PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21509, 6 September 1933, Page 3

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND Two British films of outstanding merit comprise; the current programme at the Grand Theatre. ‘ The Perfect Lady ’ is a bright comedy, tho theme being a quest in search of femininity by a prosaic and modern young woman, for the purpose of retaining the affections of a young man who prefers a less up-to-date and more sentimental treatment at bis lady’s hands. How the young lady becomes maid to a popular actress, whose methods,, in affairs of the heart, she studies and how she employs her newly-acquired technique create entertaining situations. Betty Amann gives an outstanding performance as an exotic vamp, whose affairs of the heart lead to her ultimate downfall; Harry Wilcoxon, as a strong silent man from the West will cause feminine filmgoers’ hearts to flutter uncertainly, and Moira Lynd makes a- charming and whimsical heroine, determined to fight for “ her man.” Potiphar's Wife ’ is an intriguing and powerful story, screened in a masterful fashion and offering very acceptable entertainment. Nora Swinburne co-stars with Oliver in ‘ Potiphar’s Wife,’ and prominent roles arc also taken by Norman M'Kimxell, Guy Newall, and Ronald Frankan. EMPIRE Bewhiskered and bespectacled, John Barrymore excels himself in tho whimsical role of a simple-minded French schoolmaster learning about life in the R.K.O. production, ‘ Topaze,’ which is now at the Empire. This is a distinguished film; it is Barrymore’s best performance to date—which is saying a groat deal —and lie achieves his success without the aid of the famous Barrymore profile. The film is brilliant, but the brilliance is of tho subdued kind which grows on one while the story is being unfolded. It is specialised and intelligent entertainment, with satire that is never far short of being cynicism, and with superb little touches of acting and direction that cannot fail to arouse the admiration of those picturegoers who appreciate the finer points of film-mak-ing. The plot is unusual and delightfully refreshing. Honesty prevented Professor Topazo" from becoming a famous man. Pupils of capitalist parents did not inevitably figure in his honours list. Bub that brought about his dismissal from tho school. _ He turned to science, and his association with a scientific natent made him better recognised. France rewarded him for his work, and a humble school teacher, considered a fool, became respected and honoux-ed throughout the land. Barrymore’s bright humour, and F o subtlety of his remarks are impressive. Mryna Loy, Alberti Conti, and Reginald Mason give him excellent support. STRAND 1 The Devil is Driving,’ at the Strand, is something right out of the ordinary, and is a crime story in which love, murder, thrills, and pathos are interwoven, and tells of the operations of a garage foreman (James Gleason), to whose garage stolen cars are brought and repainted, so that they will never be recognised. His brother-in-law (Edmund Lowe) has a job as a mechanic. The foreman’s small son is run over by tho driver of a stolon car who is being pursued by a policeman, and when the father discovers this ho goes to the head of tho business (who actually drove the car), and demands to know the name of the man who knocked his son down. Then the thrills.begin, and continue until the end of the picture, REGENT ' Pleasure Cruise,’ the Fox Film comedy at the Regent, is distinctly worth while seeing. It has a generous content of all the ingredients that go to make perfect entertainment. ‘ Pleasure Cruise ’ relates tho story of a young woman who decides to inject some romance into her married life by taking a cruise on one of those liners whose principal cargo is a group of pleasure-seeking passengers. Her husband, a timid and credulous gentleman, is not entirely enthusiastic about his wife’s taking a trip for the trip’s sake. So, with benefit of disguise and a somewhat changed personality, he manages to become a steward on the very ship that is to carry his wife on her quest for diversion. Tho man has the dubious satisfaction of seeing his wife pursued by all manner of men, and of learning that she is not completely averse to tho chase lierselif. There arc a number of times when he would like to call the whole thing off. hut finds that mid-ocean is a bad place to do that. As tho adventurous wife, Genevieve Tobin combines charm and glamour with superb portrayal. As her husband, Roland Young proves that he stands supreme in high coinedv characterisations. TTna O’Conner, Herbert Mundin. and Frank Atkinson are n trio of comics it would he hard to surpass anywhere, and Minna Gumboil's performance is crisp and snappy. Ralph Forbes, Theodore Von Fit/, Robert Groig, and Arthur Hoyt are splendidly cast in important roles. ST. JAMES John Batten, the Auckland actor who was so successful in ‘ Under tho Greenwood Tree ’ and ‘ Men Like Those.’ makes a welcome reappearance in ‘ The Wonderful Story,’ the drama which is holding the interest of audiences at the St. James. ‘ The Wonderful Story ’ tells of tho love of two brothers for a girl. As the younger of tho brothers, John Batten gives the greatest characterisation of his meteoric career. The part of the eider brother, wlio meets with an accident and becomes permanently bedridden on the eve of his intended marriage, is enacted by Eric Branshy Williams, whoso-perform-ance is of a standard seldom surpassed on tho screen. Wyn Clare, a newcomer to films, makes a winsome heroine. Her role, that of a young woman called to choose between conflicting love and duty, is a difficult one; yet she ably masters all its intricacies. ‘No Funny Business, 1 which is the other attraction at the St. James, provides entertainment of tho type which has done so much to raise the standard of English films. Gertrude Lawrence takes tho part of the wife in a domestic quarrel, in which both tho principals are anxious for a divorce. Her lighthearted frivolity permeates the film from beginning to end, ami the credit for its success must largely go to her. Edmond Broon, as her husband, while Jill Esmond and Lawrence Olivier appear as co-respondents. OCTAGON ‘ Infernal Machine,’ a light romantic comedy with a dramatic touch, is the chief film on the current dual programme at the Octagon. Chester Morris and Genevieve Tobin head a strong cast. The story concerns a love affair between Miss Tobin and Morris, which starts after a taxicab crash m Paris. Morris takes the girl's jewels to save them from Apaches, lie manages to return the girl’s jewels, stowing away on a ship to achieve this, and she makes her fiance, enacted by Victor Jory, reward Morris b f v paying'his pas-

sage. In mid-Atlantic a wireless message is x-ecoivcd to the effect than an infernal machine is planted aboard and that the ship xvill never reach port. ■ Walking Doxvn Broadway,’ the second attraction, is a delightfully natural story of hoxv two young people meet in a crowd in Broadway and immediately fall in love. Boots Mallory, James Dunn, and Zasn Pitts are the featured players. RING EDWARD One of the most laughable pictures seen in Dunedin for a long time is 'Harmony Roxv,’ in xvhich tho inimitable comedian, George Wallace, has tho leading x-ole. This xvill be to-night’s attraction at tho King Edward Theatre. ‘ Harmony Roxv ’ xvas xvritten by tho versatile George himself, and provides tho comedian xvith all the opportunities for laugh-raising that ho could possibly desire. As a diniinntix-c policeman rejoicing in tho x r ery inappropriate name of “ Dreadnought,” George goes through many hilarious experiences and suffers some hard knocks and tumbles in the course of his police duties in a far from savoury neighbourhood. It is only xvhen he finds himself deprived of his uniform, and forced to don the gaol clothes of an escaped convict, that George finally seeks to he transferred to a more salubrious suburb, only to find fresh adventures of an even more terrifying kind.