PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21582, 30 November 1933, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND Britain lias at. last achieved the distinction of producing a film really worthy of the great novel upon which it was founded. Those who have read Priestley's ‘ Good Companions ’ will find the screen version of an immortal story a further accentuation of the book’s delights. The book compels the reader to create his own idea of the pulsating characters in its pages; in the film these characters materialise, not as the presentations of actors and actresses, but as the convincingly real persons whom one has loved and laughed at through Priestley’s introduction. And for one who has not yet lived through the pages of the book, it must be conceded that this picture tells a long and peculiarly woven story with a coherence which is remarkable, and an adhcrencc'to the script faithful and full, until the end, when the producer has taken a justifiable liberty with the tale. The novel takes a long time to bring three of its main characters into contact with a hand of strolling players. One of the finest direction features about the film is the manner in which it achieves this by presenting the main circumstances of three lives castin such remarkably different surroundings,' so that the whole of the story becomes' vividly comprehensible as soon as the band of theatrical adventurers starts upon the road. When dess Oakroyd comes on the screen the audience sees and recognises Edmund Gwenn, but quickly forgets all about England’s finest character actor in living with the cheerful, philosophical Yorkshireman that he has become, the character to whom-every heart must go out. So it is with the Inigo Jollifant, carefree school master with a genius for musical composition, and with Miss Trant, resolute orphan who risks all of her cash in a madcap gambol. They are essentially people, not portrayals. Not till nearly halfway through the story does its most temperamental, adorable person appear upon the screen, but from then till the finale the audience lives, laughs, loves, and weeps with the concert party comedienne who is “ wedded to her art.” The “ Susie Dean ” of Jessie Matthews is her greatest triumph —a ,triumph in singing and dancing, in light and shade of life’s vicissitudes, that accounts for so much of the applause which the audience invariably and unstintedly gives at the conclusion of the film. EMPIRE A strong cast of well-known players interprets 1 The White Sister,’ a poignant drama based on F. Marion Crawford’s well-known novel, which heads the Empire programme. Helen Hayes has the role which made Lilian Gish so popular in the silent version, while Clark Gablo takes the part of the young officer. The story deals with an Italian princess, who, although engaged to a man of her own station, falls in love with an Italian officer. But he is reported as killed in an aeroplane crash and she becomes n nun to escape the sorrows of the world. Almost immediately her lover returns and a struggle between spiritual and worldly love ensues. An atmospheric prologue precedes the film. ST. JAMES ‘ Tell Me To-night ’ has repeated in Dunedin the phenomenal success which has attended it elsewhere. The story concerns a young opera singer who manages to escape from his domineering manageress to have a holiday in Switzerland. Ho meets a confidence man, who is subsequently mistaken for the singer, and the two have a series of hilarious adventures in a little Swiss town. The cast is headed by Jan Kiepura, a young Polish tenor of note, whose singing of excerpts from popular operas is hailed as the finest yet heard from the talking screen. His leading lady is Magda Schneider, a charming young German actress, and others in the east are Edmund Gwenn and Sonnie Hale. The activities of the British Navy are vividly depicted in ‘ Our Fighting Navy,’ which also is being shown. REGENT One of the best comedies released by English studios, “ Counsel’s Opinion.’ is delighting patrons of the Regent Theatre. The story is farcical comedy, in which a conventional young lawyer imagines he is faced with a situation in which he will ho cited as co-respon-dent by a client who is seeking a divorce. The plot is skilfully contrived

to .give every apparent reality, but no foundation in fact, to his emharassing dilemma. The cast includes Henry Kendall, a rising young London stage player, Cyril Maude, who gave such likeable characterisations in ‘ Grumpy ’< and ‘ These Charming People,’ and Biunie Barnes. STRAND Mae West, one of the most spectacular figures in the current Broadway theatrical world, makes her debut as a screen star in Paramount’s ‘ She Done Him Wrong,’ a melodrama which she herself wrote, and which will conclude at the Strand to-night. ‘ She Done Him Wrong ’ is a story of a notorious section of New York during the gay ’nineties, with its collection of wideopen saloons, “ tough men,” ami frivolous women. It centres around a. singer known as “ Lady Lou,” who has a way with men, and who accepts their attentions in return for diamonds. Her collection of gems is ransom for half a dozen kings. Miss West appears in that role. OCTAGON Gloria Swanson makes her first appearance in a serious role for some years in - Perfect Understanding,’ which has proved popular at the Octagon Theatre. She plays the part of a young American who marries the nephew of an English peer, and the story revolves round an unusual, contract which they draw up to ensure their individual freedom. The supporting cast includes Sir Nigel Playfair, Lawrence Olivier, and Genevieve Tobin.; ‘ Self-made Lady,’ a London slum story* is also showing. KING EDWARD Based on Grace Miller White’s fine novel, ‘ less of the Storm Country ’ has been made into a very entertaining picture, with Janet Gaynor cud Charles Farrell as the principal players. It is now showing at the King Edward Theatre. Along with its vivid romance, the film offers many thrilling moments.