THE PICTURES—NEW PROGRAMMES

Evening Star, Issue 21138, 25 June 1932, Page 10

THE PICTURES —NEW PROGRAMMES

REGENT'S ATTRACTIVE BILL * TILLY OF BLOOMSBURY ' EXCELLENT ‘ Tilly of Bloomsbury,’ the British Dominions comedy. should bring bumper houses to the llegent all the week if it receives the public patronage to which its merit undoubtedly entitles it. Written by lan Hay, whose ‘ My Wife’s Family ’ and ‘ The Middle Watch’ scored so heavily, this latest production, has a cast of talented performers. Phyllis Konstam, who acts tho title role, adds further lustre to a successful screen career, while Sydney Howard is at his hue . bio best. A realistic drama ot a London tenement house girl’s romance with the scion of a wealthy family, ‘ Tilly of Bloomsbury ’ is replete with human interest, and lan Hay’s genial humour is skilfully interpreted. As a stage play 1 Tilly ’ is well and favourably known, and it loses none of its whimsical humour or of its delightful moments of pathos or drama in its change to the screen. Tilly is the daughter of a humble Bloomsbury family, all the members of which drop their aitches except the father, who has come down in the world, and was once a university man. At the other end of London’s social ladder is tho Mainwaring family, the son and heir being Ilichard, a very fine chap and quite unspoiled in spito of the silver spoon which has been in his mouth ever since he was born. Tilly and. “Dick” meet with a bump on the ice at a skating rink, and are immediately attracted, and thereafter money and breeding and education matter very little to the boy. They do matter very much, however, to his family, and when the two lovers become engaged, Tilly’s reception by the Mainwaring clan is almost as chilly as tho ice on which she met Dick. His father, a good old _ soul with democratic leanings, in spite of his millions, stands by his son, but it is only moral support, because of tho hen-pecking propensities of Lady Mainwaring. Tilly puts a good face on the matter, and when “ pumped ” about her family connections and social standing, bluffs her way out by pretending a lot of thingi that are not quite true about mansions and butlers and yachts: and inspired by • a couple of cocktails, is rash enough to invite the Mainwarings to call on her family at their “ town house ” in Bloomsbury. The invitation is accepted, and then Tilly has to coach her family regarding its behaviour in the coming ordeal; her mother is not to forget her aitches, and grandma is not to mention her plumber husband, and so on. Just when the stage is all set, in walks the broker’s man to take possession until all the,, bills are paid! But Tilly is equal to the occasion, and persuades him to accept the temporary role of the “ old family butler.” This is Sydney Howard’s chance for some choice comedy, and he takes it to the full with his wrong entrances, his muddled-up announcements, his big feet, and his ill-fitting clothes. Tilly’s house of cards crashes about her feet, and in a dramatic but very pathetic scene she owns up to the deception, tells the snobbish Mainwarings just who she and her people are, and that they are proud of it, and refuses to see Dick again. But Dick, being a wise fellow, is not so easily put off—-and certainly Tilly’s charm and pluck deserve their reward —and casting off his family he returns to tho Bloomsbury house, and, in tho words of the broker’s man, announces: “ Here I am, and here I stays until I gets what I ca ne for.” And so the ending is happy, aided by the fact that the sympathetic Lord Mainwaring asserts himself over his wife at tho last and declares that he approves of the match. Included among the supporting items is a Bobby Jones golfing picture. ‘ONE HOUR WITH YOU* MAURICE CHEVALIER'S SPARKLING COMEDY Life has its compensations. The thought may not be original, but it is based on truth. And one of its compensations is ‘ One Hour With You,’ which opened at the Empire yesterday, aiid in which the irresistible Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald sparkle like a diamond necklace. The production—a musical romance, delightful and scintillating—is produced by Ernst Lubitsch, with the real Lubitsch touch; and, further, tho popular stars, Maurice and Jeanette, have the charming Genevieve Tobin and Charles Buggies, the well-known comedian, to support them. The comedy itself is lightly and brightly “ French,” in that it is amusingly risque without being in any way vulgar. The opening