PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21709, 2 May 1934, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

STATE The old maxim that truth is stranger Ilian fiction is lully exemplified in ‘ i Was a Spy,’ the film which heads the attractive programme at the State Theatre. It is the story of the espionage system during the Great War, based for the most part on the memoirs of Marthe M'Kenna, who was in Belgium at that time. There is a conspicuous absence of the usual war drama of field fighting and trench warfare, accompanied by the customary horrors, and the plot concerns a practically unknown band of patriots—namely, the hidden army of Belgian peasantry, comprising men unfit for active service and women who enlisted in the espionage service .in a great united effort to drive the enemy from their country. The cast assembled to interpret the story includes Conrad Veldt, Madeleine Carroll, Gerald du Manner, and Edmund Gwemi. Sufficient is the recommendation of one ol the celebrated overseas critics, who said the film was a magnificently acted spy story, and inspired direction made it a sensational British triumph. It grips from the opening and sweeps along with intensely dramatic force. EMPIRE The Empire Theatre is singularly fortunate this week in securing the services of the famous Tom Katz Saxophone Band, which has just concluded a most successful season in Australia. The members of this well-known band combination fulfil all the expectations that have been entertained with regard to them, combining musicianly skill with" a rare understanding and appreciation of the requirements of their audiences. There is engaging variety in their offerings, and many people must have come to realise during the present week that there is a good deal more beauty and melody in a saxophone band than is generally supposed. ‘ Tillie and Gus,’ the main film, is an uproarious farce, featuring such well-known, comedy artists as W. G. Fields and Alison Skipworth in the title roles. There is not a dull moment in the film from beginning to end. The two principals are cast as happy-go-lucky adventurers, living by their wits and always contriving to get a lot ol pleasure out of the most insecure and uncertain livelihoods. There is an excellent supporting programme of short subjects, which includes a Silly Symphony feature and an interesting golfing film. Miss Iris Mason is again heard at the organ in selected numbers . OCTAGON Those who like Claudette Colbert on the films should see the Octagon programme this week. Probably never before has she had sue!- a varied part to play. In fact, it is seldom that any aqtress is called upon to “ register ” such variations of mood rnd emotion in one picture as are achieved in ‘ Torch Singer.’ The story is a beautiful one of the love of a young mother for her daughter. When she has o surrender her baby to an institution the mother’s acting is touchingly sincere. Throughout the performance her portrayal is one of laughter and tears, beauty and commonness, singing and longing, love and hate, hardness and tenderness. The manner in which her breaking heart is mended introduces novelty into the plot, the sweetness of her voice reveals the true woman beneath the shell of utter sophistication. Claudette Colbert is a creature of ever-changing moods, and she brings to her part just sufficient emotion when to overdo it all would be very easy. Ricardo Cortez is the radio man, and makes a good job of it, while David Manners makes a short but sincere appearance as the father. Then there is Baby Le Roy, a likeable little fellow. ST. JAMES Conrad Veidt, by common consent one of the greatest actors of the day, gives a magnificent portrayal in tho title role of ‘ The Wandering Jew,’ in its second week at the St. James theatre. Tho acting of the four leading ladies- -Anne Grey, Joan Maude, Marie Ney, and Peggy Ashcroft—and the many others who lead an ensemble of thousands is of a high order. The broad sweep of E. Temple Thurston’s drama and Eugene Sue’s intense legend of the Jew who offended Christ and was condemned to remain on the earth everlastingly has been captured perfectly in tho film version. In each of the four phases of the Jew’s life Veidt is equal to every demand on his histrionic ability. He gains his effects by the force of his personality, and shuns exaggeration in one of tho most impelling characterisations given to the screen. From first to last he acts with distinction, and he never fails to convince, but it is in the final scenes that his powers of restrained emotion are revealed to the full. His study of the doctor practising in Seville at the time of the Spanish Inquisition is magnificent. The production is an epic. GRAND The screen turns to an interesting comedy-drama picturisation of a prodigal parent in ‘ Long Lost Father,’ starring John Barrymore, in the Grand Theatre’s current attraction, with Helen Chandler and Donald Cook. G. B. Stern, popular author, wrote ‘ Long Lost Father.’ The story concerns the activities of the suave Carl Bellairs, who attempts to resume his parental duties to a grown daughter, after not seeing her for twenty years. When he does meet Lindsey Lane, his daughter, he only learns she hates him more than any other man on earth for deserting lier and her mother when she was an infant. The “ Long Lost Father ” now has some unusual experiences when he starts to impress the daughter with his parental love. ‘ Long Lost Father ' was directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack, and Dwight Taylor wrote the adaptation. Others in the cast are Alan Mowbray, E. E. Clive, Reginald Sharland. Natalie Moorhead, and Ferdinand Gottschalk. REGENT A really first-class programme is offered at the Regent Theatre this week. The major attraction is * Gallant Lady ’ (Ann Harding and Clive Brook), the outstanding story of mother love which has been attracting large audiences. It is a sophisticated picture of American life, with mother love as the predominant theme. In a sense the story is a modern variant of the oncepopular ‘ East Lynne,’ over which our parents and grandparents wept in the sentimental pre-war days. ‘ Gallant Lady,’ however, is more robust, more compelling, than the old favourite, for the characters are more true to type, neither wholly bad nor completely virtuous, and the courses which they steer through life arc characteristically natural. Both the featured players arc happily cast, wistful Ann Harding as the bereaved, unmarried mother who gives up her infant son to kind foster-parents that he may have a chance in life, and Clive Brook as a

cultured man turned rolling stone because life treated him shabbily at the outset of his medical career.

STRAND ‘ Captured,' the powerful drama at the Strand Theatre, is not strictly a war picture, although practically nil of the action takes place within the confines of a German prison camp. Based on Sir Philip Gibbs's famous novel, ' Fellow-prisoners,’ it is an unusually stirring story of two close friends who love the same girl. Captain Allison (Leslie Howard) is the outstanding figure of the story. He depicts a man of splendid character who is obsessed with love of his bride, whom he has to leave when duty calls. His friend, Lieutenant Digby (Douglas Fairbanks, jun.), is stationed at the same camp. During Allison’s absence at the front Digby and Mrs Allison (Margaret Lindsav) fall in love, and Digby’s life in the camp is rendered unendurable by his friend’s obsession. Digby, who escapes, is sent back to be tried for murder, of which' he is innoqent. The facts are against him. however, and he is condemned to death. KING EDWARD ‘ Salomy Jane,’ the new Fox romance featuring Charles Farrell, Joan Bennett, and Ralph Bellamy in the principal roles, opens at the King Itdward Theatre to-night. It is a stirring tale of the Californian mining camps based on the Bret Harte story, ‘Salomy Jane’s Kiss.’ Directed by Raoul Walsh and filmed almost entirely in the Bret Harte country of the High Sierras, the production is said to have many unusual features in addition to its imposing cast. The story hinges on the tempestuous romance between a madcap mountain girl and a Virginian youth who has trailed his sister’s betrayer to the Californian Sierras soon after the Civil War. GREEN ISLAND A nippy cocktail of merriment, the spice of ‘ romantic pursuits, the high note in hilarious adventure, the criterion of melodious concoctions—that is Eddie Cantor’s most vigorous laugh explosion, ‘Palmy Days.’ which will be screened at the Green Island Cinema to-night. The comedian stirs a new world of laughter with his efficiency plans for larger holes in smaller doughnuts. Here is sa comedy triumph with more laughs, more beautiful girls, more spectacular scenes, more song hits, more dazzling romance, and above all more Eddie Cantor.