PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21232, 13 October 1932, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Eased on Edna Berber's memorable novel, ‘ So Big,’ at the Empire, is a monument to womanhood; dedicated to those who have loved and lost, but fought every inch of the way. Barbara Stanwyck has brought it to vivid, thrilling life with a swift rush of reality that holds the audience breathless. She plays the part of a woman who took all life had to offer—its loves, its hates, its knocks, its joys, and its sorrows. She fought with feminine cunning for the things life denied her. Mr Paul Cullen presides at the organ, and there are excellent supports. REGENT Farming, even when one knows little about it, can be fascinating in summer, but when the winter storms harass the land, and cold, penetrating sleet takes the place of sunshine, work out of doors becomes less alluring. Nevertheless, dogged and determined, Bill drags weary, loam-laden feet stolidly after his plough, and even when ho returns home to a desolate farmhouse with no fire and a leaking roof he is not discouraged. Does one fearful setback, however, alter his ideas? This is the plot of ‘Mr Bill the Conqueror,’ one of the finest British films ever seen here, now at the Regent. The scenery is one of the outstanding features of this beautiful production. ST. JAMES Never was there a time when comedy was so welcome on the screen than at present. The world wants to laugh and forget its troubles. ‘ The Misleading Lady,’ at the St. James, is a fine gloom-chaser, being a combination of fast farce, charming romance, and broad comedy. A girl is kidnapped, carried off struggling at midnight, placed in a. plane, and taken to a lonely lodge. She is chained to a fireplace, and a run-away lunatic tries to rescue her. How a handsome man-of-the-world handles the situation provides plenty of fun. Claudette Colbert, Edmund Lowe, and Stuart Erwun bead the east. OCTAGON Several situations in 1 Almost Married.’ from ‘ The Devil’s Triangle,’ a chilling. thrilling story, revolve around the attempts of two lovers to win freedom from the tenacious toils of a mad musician, where a demented genius pours forth his distorted soul in music. Alexander Kirkland is supported by Ralph Bellamy and Violet IFeminnr. ‘The Command Perform ance ’ is the other picture. STRAND As a ruthless managing editor of an ’American paper, the policy of which is to delve into the secrets of the past and print sensational stories to build up circulation. Edward G. Robinson makes of ‘ Letters of Fire,’ at the Strand, a picture to be long remembered. Due to the release of a distasteful scandal a happy home is broken up, and the climax shows the editor denouncin'* the filthy policy of this class of the Press. KING EDWARD Robert Louis Stevenson’s immortal story, ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ is the’ headliner at the King Edward. Frederick March, as Jekyll. becomes '-'terested in a drug to eliminate evil. ]ns'ead he produces one to bring only evil out in a person, and the story, dealing with the hideous, sneering being, Mr Hyde, leads up to a very exciting climax.