PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20993, 6 January 1932, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE = Robert Montgomery turns butler in .‘The Man in Possession,’ which is the current attraction at tbe Empire. In his new vehicle the young star appears as tbe hero of a delightful masquerade, impersonating an English butler to accommodate a dashing young widow-in-distress. In fact, he goes a bit farther as the story unfolds, also taking the place of her absent lover. Montgomery is smilingly at ease in even the .most disastrous moments of his masquerade, and offers perhaps the most engaging performance of bis young career. He is entirely personable and not at all incongruous in the farcical role. Charlotte Greenwood tops the supporting cast as the maid-of-all-work wno becomes a committee-of-one to watch the new butler’s antics with profound suspicion. Included in the sterling cast are Irene Purcell, C. Aubrey Smith, Beryl Mercer, Reginald Owen, and Alan Mowbray, all ideally cast. Paul Cullen’s singing and playing adds greatly to the enjoyment of tbe programme. The box plan is at the theatre and The Bristol. REIENT As Harriet Breen in ‘ Mother’s Millions,’ the Universal comedy-drama success at the Regent, May Robson, the Australian actress, is a fighting fury, brimming over with life and energy, and until the latter part of the film it is.hard to see anything very lovable about her. But when you come to the end you realise just what a wonderful mpther she has been; how she has' fought her enemies not out of' spited hut because their crooked dealings would bring misery to millions; and how she lias been harsh to her children-in order to be kind, and has plotted and planned everything tor their ultimate happiness. . , The theme of the story is that of B mother’s love hidden through fear of her enemies’-attempts to. reach her apd hurt her through her children. In doing this she must appear to treat bet children with a coldness and aloofness that threatens to ruin their happiness and kill the romance that has come into their lives. How she eventually understands’ and. rewards their : loyalty gives to the picture its poignant sense of drama. . Box, plans are at The Bristol and the theatre. ST. JAMES In ‘ Son of India,’ at the St. James, Ramon Novarro fits into his. part like a hand into, a glove, but he is not the only notable one in the cast. The role of Janice is taken by Madge Evans, who once used to be a child star in the silent films, and now, after a successful career on the New York stage, looks as if she is going to develop into an adult talkie star of great brilliance in the Hollywood heaven. She, speaks jvell, looks well, and acts even better. Others of importance in the . really excellent cast are Conrad Nagel, Nigel de Brulier, John Miljan, Marjorie Rambeau, and C. Aubrey Smith. Because of its great sentimental interest, it is .a film with a greater appeal to women than ,to .men, but for the male element there is plenty to hold their, attention—such as an exciting bandit raid in the hills and the death of the villain at the hands,' or rather the feet and trunk, of an enraged elephant. Furthermore, there is no lack of pleasant comedy. Box plans are at The Bristol and Hall’s fruit shop. MTAMH ‘ Fin and Hattie,’ . the joyous and wholesome ' screen farce adapted from. the novel -‘Mr ' and ' Mrs Haddock Abroad,’ is delighting large audiences at the Octagon Theatre,, where it is being shown this: week. ■ ‘ Fin and Hattie’ is the story of the adventures that befall an everyday but. somewhat eccentric family, on a trip to Europe. From tbe time they depart from their home in a town in the Middle West of America until they return, ‘ Fin and Hattie ’ meet with more troubles and more exciting experiences than would beset the average couple in a lifetime, and yet, ridiculous as it all undoubtedly is, the capable acting of the principals invests it with a realm that must be seen to be appreciated. . With their daughter, Fin and Hattie leave for Paris by way of New York, where they pick up their nephew, who is to accompany them, on the trip. The fun begins the minute they leave their native town, and gradually becoming more uproarious .it brings the picture to a conclusion as unorthodox as it is satisfying. The box plans are at The Bristol. STRAND ‘ Five and Ten,’ the talkie version of Fannie Hurst’s celebrated novel, is now being screened at the Strand. This film is of particular interest because it affords Marion Davies a new latitude for her talents, supplying her with a more dramatic vehicle than the light comedies in which she recently appeared. Miss Davies’s characterisation in tho new production is a striking one, demanding emotional intensity as well as the comedy flair for which she is famed. The story was adapted by Edith Fitzgerald from the Fannie Hurst novel of a newly-rich family, first appearing in serial form in ‘.Cosmopolitan Magazine,’ later attaining best-seller prominence in book form published by Harpers. It is a distinctly modern story, dealing with the futility of piling up wealth and the light of two very modern young women of,opposite ideals for the affections of a mah. Box plans are at The Bristol.

f THE GORILLA’ AND ‘DIVORCE AMONG FRIENDS.’

All the elements of splendid entertainment will be contained, it is said, in the double-feature programme booked to commence at the Strand Theatre next Friday. In the first place there will be the hilarious mystery comedy-drama, ‘ The Gorilla,’ in which the cast is headed by beautiful Lila Lee, and includes Walter Pidgeon and those • two priceless comedians, Harry Gribbon and Roscoe Karns, The two last named have the roles of a pair of silly detectives who are put on the trail of a mysterious animal killer, known as “ The Gorilla.” Their adventures and their blunderings lead them into many exciting incidents, and the audience is kept laughing and thrilled from start to finish. A pretty romance runs through the action. The second feature, ‘ Divorce Among Friends,’ is the laughable story of two people, newly married, who love each other very dearly, hut who cannot help quarrelling. Friends take a hand, but instead of making things better they create a situation that is ten times worse for the husband and wife. Innumerable mixups eventuate before harmony is restored. ‘ Divorce Among Friends ’ makes very gay entertainment for all tastes. It stars Irene Delroy, James Hall, Lew Cody, and Natalie Moorhead. The box plans are at The Bristol.

KINI EDWARD Warner Gland, one of the best character actors on the screen, is prominently cast in ‘ Charlie Chan Carries On,’ which will have its premiere at the King Edward Theatre to-night. Born in umea, Sweden, Gland went to America, when a mere youngster, and attended school in Boston, graduating from high school there, and then receiving his first theatrical training at Dr Curry’s Dramatic School. During the next twenty years he remained before the footlights, specialising in Shakespearean and Ibsen roles, and toured extensively, subsequently making several round-the-world trips with various travelling companies. Gland’s first screen roles were in four Theda Bara pictures for .Fox films in 1917. Subsequently he played in a number of Pathe serials, but his first role of importance was that of Charlie Yong in ‘ East is West,’ with Norma Talmadge, in 1922. A few months ago Fox was searching everywhere for an actor to play the title role in ‘ Charlie Chan Carries On,’ based on Earl Derr Biggers’s wellknown mystery story. More than twenty eminent actors were tested for the role, but none proved suitable until Gland’s test was screened. “ That’s the man,” said Director Hamilton MacFaddeu. The studio officers agreed, and Gland was signed to act the first sympathetic Oriental role of his career. Marguerite Churchill, John Garrick, Warren Hymer, Marjorie White, C. Henry Gordon, and Luxnsden Hare are in the cast of this unusually entertaining film.