PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21515, 13 September 1933, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE When Gina Kaus wrote ‘ Luxury Liner ’ she produced a tale that might have been titled ‘ Grand Hotel Afloat.’ ‘ Luxury Liner ’ does not possess an all-star cast, yet it has its very vivid characters, carefree, earnest, or soulless, from all ranks of life. Tho producers of ‘ Grand Hotel ’ set out with the idea of presentation of types—those who had not read the book found the film a strange one. In ‘ Luxury Liner,’ now screening at the Empire, the producer has kept tho main theme of the book, used its chief characters to fine effect, and then moulded the tale in a way that abandons the author’s story to make a more direct appeal to a film audience. And so one follows the sea voyage from Bremerhaven to New York aboard the floating palace, seeing life in all its phases most realistically displayed, following the hectic days of the young surgeon, shipped suddenly as the boat’s medical officer, in pursuit of a wife who has eloped with a selfish shipping magnate. George Brent is convincing as the surgeon, torn between the calls of his profession and the struggle to win back his wife; Zita Johann is both beautiful and efficient as the nurse in whose past life lurks tragedy, but to whom the end of the trip brings the realisation of the great ideal. But the most delightful picturisation is that by Alice White, of the poor, pretty, vivacious immigrant determined that her charms will not condemn her to travel third class all through life. Her simple flatteries of the male sex are uproarious, and her spreading of the news which sets the whole ship gambling wildly per radio on the New York stock market produces wonderful effects, of which the producer has made the most. The supports are good, and Mr Knight Barnett’s organ offerings are most pleasing. GRAND Entertainment of the highest order is provided by the programme now being presented at the Grand Theatre. In addition to the main picture, ‘ Girl Crazy,’ a delightful musical burlesque of life in the western United States, there are several splendid supporting features. In ‘ Girl Crazy,’ a picture based upon a Broadway stage success, the well-known comedians Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolscy are seen at their best. Briefly, the story deals with the adventures or a madcap “ girl crazy ” youth, who, when sent from New York to the quiet of his father’s ranch “ out west,” attempts to educate the cowboys^,to the gay ways of the metropolis. he adopts to transform the ranch into a casino of gaiety provide material for many highly amusing episodes. The cast is well selected, and the inimitable Wheeler and Woolsey, who appear as the youth’s stalwart supporters in establishing the new regime, are responsible for much laughter with their continuous flow of witticisms and hilarious antics. Eddie Quillan makes a good juvenile hero, and Dorothy Lee, who plays opposite to him, proves herself to bo an actress of ability. Other parts are enacted by Mitzi Green, Kitty Kelly, and Arline Judge. Included in tho film are several popular songs, ‘ I’ve Got Rhythm ’ and ‘ But Not For Mo ’ being outstanding. Among the supporting films are latest news gazettes from overseas and two comedies.

