wilson, and Olive Borden. Cornelia Quinn, an attractive young artist, loves Lewis Dike, whom she meets in an art gallery. Dike, a wealthy clubman, also loves Cornelia until he meets Eve, her selfish, beautiful sister. Eve, thinking that Dike would be a very profitable match, sets out to win him from Cornelia, and before long Eve and Dike are married, despite Cornelia’s efforts to keep them apart. The conclusion is really startling.

The King Edward has an attractive new programme to offer to-night, headed by Lawrence Tibbett in ‘ The Prodigal.’ Tibbett appears as a prodigal son who has been roaming the country with a band of tramps. He goes home to see his mother, and for the first time becomes acquainted with his brother’s wife, Antonia. Antonia is miserably unhappy with her tyrannical husband, and is about to elope with a former lover. In his attempts to preserve the family integrity Tibbett succumbs to the charms of the bewitching Antonia, and finds himself in a compromising position. The unravelling of the situation makes for an extremely dramatic screen plot. Scenes in the “ tramps’ ” camp are among the novelties of the production, and in these sequences Tibbett sings ‘ Do Glory Road,’ a number which he has made famous on the concert stage. Esther Ralston plays opposite Tibbett.