PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21717, 11 May 1934, Page 6

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND Graham Greene’s best-selling novel came to the screen of the Grand Theatre this afternoon under its original title, ‘ Orient Express.’ _ The film is said to be even more sensational than the book. The story of ‘ Orient Express ’ is novel, in that it gives a dramatic characterisation of seven strange people who meet on board a train from Ostend to Constantinople. The seven are: A dancer; a wealthy young merchant, who falls in love with the dancer; a Cockney Englishman and his domineering wife; a thief, fleeing from justice; a beautiful girl; a Communist leader; and a woman, reporter.' Heather Angel, who appeared with success in ‘Berkley Square’ (yet to be shown in Dunedin), has the leading feminine role, while Norman _ Foster plays the romantic lead opposite her. A well-chosen supporting cast includes Ralph Morgan, Herbert Mundin, Una O’Connor, Irene Ware, Dorothy Burgess, Lisa Gora, William Irving, Roy D’Arcy, Perry Ivins, Fredrik Vogeding, and Marc Lobell. The splendid characterisations of the principals, together with the swiftly-mounting suspense, romance, and intrigue, which bring the picture to an exciting climax, should hold the audience from beginning to end. The picture is filled with tense- drama and vivid romance, and it has been filmed against a rich background. There are also several splendid supporting films. STATE Jack Hulhert and his wife, Cicely Courtneidge, whose work as a comedy team is known the world over, are at their best in ‘ Falling for You,’ the comedy which began its second week at the State Theatre yesterday.. Written by Sidney Gilliat, the amusing story concerns the experiences of two Fleet Street journalists. Jack Hazelden (Jack Hulhert) and Minnie Tucker _ (Cicely Courtneidge), who are anxious to “ scoop ” one another on an “ abducted heiress ”, story. The heiress is believed to be in Switzerland, and here the two of them meet. Jack is too busy falling in love with a pretty newcomer to worry about new stones, and Minnie gets a big laugh, as Jack is unaware that his beloved is none other than the missing heiress. The opening scenes were taken in Switzerland. Above St. Moritz, 6,000 ft up, and the magnificent background lends colour and charm to the uproarious comedy situations. On skis. Jack is helpless, to the joy of the onlooker, but on the ice rink he is a figure of agile grace. Not to bo beaten, Cicely shows something new in the way of sledging, and “ shots ” of her careering down the mountain slopes leave nothing to be desired in the way of riotous comedy. 'A' delightful newcomer to the screen, Tamara Desni, has, the important role of the missing heiress, Lihmor Schmidt, who plays the part , of the small child at the beginning of the film, is only five, but has been on skis for over two years. EMPIRE To all who remember George Arliss in ‘Disraeli,’ his new production, ‘Voltaic©,’ at the Empire, will come as proof that the passing years have not lessened his artistry. r Yoltaire ’ is entertainment of the highest class. For the sake of the story, the director has juggled a good deal with historical facts and* sequences, but this, offence is a light

on© because of the dramatic intensity and definition that is thereby gained. In 1762 Franco was aroused By the infamous persecution of Jean Galas, a rich Protestant merchant of Toulouse. His son was found hanged, and although it was clearly a case of suicide, a charge of murder was trumped up against Galas by the priests, on the ground that he hacl taken this terrible stop to provont his son from becoming a Roman Catholic. Voltaire was actually in exile in Switzerland at the time, and had been so for several years, but he made strenuous efforts to save Galas from his fate; and when the latter was judicially murdered ho continued his efforts, which were eventually successful, to rescue the family of Galas from a similar doom. This, then, is the historical basis of the film, and it will be seen that it is one rich in dramatic possibilities. The settings are on a lavish scale, and although the acting of the supporting cast is naturally eclipsed by the superb performance of the star, there is really no faiilt that can be' found with it. ’ Doris Kenyon brings beauty and talent to the role of Madam© Pompadour; Reginald Owen makes Louis XV. the person that one has imagined him—proud, hut stupid, and entirely under the domination of his strong-willed mistress; and Alan Mowbray is suavely villainous as De Sarnac. * ST. JAMES Folk who desire nothing more than to indulge in a ninety-minutes spasm of sheer joyous enthusiasm as a relief from the burden of everyday toil will revel in the fun which is so surely provided in ‘ This is the Life,’ now at the St. James. Gordon Harker joins forces with Binnie Hale as his partner. As Mr and Mrs Albert Tuttle, proprietors of a country tea shop, where the erratic trade is fast heading them on to the rocks of bankruptcy, they are left a large fortune, and immediately commence to step out into the realms of polite society. Two Chicago gunmen, associates of the late uncle-legator, arrive to “muscle in” on their “cut” of the legacy. Albert’s frantic endeavours to rid himself of these unwelcome visitors leads him to employing the services of a broken-down pugilist to dance attendance on him and his social-climbing spouse, at an ostentatious function, which rapidly becomes transformed into a nightmare of apprehension. Finally, the Tuttles’ fortune is reclaimed, the gunmen receive their conge, and the two shorn lambs return to their tea shop, which has been converted into a spacious road house by the artist sweetheart of their niece. This infectious feast of frolic and fun reaches the height of gaiety in the reception sequence. Therein the Tuttles, following after-dinner speeches, the like of which the upper hundred have never heard before, decide to entertain their guests with a duet from ‘ II Trovatore. This niece of mimicry will leave you limp with laughter. OCTAGON The difficult feat of telling a fairy story in which the principal characters are New York gangsters and beggars is accomplished with delightful artistry and humour in ‘ Lady for a Day,’ now at the Octagon Theatre. The film, in effect, sets out to show that even in the heart of New York romance and chivalry are not dead, and that the miraculous is as likely to happen as in the past; The story concerns an old apple seller, ‘ Apple_ Annie,’ who has seen better days, but whose fondness 'for gin keeps her among the city’s outcasts. She has a daughter whom she sent as a child to a convent in Spain. Greatly to her alarm, the daughter

