PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21628, 25 January 1934, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

w EMPIRE Bright modern comedy is provided in ‘ Mama Loves Papa,’ which will conclude its local season at the Empire Theatre to-night. Charlie Haggles is cast as a humdrum, timorous husband who is suddenly thrust into a social sphere to which he is unaccustomed. Mary Boland, who has been seen with Buggies in several previous films, appears as his socially ambitious wife, while Lilyan Tashman has another important feminine role. There is a wellchosen programme of shorter films. GRAND Eor a long time now it has been recognised that the field where the English picture producers are most at home is that of comedy, and this could not bo better exemplified than in ‘ Soldiers of the King,’ which continues to attract large audiences to the Grand Theatre. Although each member of the cast is an exceedingly capable actor, the leading player, Cicely Courtneidge, dominates the show. The sure touch of an artist characterises her every word and gesture, and she is always able to cope with any situation that arises. The story tells of the adventures and misadventures of a troupe of strolling players, The Marvellos, dominated and ruled with an iron hand by Jenny Marvello. Later, as the old leader’s successor, Miss Courtneidge, who also played the former role, demonstrates that extraordinary and careful study and understanding of the parts of two distinct persons which enable a real artist to change in an instant from one role to another. The story of The Marvellos is an absorbing one indeed, and the fluctuations of then' lortunes provide entertainment of the most acceptable kind. The scenes at the rehearsals of the troupe are intensely humorous and are noticeable for the variety of the entertainment they offer, the attention of the audience being transferred rapidly from one clever turn to another: Although 1 Soldiers of the King ’ deals primarily with back-stage life on the English music halls, the amorous affairs of a lew soldiers also have their part in the plot. Moving with no abruptness of action, but rather with a pleasing swing throughout the picture gains in attraction by its lilting melodies, and the'quaint intrigue in its plot, into which is blended a careful admixture of sparkling wit and amusing incident. As the stage manager for the Marvellos, Edward Everett Horton, one of the most popular light comedians on the screen to-dav, is as humorous as ever, and excellent support is mven by the remainder of the cast, which includes Bransby Williams, Anthony Bushell, and Frank Collier. An interesting supporting programme is fully in keeping with the standard of the principal film. ST. JAMES With Ralph Lynn’s brilliant comedy gags and P. G. Wodehouse’s funny epic of a pig there is a real laughter feast in store at .the St. James Theatre, where ‘ Suminfer Lightning ' will close a successful season to-night. How Lynn steals a prize pig to win the hand of Winifred Shorter provides a series of the most amusing scenes incorporated in one picture, for many months. Lynn was never funnier; he never had better opportunities to be so. In this picture he might have stepped out of the pages of Wodehouse's books to play his part, for he has that remarkable facility for blundering into tho most awkward situations and extricating himself with such wonderful dexterity. The supports are of a high order. STRAND Excitement, humour, tragedy, and pathos are all present in ‘ The Girl in 419 ’ which is the current attraction at the’Strand Theatre. Set in the police emergency division of a large city hospital, where a true kaleidoscope of lile is always to be lound, this film tells a story of American gangster life and of the police and doctors of the hospital. Gloria Stuart, David Manners, James Dunn, and Johnny Hines have the principal roles m * his delightful romantic comedy. There are outstanding supporting attractions. REGENT Two diverse character studies have seldom been so brilliantly portrayed as the dual characterisations given by Ronald Column in ‘The Masquerader,’ the unusual and arresting drama which still draws large audiences to the Regent Theatre. Based on a play which attained remarkable success throughout the world, the film, by using the added powers conferred by photographic technique, is able to exploit to the full the dramatic possibilities ot thestory of impersonation which forms the mainspring of the action, involved in the puzzled affections and loves ol Column’s two roles are Elissa Land! and Juliette Compton, and a big cast, headed by David Torrence, Helen Jerome Ecldv, Creighton Hale, and Halliwell Hobbes. As a background for Column and the strange human problem of “ The Masquerader,” Samuel Goldwyn lias provided a production that gives new life and a bright modern touch to the lamous English melodrama. Political turmoil, riot , and threat of revolution, financial and Government crises taken from to-day s headlines are the storm clouds that drive one man from his position at the helm of State and from the love of his wife to drugs and debauchery. Pride of fainilv, patriotism, and love of adventure and fight summon his unknown young cousin to the rescue. His two roles give Column an opportunity to contrast drunkenness and sobriety, sanity and fitness with debauchery and depravitv. Unlike ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ and other famous dual roles of the stage and screen, ‘ The Masquerader ’ offers Column no important help in the way of make-up. Its triumph is acting, not make-up. OCTAGON “ Confidence men ” have been the leading characters of many good films, hut never has there been a more clever or charming one than is portrayed by (lie popular Edmund Lowe in ‘ 1 Love That Man.’ at the Octagon. Nancy Carroll makes an excellent foil to the acting of Lowe; They portray a strange pair, hound together by a curious romantic tie. Nancy Carroll has the most exacting role of her career as the woman who adores a prodigal black sheep, whom she trails through a brisk and eventful tale of laughs and romance, A clever murder mystery entitled ‘ Strange Evidence ' is also showing, KING EDWARD Joan Crawford plays the role of a daughter of wealth, who. desiring to serve her country as her brother and lover are doing, goes to the front as a nurse in tho picture 1 To-day We Live,' at the King Edward Theatre. War serves as a background for the plot, but it does not submerge the focal point of this splendid drama of the struggle for life and love behind tho lines. Gary Cooper plays opposite the, star, ami fine comedy relief is provided by Roseoe Kanis and Louise Closser Hale.