PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21092, 3 May 1932, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Stevenson’s classic book, *Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ in its talkie form, which is now at the Empire, must bo counted among the pictures of the day; tho photography is little short of marvellous, for not only does it bring out the full horror of the tale, but it even weirdly investigates the jumbled ■thoughts and emotions that are coursing through a man’s mind as he begins a losing struggle with his brute self. There are no transparent “fakes” or shifting of scenes to allow the handsome Jekyll to become the monstrous Hyde, the distortion and even the sprouting of the ugly whiskers is accomplished before the eyes of the audience. Fredric March, who plays the dual personality of Jekyll and Hyde, must take credit for the greatest characterisation of his career. The succumbing of the “ good self ” to the “ bad self” is more than mere bodily change, it is something that has to be expressed in detail of his bearing—even the voice becomes an animal snarl. When it is realised that ho appears as Hyde nearly as p many times as he portrays Jekyll, some idea is gained of the difficulty of his task. Rut even March’s acting would not make tho picture the success it is were it not for the excellence of the supporting cast. Miriam Hopkins, the ingenuous princess of ‘ The Smiling Lieutenant,’ who turned “jazzy,” shows that dramatic roles come as easy to her as the lighter parts, and in this, as the terrified subject of Hyde’s brutality and what little affection he has, she strikes new fields that stamp her as an actress of class. Rose Hobart and Holmes Herbert have both strong supporting roles. REGENT Excellently photographed, artisticlly produced, and faithfully acted, the talkie version of ‘ The Rosary ' is charming large audiences at the Regent. An appropriate atmosphere is created for tho picture by Miss Rita Holmes’s singing of ‘ The Rosary ’ as part of a well-arranged stage prologue. Though tho main theme of this striking picture is the portrayal of a woman’s sacrifice for the happiness of her younger sister, the story touches many lives and follows the play of many human emotions. As the elder sister, Margot Grahamo has a role that calls for much dramatic acting, and shows great , art in making tho most of the part while still restraining it within the bounds of normal human behaviour. And if the virtue of the leading character is a little beyond the experience of ordinary people, they will find some sympathy for the varied types that are portrayed by Elizabeth Allen as the unscrupulous, selfish younger sister, Walter Piers as the impecunious father and self-confessed forger, Leslie Perrins as the employer w'ho spends a week-end with his typiste but falls really in Jove with virtue, or Charles Groves as Hornett, butler in the Mannering household, and his master’s accomplice in forgery. The nobility of the theme and tho haunting melody of ‘ The Rosary ’ song, faintly heard at intervals, seem to lift the w’ ole story to a higher level than forgers, stenographers, and murderesses usually attain, and to lift the audience with them. The strange train of events which leads to the tragic shooting of a blackmailer by the younger girl and her half-sister’s subsequent self-sacrifice on her behalf is deftly presented. Although tho solace of the convent, which first, the one and then the other girl seeks, is persuasively advanced, it is not allowed to obscure the main trend of the plot, ST. JAMES One of the most brilliant of the operatic stars attracted to tho talkies is Lawrence Tibbctt, who is enhancing his reputation by his brilliant performance in ‘ Cuban Love Song ’ at the St. James. Lawrence Tibbett has become an international favourite through his pictures, and audiences all over the world have tho talkies to thank for being given an opportunity to appraise his remarkable qualifications. In ‘ The Rogue Song,’ ‘ The Prodigal,’ and ' New Moon ’ he established himself as one of the brightest stars of the screen firmament. Tibbett’s- arresting baritone voice 'and breezy personality command immediate respect and attention in this production. It is quite different from his previous vehicles, and gives him an opportunity to demonstrate his exceptional versatility and artistry to the fullest advantage. In this picture, too, he proves that he has ripened into an actor fit to rank with the screen’s best. He is more polished and he displays a remarkable versatility. His part in this picture must have been very difficult to portray. He is at once a great comedian and a great dramatic artist. Tibbett _is not an actor of type, but an individualist, and it is hero that theatregoers find his humour so refreshing and bis mannerisms so amusing. OCTAGON ‘I Like Your Nerve,’ with Douglas Fairbanks, jun., in the main male post, is a pleasant example of that type of picture whiffi combines a strong story with clever individual acting and direction. In tins film, winch is now showing at the Octagon, Loretta Young portrays a really entertaining role in a fascinating manner. She is cast as the beautiful daughter of a Central American official to whom comes in love and fancy a handsome and wealthyyoung United States youth who is 'travelling through the States in search of just that little bit of life that she can give him—and does. Douglas is pursued bv fierce bandits' and revengeful suitors', to say nothing of grasping fatbers-in-law, but lie eludes the clutches of them all. ‘ 1 Like Your Servet' is a clean and wholesome film, and one that'any audience will appreciate. Matheson Lang, who has made a great name for himself, per medium of the screen.' by virtue of his ability in executing roles flawlessly, is seen in 1 The Chinese Bungalow.’ a British alltalking feature, also at the Octagon. His portrayal of Yuan Sing, a Chinese mandarin who adopted westernised ways in his living, but showed his true, sinister, ami sphinx-like revengeful nature when a white man tried to win his wife, elevates him to a high position amongst the screen luminaries of tho world.

STRAND An exciting story by Zane Grey, which is now showing at the Strand Theatre, is ‘The Rainbow Trail,’ and it is one of tho best of many fine outdoor pictures that have been shown recently. Evidently Fox has tho very wise conviction that it does not pay to put inferior work into a film, and tho result is a, rattling good story of excitement that, _so far as direction, technique, and acting are concerned, can bear comparison with a good many of the society and sex “ specials” that appear from time to time. So far as scenic beauty goes, ‘ The Rainbow Trail ’ is excellent. In all the important scenes tho action is really set against the awe-inspiring splendour of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, and if for no other reason ‘ The Rainbow Trail ’ should be seen for its eye-filling vistas of majestic cliffs, great chasms, narrow trails, and fantastic piles of queerly-shaped rocks. There are reasons why the picture should please. There is George O’Brien in the leading role of Shefford, and O’Brien is admitted to be the best portrayer of Western characters on tho screen to-day. His heroine is Cecilia Parker, who is well suited for the part of Fay Larkin. KING EDWARD Robert Montgomery has the leading roles in ‘ Shipmates,’ tho headliner at the King Edward. The picture has a tremendous sweep in the navy backgrounds, showing the plunging lines of battleships on the firing ranges, thundering salvos, the repelling of a tactical enemy in a mighty spectacle, terrifying to behold as it flashes on the screen with all the fury, of the gun blasts pounding from the loud speakers. In the shipboard scones navy life is depicted in a fascinating intimacy. The blending of the shore romance with the navy interest is deftly interpolated. The other film is ‘The Girl Habit,’ which provides Charles Buggies with abundant opportunities for fun-making. FOURTH RETURN SEASON. The King Edward management announces tho return of ‘ Viennese Nights,’ undoubtedly the finest musical film ever shown in Dunedin, on Wednesday. This film, which has just completed a most successful third' return season, has broken all records for this city, and it will indeed be interesting to note tho reception accorded it on tho occasion of its fourth run.