writes to say she is coming to New York, bringing with her her fiance and his father, a Spanish count, who refuses to consent to a marriage until he has seen the girl’s parents. A -gangster, who has always experienced good luck through buying one of Annie’s apples before engaging in his nefarious projects, comes to the aid of the old woman. Through his good offices she is provided with beautiful clothes and transformed into the handsome and gracious lady her daughter imagines her to be. Drama, pathos, and humour are blended with excellent judgment. May Robson, the Australian actress, plays the part of Annie with great sympathy and understanding, and hexacting both as the old apple woman and as the lady of society is said to be of the highest standard. Warren Williams is well cast as the gangster who becomes the equivalent of a fairy god-mother, while a strong supporting cast includes Guy Ivibboo as “Judge Blake,” the professional billiards player, who is called ou to play the role of Annie’s husband; Jean Parker, who gives a charming performance as the daughter; Sparks, as the gangster’s laconic assistant; and Glenda Fan-ell. REGENT One of the snappiest and most sparkling musical comedies the screen haspresented, with Hollywood’s captivating comedienne, Thelma Todd, and Britain’s famous laughter leader, Stanley Lupino, combined in joyous entertainment made to give you that New Year feeling for the rest of the year. That’s ‘You Made Me Love You,’ which started at the Regent to-day. It was a case of lovo at first sight with Stanley, who meets and loses his “ fate ” in a traffic jam, only jto discover later that she is the sister of an old school friend. But, unfortunately for Stanley, the lovely Thelma is as wild ns she • is beautiful, and when he “ popped the question” she promptly threw him out. Nothing daunted, the “ love-troubled ” funster sets out to win the fair lady of his heart, and with the assistance of her father and brother, finally tricks her into saying “yes.” Eventually the wedding day arrives, and so does the “ blushing bride,” exactly half an hour late, at the church, just her feminine idea of getting her own back. Stanley, however, had similar ideas, and he still further retards the ceremony by staying to finish a game of golf and arriving even later, straight from the course, attired in plus fours. And then the fun began in earnest. By force, and a pair of handcuffs, he succeeds in “persuading” her to accompany him on the honeymoon, and lands her in an out-of-the-way country “ pub ” with little food and no fire. He confronts her with a set of relations, specially hired from a film agency, who number among their midst a half-wit and ex-convict, and she retaliates by smashing up the home, which later, to her dismay, she discovers is not her husband’s at all. However, just when Stanley decided he has gone far enough, the fair maiden falls in love with him, and, of course, the rest of the story has nothing to do with filmgoers. STRAND Tho breach of promise suit of the century—with Slim Summerville as the lawyer and Zasu Pitts as the girl who has been promised—opened at the Strand to-day. Based on the Broadway stage hit, ‘ Oh, Promise Me,’ by Bertram Robinson and Howard Lindsay, 1 Love, Honour, and Oh, Baby ’ is said to be by far the most uproarious of tho popular Summerville-Pitts co-star-

ring comedies produced by Universal. Tiro plot revolves around Slim, cast as a ne’er-do-well lawyer, and Zasu, a filing clerk who sets her cap at her banker - vegetarian - philandering employer. Verree Teasdale makes a. devastating blondo villaincss. One of the outstanding discoveries made by the pair is that life and love are “ just a lot of spinach.” To find this out, they go through several amazing experiences, including a faked rainstorm, threats of perjury, and the breach of promise trial. For a while it looks as if Slim will join his unlucky clients in the local gaol. Sharing these experiences with Slim and Zasu, in one way or another, are George Barbier, Lucille Gleason, Miss Teasdale, Donald Meek, Purnell Pratt, and Adriene Dore, the lastnamed said to be one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. The picture was directed by Eddie Buzzell, the famous Broadway comedian and stage director, who has made many successful films in Hollywood. KING EDWARD A splendid variety of entertainment is offered at the King Edward Theatre. Heading the programme is Gibson, and William Gargan. In the story they arc trapped in an abandoned warehouse, where they have been lured by a fake emergency call, and a hand-to-hand fight with murderous ruffians takes place. The police come to the aid of the trapped people, but not before one of them has been stabbed. An operation is necessary to save bis life. The action reaches a sensational climax when Bradley, determined to avenge his friend, tracks down and corners the chief of the racketeers. The climax is reached by the deatli of the ganster at the hands of a nurse, portrayed by Wynne Gibson. Boyd gives a most convincing characterisation as a rugged hero, and gains fresh laurels for his acting in ‘ Emergency Call.’ Gargan gives a remarkable performance as a gallant ambulance driver. An (x----ccllent supporting programme is screened.