scenes give the keynote to the film. Dr Andre Bertier and Colette are discovered making ardent love on a park bench at night. A policeman intervenes, and tho audience laughs with him in derision when Andre says Colette is his wife. The two return to their flat, and Andre (Maurice Chevalier), informing the audience that ho and Colette are really married, admonishes them for their unworthy doubts. Colette (Jeanette MacDonald), who is deeply in love with her husband, has an old school friend, Mitzi (Genevieve Tobin), whom she trusts implicitly, and to whom she proudly introduces Andre. Mitzi justifies her confidence by beginning a whirlwind campaign to alienate Andre’s affections, and what Mitzi knows of the art of alluring man is remarkable. Andre really loves Colette, but Mitzi’s phvsique has him well beaten at an early stage, for she fairly dazzles him with science. Colette suspects soine woman as a rival, and confides in Mitzi, who agrees, and provides Colette with some delightfully false clues. Of course, the truth comes out, and Colette forgives Andre, who, after relating his tall from grace to the men in the audience, demands to know what they would do in a similar situation, and after a pause adds: “Well, that’s what I did.” The whole picture bubbles over with delightful impudence _ and nonsense. Seven lilting song hits are introduced, and these bright and tuneful numbers make art instant appeal. The supporting programme is delightful. There is also the attractive playing ami singing of Paul Cullen to give added appeal to tho programme.

A BRILLIANT SUCCESS EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT AT ST. JAMES The St. Janies lias an excellent programme for the current week, and the tact that Norma Shearer is the star of ‘ Strangers May Kiss,’ which opened a season here yesterday, should be sufficient inducement to most pieturegoers to see this him. Those who saw ‘ Let Us Be Gay ’ and ‘ The Last, of Mrs Ghcyaey,’ two films as good as anything of their type, will not need to bo told that Norma Shearer is something more than a most attractive bit of feminity; she is unusually good as an actress. She has the rare knowledge that restraint is important, and her restraint helps her to score highest where a more flamboyant star would have half the audience laughing at her. Opposite her plays Robert Montgomery, a young man whoso acquaintuncc anyone who likes to sec u job mgII done should make. Montgomery, in spite of his youth, is very competent, as any actor needs to be who has to convey the impression that alcohol, d there’s enough of it, will make up ior having missed Norma Shearer. He follows her to Biarritz, to Fans, and hack to New York; and then ho loses her. , . .. . The more successful lover is iNeil Hamilton, the sort of journalist who lias warships wait for him while he slips from Panama to board them and go to South America in them. The thought that any woman as beautiful as Norma Shearer could bo so enthusiastic over any man as she is over him should bo a consoling thought to many a young bachelor. , , , . , Hamilton, as a matter of fact, is at first most unappreciative. It would be difficult to say whether the audience was more disgusted at his action or amazed at his folly when he left Norma in Mexico, but it was easy to see that he had learnt his lesson and was kicking himself for both when ho finally found her again in Paris. His horror when ho found that she, too, had been finding consolation in other directions made it look as if the happy ending was going to be hard to find; but George I'itzmaurice, the director, is a man of great ingenuity, and lie found the way out. A good word must be said tor Mr Fitzmaurice, too, for the excellent arrangement of some of the scenes and for the photography which is a good deal above the average. There is nothing that can be said against this picture, and everyone who likes good films and who likes Norma Shearer will find the combination really worth while. ‘ Strangers May Kiss ’ is a brilliant success; the story is well told, it is enacted by a uniformly excel ent cast, there are sufficient twists to the plot to hold the interest to the final fade-out; and all in all it would be difficult to find better entertainment. Particularly is the dialogue bright and clever, and the film, if a trifle daring, never oversteps the mark. The St. James Theatre has a reputation not only for the quality of its principal features, but also for the excellence