' ST. JAMES “ No wonder the Prince of AVales liked it,” said one overseas critic after seeing the Gainsborough picture, ‘ The Midshipmaid,’ which is now convulsing appreciative audiences at the St. James Theatre. No one with an appreciation of racy humour and lively action can fail to enjoy this bright, sparkling comedy—with .splashes of music—which involves the adventures of a maid on a British battleship. The maid in the case is Celia, the sprightly daughter of Sir Percy Newbiggin, who, eternally preaching rigid economy between champagne dinners, is sent to Malta by the Admiralty to report on how expenditure can be reduced. As they wish to entertain Admiral Dore and Sir Percy, the officers devise an economical ship’s concert, which involves Celia and handsome young Commander Dore in a delicious romance, which, after several checks, ends most happily. Miss Jessie Matthews, a new and ever so young English girl, scores a decided success ns Celia. Fred Kerr is inimitable as Sir Percy, and Basil Sydney makes a handsome lover, and A. W. Bascomb, the London comedian, is extremely finical as an A.B. Otlier pictures are * Birds of River and Mere,’ a Nature study, ‘ One Bright Summer Morning ’ (views of AVales), ‘New Guinea’ (studies of native life), and ‘ Stationary Movies.’ REGENT It is a pleasure to see Helen Hayes again. Helen Hayes is one actress who is more concerned about her art than about the cut of a gown and the arch of her eyebrows. Picturegoers will remember her in ‘ The Sin of Madelon Claudet.’ In ‘ The Son-Daughter,’ now at the .Regent, she has another delightful role—a Chinese girl who is suddenly summoned to play an heroic part in a life and death struggle. Helen Hayes devotes herself conscientiously to the portrayal of a dramatic role. As the daughter of Dr Dong Tong she is sold as a bride to the highest bidder among the Chinese merchants of San Francisco to provide money for the revolutionary struggle between young China and the Manchus. The opening sequences are slow, but the pace is accelerated when the sinister figure of the Sea Crab emerges from the murderous twilight of San Francisco’s Chinatown. The Sea Crab is an Imperial hatchet-man, a hired assassin of the Emperor, whose job it is to murder the patriots who are raising money for the rebels. _ Dr Tong falls a victim to him on the night of the Sea Crab’s marriage to the daughter, and she, who also sees her lover die by the knife., exacts vengeance by strangling the Sea Crab with his own pigtail. The familiar Lewis Stone is cleverly disguised as Tong, and AVarner Oland is the menacing villain. Much of interest is found in the settings of this film, which recreates skilfully the San Francisco Chinatown of thirty years ago. The wedding ceremonies are particularly interesting; OCTAGON An unusual role in an engrossing story is played with character and distinction by Richard Dix, who assumes the leading part in ‘ The Great Jasper,’ at the Octagon Theatre. Dix’s part is one which demands more than average ability, and ho rises to the occasion niagnilicently, welding the whole story into a very real and human drama which must appeal to everyone. He is cast 'as Jasper Horn, the driver of a horse car, and is first seen on the eye of the old cars being replaced by electric vehicles. He hfis a weakness for pretty women, and sides with his employer against his fellow-workers mainly, .to

pleaso his employer’s beautiful wife, and his action wins him promotion, but causes him the loss of his wife’s love, as she disapproves of his gay and carefree mode of living. He is eventually dismissed from his post and leaves with his son for Atlantic City, where he takes over the business of an astrologer, at which he prospers amazingly, but it is only when he finds that his son is being ruined by a man as unstable as himself that he realises the unwitting sorrow he has caused. The supporting programme is an excellent one, including ‘ The Vagabond,’ the reissue of a Charlie Chaplin comedy. STRAND All the ingredients that go to make an exciting Western picture—speed, action, danger, romance, and scenic beauty—have been crowded into ‘Wild Horse Mesa,’ by Zane Grey, which is now at the Strand Theatre. It is a story of strong men and lawless justice, placed in a setting of wild natural beauty. The setting, named in the title, was a high tableland which served as the last refuge for the greatest wild horse herd in the West, descendants of blooded animals that had escaped from early Spanish explorers. The land, and the horses thereon, belonged to the Indians, according to Government decree, and the story deals with the efforts of a band of horse thieves to capture and sell the wild horses. The horses have two defenders. One is Chane Weymer (Randolph Scott), who has become a great friend of the Indians. The other is Panquitch, king of the herd, whose vengeance on the man responsible for killing his colt is swift and final. KING EDWARD The wild animals of the African jungle, roaring, snarling, shrieking, and trumpeting, stalk thi’ough ‘ Nagana ’ the thrilling Universal romance which will be screened at the King Edward Theatre to-night. Wild savages and wild beasts form the background of a story heightened by a tempestuous love affair between the doctor in charge of a scientific expedition and a notorious woman of the world. ‘ Nagana ’ thrills with its dangerous animal scenes, with the ruthless cruelties of African savages, with its highly dramatic story, and with the appearance of Tala Birell. Featured with’ Miss Birell is Melvyn Douglas.