PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21570, 16 November 1933, Page 8

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND One of the most hilarious comedies Wheeler and Woolscy have yet made, ‘ So This is Africa,’ concludes a successful season at the Grand Theatre tonight. They appear as two penniless owners of a group of performing lions, and they are engaged to go to Africa with Mrs Johnson-Martini, an explorer, who is to make a jungle picture in Africa, hut is unfortunately afraid of lions. Once in Africa the company undergoes a series of ludicrous adventures, which are probably tho most amusing of their kind ever filmed. A feature of the picture is the biting satire on the making of jungle pictures. The cast in support of the two comedians includes Raquel Torres. Esther Muir, and Horton Churchill. ST. JAMES The all-British show at the St. James continues to draw packed houses-—-and rightly so. 1 Tell Mo To-night ’ is the happiest combination of classical music and light comedy screened here. It is not strictly correct to speak of "Tel! Me To-night’ as a British film, for tho picture was made in Berlin by a Russian director, with a Polish star. However, it was British money, and British enterprise that made the picture possible. With tho film Jan Kiepura, the young Polish tenor, as the singer who escapes from his tyrannous manageress to have the time of his life in Switzerland, gains greater prominence than ever before. His singing of excerpts from ‘Rigoletto,’ ‘La Traviata,’ and ‘ La Bohemo ’ is enchanting. Set as it is in tho landscapes of lake and alpine splendour, nothing to be compared with ‘Tell Me To-night’ has been heard in talking pictnres - before. The comedy is supplied by Sonnio Hale, who emerges as an irresistible film comedian. Charming Magda Schneider, the nineteen-ycar-old Gorman Marehon, is a revelation. She knew no English until cast for ‘ Tell Mo To-night.’ Her speech has the quaintest inflection—a very pleasing note. With its superlative direction, its wonderful singing, its joyous gaiety, and its glittering and glorious Alpine settings, ‘Tell Mo Tonight ’ is an outstanding entertainment. Showing the activities of the British Navy, ‘ Our Lighting Navy ’ is also showing. It is a truly interesting feature, and one worthy of supporting such a fine entertainment as ‘ Tell Me To-night.’ EMPIRE Typical light British comedy is provided in 4 Leave it to Me,’ the film version of P. G. Wodehouse’s widelyread novel ‘ Leave it to Psmith,’ at the Empire. Gene Gcrrard, one of the most popular comedians on the screen, gives another hilarious performance ns Sebastian Help, a light-hearted philanthropist who devotes his time to helping anybody and everybody. The supporting cast includes George Geo, Gns M'Naughton, of ‘ His Wife’s Mother,’ Molly Lament, and Olive Borden. There is an excellent supporting programme. REGENT One of the most convincing and poignant love stories to be translated to the talking screen, ‘ A Farewell to Arms,’ is the Regent attraction. Helen Hayes gives one of her finest performances as an English nurse in Italy, while Gary Cooper is almost equally as good as an American lieutenant in the Italian Ambulance Corps. Although the war forms a background for tho picture, it is not made too prominent, the producer confining his efforts to vivid suggestion. The supporting programme includes two newsreels, a sound cartoon, and a ‘ Screen Souvenir.’ STRAND A delightful and fanciful film concerning the adventures of the last man on earth, ‘ It’s Great to be ifUive,’ will conclude at the Strand Theatre to-day. Raul Roulien gives an attractive performance as tho sole male survivor of a mysterious disease. An amusing situation arises when he is kidnapped by a female “gangster,” hut he is rescued and an international congress called to determine Ivis owner. A strong cast includes Herbert Mnndin and Edna May Oliver. OCTAGON ‘ The Iron Stair,’ in which Harry Kendall, whoso ability has been proved to motion picture audiences by his work in previous productions, will conclude at the Octagon Theatre to-night. Tho picture tells a story of twins, so marvellously alike that few cun say which is which, one of whom is accused of a crime which his brother has committed. The ending is all that could bo desired. The supporting cast does its work in a praiseworthy manner. The other picture is a Western entitled ‘ Cross Fire,’ in which Tom Keene is featured. KING EDWARD Excellent entertainment is provided at the King Edward, where ‘ The Ghost Train ’ is showing. Tho production, tho action of which takes place in a remote railway station in Cornwall, is replete with thrills, which are cleverly sustained. Jack Hulbert appears as a detective. Ann Todd plays an ingenue part, while Cicely Courtneidge supplies comic relief as a spinster who freely indulges in brandy. An impressive climax is reached when the “ ghost train ” rushes shrieking through the station. There are excellent supporting features.