of its supporting programmes, which are invariably entertaining, inis week’s “ shorts ” are no exception. Indeed, they put the audience m an eminently satisfying frame of mind for the big film. That, of course, is only to be expected when that irrepressible pair, Laurel and Hardy, are appearing m a picture. They are given rather more film than they usually use to show their humorous possibilities, and as a lesult the audience is kept in a constant simmer of laughter. The idea of putting them into the Foreign Legion as Beau Hunks ” was a splendid one, and they certainly neglected no opportunities of getting laughs by their original antics. Admirers of Sir Harry Lauder, and they are legion, have the opportunity of hearing the famous Scottish comedian in ‘ Tobermory 1 and his old favourite, ‘ Stop Your Tickling, Jock ; and a further attraction on one of the best allround programmes for some time is an in+eresting news reel. The programme will be shown to-night and during the week. OCTAGON S DOUBLE SUCCESS TWO HIGHLY ENTERTAINING FILMS ‘ Girls About Town,’ an amusing stow of “ gold-diggers ” and ‘Bracelets,*’ a fascinating British comctlydrama, provided excellent entertainment to patrons at the Octagon yesterday. , , When two particularly attractive ami experienced young “ gold-diggers ’ set out to capture a portion of the wealth of a handsome millionaire the position is filled with numerous possibilities. But the extent of those possibilities cannot be fully realised until one sees ‘ Girls About Town.’ It is evident that it takes a clever woman to bo a successful gold-digger, and it is equally evident that Wanda Howard and Mane Bailey had made a complete study of the art. What could bo more natural than Marie’s reluctant acceptance of an opal ring which she had so innocently admired on her victim s linger, and what could be more pathetic than Wanda’s wistful admiration of the contents of a jeweller’s window ? But among the millionaires of America there was one who could not be so easily separated from his banknotes. Benjamin Thomas was a notorious “ tightwad,” and Marie, it seemed, had bitten off more than she could chew when she accepted the task of “ touching ” this wary person. She admired his diamonds, she lingered outside furriers; in fact, she used every device known to the gold-digger, but all to no avail. Benjamin always had something much more interesting to think about. Meanwhile Wanda’s tunc was being claimed by Jim Baker, Thomas s young associate, but she was not so enthusiastic over her task. It seems that even gold-diggers sometimes succumb to the arrows of Cupid, for Wanda had fallen in love with her intended victim. It is here that a little drama is introduced, and the effect is to make the picture even more acceptable as entertainment. The romance between Jim and Wanda threatens to cease when Jim finds out the girl s calling. However, the climax is all that could be desired. Perhaps the acting honours of the picture must go to Lilyan Tashman as the very mercenary Mario who really has a heart of gold. She is cast in a part that suits her type of acting. Kay Francis gives a fine interpretation as the more romantic Wanda. Others in the exceptionally strong cast arc Eugene Pallette, Joal M'Crea, and Allan Dinehart. • ‘ Bracelets ’ is an ingenious little comedy adapted from the famous stage play by Sewell Collins, and its human feeling* as well as its comedy and underlying drama are very well brought out* in this fascinating screen play. Bert Coote, playing the starring role of Mr Hobbctt, is excellent. He is whimsically pathetic in his absendmindeduess, and enacts the role flawlessly. The story is that of an employee of a big jewellery firm who is told on his twenty-fifth anniversary of joining the firm that he must buck tip or get out. Incidentally that day also happens to 1)0 his wedding anniversary, and that

