PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21720, 15 May 1934, Page 17

PICTURE THEATRES

STATE The brightest features of English comedy are presented in ‘ Falling For You,’ at the State. The best episodes in the film undoubtedly are presented by Jack Hulbert, and in some scenes his humour partakes of the hilarity of pantomime. The background of the picture is the Swiss Alps, and Hulbert’s attempts to learn ski-iug are ludicrous in the extreme. Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge arc a most amusing pair, and whatever turn their adventures take they are most engrossing. The plot concerns the rivalry between Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge in their efforts to be first in with “stories” for their newspaper. When Sondra, a mysterious and beautiful girl, arrives at the hotel where the two journalists are staying, and she is pursued by a villainous archduke, the plot takes a very dramatic and exciting turn. It is soon apparent that Sondra is in danger of being taken back to her own country and forced into a State marriage. How Hulbert falls in love with Sondra and rescues her from her fate provides the enjoyable incidents of the comedy. There is a splendid supporting programme. GRAND Past successes scored by films similar to ‘ Orient Express,’ at the Grand, prove that background afforded by railway travel is ideally suited to action dramas.- The rapid movement of the train adds impetus to the development of the plot, and the interest of the audience is kept keyed up to concert pitch. Needless to say, in such circumstances it would be fatal if there were any suggestion of faltering in the action or weakness in the plot structure, for flaws of that type would show up glaringly in such a setting. There is, however, no such weakness in * Orient Express.’ The story tells of the adventures of seven people making the long journey across Europe from Ostend to Constantinople on the famous Orient express train, and of the several fates that befall them. Two travel to happiness, one to the work of national reconstruction that awaits him, another to unexpected death. The drama that centres round the development of such a story is artistically relieved by the exchanges of Herbert Mundin and Una O’Connor as Mr and Mrs Peters, and by the charming interlude of the Jugoslavian wedding party. The principal players are Heather Angel, llalph Morgan, and Norman Foster. Interest is added to the programme by the special screening of the Walla Walla-Harold Logan race, a “ short ” which should not be missed by any racing enthusiasts. EMPIRE Admirers of George Arliss will revel in his masterly characterisation of the great French philosopher in ‘ Voltaire,’ at the Empire. In dealing with a man whose life and activities were so manysided. the producers can be excused for presenting a portrait of only one aspect of his groat fight against intolerance. The Galas incident has been taken as a phase of his career, and, in a rather simplified and dramatised version, it forms an ideal basis on which to construct a higlily entertaining film. Tho character of Voltaire, with all its shrewdness, biting humour, and individualised mannerisms, plays into tho hands of Arliss, ami it will probably be generally accepted that ho gives his best performance since ‘ Disraeli.’ Vol-

taire interested himself for eight years in the Calas case, with which the picture’s story is concerned. He braved threats of imprisonment and death in his efforts to clear a man’s name and save his estates from intriguing advisers to the king. Voltaire’s wellknown friendship and influence with Aladame Pompadour, a role acted charmingly by Doris Kenyon, plays a vital part in the story. The excellence of the supporting cast is in keeping with the high standard of the film. Margaret Lindsay plays the role of Nanette Calas, one of the innocent causes of tho eventual revolution. Theodore Newton and Gordon Westcott, first seen in ‘ The Working Man,’ are others who appear. The supports and organ concert by Miss Iris Mason complete an excellent bill. REGENT Elstrec and Hollywood have joined forces to make a really hilarious comedy out of ‘ You Made Me Love You,’ at the Regent. England supplied Stanley Lupino for the male lead, the director, the producer, and so on, but Hollywood made a very important contribution in the person of its most captivating and beautiful comedienne, Thelma Todd. ‘ You Made Me Love You ’ is a merry musical-com-edy version of the taming of a very modern and very lovely shrew. The film deliberately sets out to make audiences laugh heartily, and it keeps in the same lively and exhilarating key throughout, cramming joyous laughter and carefree romance into every minute. Lupino is right at the top of his form again as a superbly comic Petruchio, and his efforts to curb the wild temper and smashing ways of his Katherine arc among tho funniest incidents ever put on the screen. Thelma Todd is equally good as the spoiled darling of rich parents, not only gracing the picture with her alluring presence, but also giving it “pep” and providing tho popular Lupino with a foil for his inimitable brand of foolery. Lupino can make an audience roar with laughter without expending any obvious effort. His face can bo so expressive of inward vivacity, his voice is so perfectly modulated to every demand, his feet are so nimble, and his compact little body is so agile that he can turn the most unpromising situations into rich comedy. From the beginning to the end there is little but bubbling merriment. ST. JAMES The British-Lion studios have recognised the value of Gordon Harker as a comedian by starring him with Binuie Hale as a very adequate partner in ‘This is the Life,’ at the St. James. It is an extravagant bgt blithesome comedy, in which Albert and Sarah Tuttle are making a thin living by keeping a country roadside tea house. Without warning there descends on them Air Diggs, lawyer, who announces Sarah’s accession to vast wealth from an unde who owns sheep ranches in Sydney and a gold mine in Bendigo. The fun comes when Albert and Sarah launch themselves into society in London, to the stunned amazement of society. A bettor choice than Gordon Harker for the role of the well-meaning wealthy vulgarian could not have been made. Albert and Sarah change the pronunciation of their name to Tu-tell, and entertain London in more senses than one. Their new found happiness is complicated with the arrival from Chicago of two gunmen whom the deceased opulent uncle had doublecrossed. There are some cheery episodes in tho film, hut its most purple patch is whore Sarah and Albert entertain their guests at a parly by singing the ‘.Miserere’ duet from ‘ Trovalure.’ The pity of it is that convulsed

