PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21634, 1 February 1934, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Delightfully sentimental, ‘ Peg o’ My Heart ’ will be shown for the last time at the Empire to-night. Marion Davies gives a fine performance as a young Irish girl who is left a fortune on condition that she never sees her father again and goes to England to be educated by an aristocratic family. She is treated snobbishly, and is about to leave for her home, when the plot is complicated by a scandal in which the man she loves is implicated. The supporting items include a Zasu Pitts-Thelma Todd comedy, and well-chosen organ solos are presented by Miss Iris Mason. GRAND In ‘Soldiers of the King,’ which is nearing the end of a successful season at the Grand Theatre, Cicely Courtneidge adds to the personal triumphs she achieved in ' The Ghost Train ’ and ‘ Jack’s the Boy.’ The story deals with the lives of a family of variety artists, andseveral clever musical and dancing numbers are woven into it, but in no way spoil the continuity of the plot. Edward Everett Horton, as a stage manager, gives one of his popular character studies of a likeable but somewhat unfortunate and ineffectual man. An interesting supporting programme is being shown. REGENT After delighting patrons of the Regent Theatre for the past two weeks, 1 The Masquerader ’ will be finally shown to-night. Seldom has impersonation of one man by another been so skilfully handled as in this picture. The story concerns a prominent politician who forces an obscure cousin, who bears him a marked resemblance, to take his place. Ronald Column is excellent in the dual foie, portraying two very diverse characters by acting ability rather than by the use of make-up. The attractive Elissa Landi is the loading lady. The well-chosen supporting programme is worthy of the main attraction. ST. JAMES Authentic character acting and firstclass humour are combined in ‘ Hindle Wakes,’ at the St. James. Dame Sybil Thorndike takes one of the leading roles in the strong cast. Edmund Gwenn, one of England’s finest character actors, is seen as a Lancashire working man, while Sybil Thorndike appears as his wife. Bello Chrystall, a newcomer to British pictures, makes a very successful debut, and her performance in this production justifies the prediction that she is destined to have a brilliant future. The supporting programme includes a demonstration of cricket strokes by Maurice Tate, a scenic film, and a short musical production. STRAND An excellent cast is seen in ‘ The Mavor of Hell.’ at the Strand. James Cagnev is seen as an energetic young

man who attempts to rule a prison reform school by kindness rather than force, while his leading lady is Madge Evans ns the school nurse. Arthur Byron, who created such an impression by his portrayal of the warden in ‘ 20,000 Years in Sing Sing,’ and Dudley Digges are others in the cast. OCTAGON Claude Allister, who made himself famous with his role as “ Spoofy ” in ‘ Three Live Ghosts,’ has made a few very good comedies in England within recent months, having as a “ team mate ” that amusing Yorkshire comedian, Frank Pettingell. The latest of their series, ‘ Excess Baggage,’ is the Octagon’s current headliner. The plot is packed with lively fooling. ' Scarlet River,’ a Western drama, is the other attraction. KING EDWARD Simplicity is the biggest factor in the universal appeal of ‘ State Fair,’ now running at the King Edward Theatre. It is a story that could be enacted anywhere in the world; the characters are countrv folk, but folk who may be met with at any time. Will Rogers was never more delightful than as the little farmer whose biggest worry in the world is his prize pig.