conies ns a shock. The method ho makes use of to regain the confidence of his employers in trapping a couple of crooks who have robbed the store is one long laugh. You will laugh at Bert Cooto and with him as ho unravels the intriguing tangles of the robbery. The supporting east has been admirably selected, and is headed by Joyce Kennedy, D. A. Clarkc-Smith, and Frederick Leister. A Universal newsreel is a most decided acquisition to the programme. OUTDOOR THRILLER STRAND’S ROMANTIC MEXICAN STORY Of the class that guarantees audiences many thrills, ‘ Die Gay Caballero ’ makes good entertainment at the Strand Theatre, where it opened a season yesterday. It is a romantic story by Tom Gill of present-day adventure in the border country, and resolves around the exploits of a mysterious rider, providing strange and dripping dramatic incidents. The plot concerns a certain El Coyote, a bandit of the Robin Hood brand, who is a thorn in the side of Paco Morales, a wealthy Mexican with ambitions of carving out for himself a veritable kingdom by acquiring vast tracts of land from which his ruthless vaqueros have driven out the peaceful settlers. Into the feud that exists between 111 Coyote and Morales goes Ted Radcliffc to claim his dead father’s lands. He discovers, however, that .hey have been lost through the machinations of Morales. There is some compensation in the sympathy of the Mexican’s pretty niece, and she it is who induces the hero to stay in the locality. There is a swaggering boaster of no small physical prowess as a rival to this romance, with the result that there are numerous thrilling fights to add to the interest of the story, which is fast throughout and cleverly directed. George O’Brien is seen in the type of role that best suits his talents. As a college graduate he arrives in Arizona to find another carefully managing what is left of his father’s once great holdings, and great is his surprise to find that instead of becoming heir to a fortune ho has inherited a fight against the might of a Mexican land baron. O’Brien’s portrayal all through is thoroughly convincing and conforms strictly to the requirements of the part. Victor M'Laglen, who is another sterling player on the silver sound sheet, makes full use of the opportunities offered in the part of the ranch manager, while C, Henry Gorden, who seeks to bring the particular section of the country pictured under his ruthless, brutal control, is another who does excellent work. Romance of a dramatic intensity enters the story when O’Brien falls in love with Conchita Montenegro, niece of the hated Mexican, fiery daughter of Spain, and a rich heiress. Their love is somewhat complicated by the presence of Weldon Heybum, who assumes the role of another suitor for the girl’s hand, and chieftain of the cruel vaqueros. A half-hour British comedy, ‘ Star Reporter,’ embraces journalism in Fleet street, jewel robberies, and the efforts to get them back without introducing the police into the picture. The story is very interesting and is embellished with a thrill or two here and there, and moves on to a satisfactory climax when the get their just reward, the hero the girl of his dreams, and the newspaper reporter his sensational story. Of the two gazettes, the Australian Fox News is the more interesting, in that amongst other scenes it pictures the opening of the Wellington War Memorial Carillon. Such an entertaining programme as that at the Strand is sure to draw big business during the coming week. AMUSING FARE OUT SOUTH MARIE DRESSIER AS MAYORAL CANDIDATE No matter what the plot concerns Marie Dressier can be depended upon to make a “ do ” of things, providing a large quota of laughs and sobs, and in her latest effort, ‘ Politics,’ she does not disappoint. The story itself is very comical, but the great character actress docs not solely confine herself to funmaking. There arc moments when the drama approaches the quality of that attained in memorable ‘ Min and Bill.’ ‘ Politics,’ which will arrive at the King Edward Theatre to-night, is, in essence, a burlesque on how women have taken up active political life in the past few years, and, not content with possessing the vote, have also sought to sit, and have succeeded in sitting, in the seats of government. However, there are some truthful moments in the burlesque, and it is interesting to note that the women in the film follow the lead of, or possibly fonn the example for, those women in Australia who went on strike in the home because their husbands had seen fit to go on strike outside it. Beside Mario Dressier Polly Moran shines with a subdued light, both in the story and in the acting, but she is a very necessary part of the team, which has now become one of the most popular on the screen. Stuttering in an absurd and most amusing fashion, Roscoo Atcs also contributes a number of laughs. A thread of romance runs through the film to round off the elements of humour, suspense, and drama. George Bancroft and William Boyd head the cast of ‘ Derelict,’ the other film, which is a mighty sea yarn.