audiences usually drown much of its sheer beauty in riotous laughter. Hie film is very amusing. The thrilling account of the ascent of Mount Kamet is told in ‘ Kamet Conquered,’ the second picture on the programme. OCTAGON There is an abundance of laughter through tears in ‘Lady For a Day,’ at the Octagon. Besides being a comedy-drama of outstanding merit and intense human appeal, the picture is one of the most artistically-acted productions of recent times. Nothing finer could bo desired than the characterisations of May Robson, first as a ginbesotted apple seller and then as a leading New' York society woman living in a luxurious mansion for the purpose of deceiving her daughter and her lover, a scion of the Spanish nobility. But equally meritorious is the gangster society man, “ Dave the Dude,” played by Warren William, with his lieutenant, “Happy” O’Brien, taken by Ned Sparks. “Judge Blake is the fallen legal luminary who is called upon to fill an important part in a crisis, and by Guy Kihhco the role is excellently treated. The whole story is decidedly original in many ways, but its strongest appeal is in its deep human touch. May Robson scores a veritable triumph as “ Apple Annie,” and keeping her daughter, Louise (Jean Parker), in Spain under the impression that she is a leader of society in New York. Trouble looms up when she receives a letter to the effect that Louise and her fiance are on their way to pay her a visit. However, Annie has some true friends, and it is here that the unreal message comes in—that there is still a Father Christmas, a Father Christmas under the guise of a gambling king; Good supports arc screened. STRAND It i.s improbable that any other comedy team has withstood the test of time so well as the Slim Summerville-Zasu Pitts combination featured in 1 Love, Honour, and Oh, Baby,’ at the Strand. As lovers this gawky pair can raise a laugh any time, for when the simpering Itigubriousncss of Summerville is set off against tho sheer helplessness ol Miss Pitts, with her eloquent hands, the result is of the most humorous nature. In ‘ Love, Honour, and Oh, Baby,’ the lanky comedian has the role of a struggling lawyer, while Miss Pitts is seen as his fiancee. In order to raise sufficient money to be married they think up a number of schemes, and finally settle on one which they imagine will ho highly profitable. There is a wealthy banker in the town who bus a reputation of indulging in amorous affairs with his employees, and Zasu Pitts sees an opportunity of working up a good breach of promise case. All does not go well, however, and shortly after the hearing begins they find that one of their chief witnesses lias been bought by the defence. They finally secure the verdict after a series of tho most humorous incidents. There is also a good supporting programme. XING EDWARD The inimitable actor and philosopher Will Rogers plays the title role in ‘ Dr Bull,’ a human story of the life of a small-town doctor, at the King Edward Theatre. Tho jietty squabbles of lus patients,' the mistakes that they make, and their intimate secrets arc all known to the smiling, witty doctor. He works on quietly and untiringly, helping people on to tho path ot happiness again, with never a thought lor his own interests. The part gives Full scope to tho varid and accomplished talents of Will Rogers. The other picture is ‘ Storm at Daybreak,’ a lino drama featuring Kay Francis, Nils Aslher, and Walter Huston.