PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21819, 7 September 1934, Page 4

PICTURE THEATRES

COMEDY OF BOHEMIAN LIFE 1 GIRL WITHOUT A ROOM ' AT EMPIRE Fun is poked at the devotees of the so-called new art,” depicting n6t what the artist sees and might photograph more successfully, but what he leets, iu ‘ Girl Without a Room.’ which commenced a season at the Empire '.theatre yesterday. Slightly cheeky, almost wicked, but possessing an eccentric Bohemian charm, the picture turns out to be a roguish glimpse of life among a coterie of artistic people in the Montmartre district of Paris, where they eke out an existence as excellent beggars, if poor artists. The story portrays the adventures of a young art student from Tennessee, who arrives in Paris with a pocketbook full of money, but still a country greenhorn. He is welcomed with open arms by the parasitical student fraternity—a rather dissipated authoress, a peculiar artist of the “ new ” school, whose masterpiece is a whistle, the painting being not the whistle, but the blow; tour Russian musicians named Trotsky, Walksky,-Gallopsky, and Sitsky, the dauhter of one being a detestable little siren; an old Russian general, and many others such as throw up their bedroom windows and greet the morn with a basso profunda whoop. All except the authoress, “ the girl without a room,” trade on the newcomer’s inexperience both to, confuse and fleece him. The girl instantly steals her way into his heart, and her love moves her to protect him against his neighbours who desire two things—to feast at his expense and to convert him from his conception of art so that he will paint what he feels rather than what he sees. Such a situation naturally lends itself to misunderstanding between the lovers, their separation coming when the girl is held to a long-promised outing with another friend on the night when they intend to celebrate their confession of love for one another. Seeking solace in champagne and nightclub life, the country boy falls into the clutches of a seductive Russian gold-digger. Interest heightens as the two women strive, one for his money, the other for his love. Under the influence of the bubbly wine, he conceives a subject for a modern picture, ‘The Wheel of Life,’ which he finishes whilst still drunk. The climax comes when he is awarded first prize ■in a modernist exhibition for his creation, which looks more like a Catherine wheel, notwitbstandin the fact that it was judged upside down, a fact to which the artist takes exception. He refuses the award, but he manages to dispose of his picture to a pg-saw puzzle corporation, and with the money and a contract for ten similar pictures he starts back, probably lor Tennessee, to find a room for his sweetheart. Chiefly responsible, for the success of the picture is Charlie Ruggles, who plays the part of the terribly futuristic artist. Still timidly aggressive and still getting into troubles, notably a duel with a fierce Russian, whose daughter he has justly spanked, Charlie provides a fund of acceptable comedy. He is an actor of whom too little is seen. His performance is excellent, his acting being at all times restrained, and he practically carries the production on his shoulders. Chailes Farrell, as the Tennessee lad, handles an awkward rol© quite successfully, whilst Marguerite Churchill, as the gin from Atlanta, is sensible and beautiful. Walter Woolf gives a convincing portrayal of a Broadway actor who feigns drunkenness so that the girl he loves can return to her artist to find happiness. Gregory Ratoff. as the Russian general, and Grace Bradley, as the temptress, also act well. Quantity and quality are the keynotes of the supporting section, which is headed by a beautiful and entertaining Vitaphone colour revue, entitled ‘ Girl Trouble.’ The principal sport of every month of the year m America is included in a wen-photoKraphcd Grantland Rice ‘ Sporthght, entitled ‘ Around the Calendar. Some of the scenes in it are truly a delight. Comedy is offered by that old screen favourite who has not been seen for many a moon, Harry Langdon, m A Roaming Romeo,’, as well as fbe new .cartoon character, Pppeye, the whose particular genius lying along the lines of feats of enormous strength in ‘ Wild Elephinks ’ is highly amusing. A British newsreel completes a bright and unusual show.

SPECTACULAR ROMANCE AT STATE

All the elements of romance and adventure are found in ‘ Staigaree. which opened a season at the Mate Theatre to-day. The exploits of one of Australia’s most colourful personalities, a bandit who feared neither God nor devil,' form the basis of the storv and provide an ideal role for Richard ])ix. who is seen, once more in the type of characterisation which first brought Him to the forefront. The film, however. is also notable for the fine and restrained portrayal of Irene Dunne, who again shows herself to be one of the most attractive and intelligent actresses on the screen. As Hilda Bouvene, the great singer who was responsible for Stingaree r s most famous recorded exploit, she is also given, the chance to demonstrate the great beauty and power of her singing voice. The story opens at the homestead of the Clarksons on the eve of the arrival of Sir Julian Wade, a great musical impresario. Hilda Bouverie is a companion to Mrs. Clarkson, who is jealous of the girl’s voice and tries to prevent her from being heard by Sir Julian. In the meantime Stingaree has arrived in the district, and the way in which the bandit eventually forces Sir Julian and a fashionable assemblage to listen to Hilda’s singing is a masterpiece of recklessness and genius. Hilda’s great musical chances are realised by Sir Julian, and he agrees to take her to England, hut Stingaree’s actions to further the girl’s career have cost him his liberty. Tbo young singer’s rise to fame, her faithfulness to the memory of the far-distant outlaw, and their eventual reunion provide the threads of a fascinating and exciting tale. Richard Dix undoubtedly makes a most likeable character out of the devil-may-care bandit, and. apart from the work of the principals, amusing portrayals are given by a host of minor characters, including Una O’Connor, Henry Stephenson, and Mary Boland. 9CTAG6N That sparkling British comedy, ‘ That’s a Good Girl,’ continues to enjoy a highly popular run at the Octagon Theaire. Such good attendances have been recorded that it has been decided to run this rollicking musical piny for a second week. Filmed just after its long reign on the legitimate stage at the Hippodrome, London, ‘ That’s a Good Girl ’ is one of tho brightest musical comedies which has come this way for some time. The star of the show, and, incidentally, its director, is Jack Buck-

.man, outstandingly the leading English comedian of the day. and as good as anything that any other country can produce. Ho has made a splendid success not only of bis own part in the picture, a very big part, but also of the directing. Tie acts in 4 ihat’s a Good Girl’ with that air of thorough enjoyment that is the hall-mark of a great comedian. He has made other pictures that are outstanding; but easily bis best effort to date is this latest one. With him is Elsie Randolph, an exceptionally clever comedienne, whose opportunities in this show are many. She gives a memorable performance, particularly in the very difficult series of scenes which require her to subdue her normal vivacity and become the vacant Gorman village lass. There is only one criticism to be made, and that is that these two do not dance as much as one would have liked. Vera Pearce, Kate Cutler, and Garry Marsh are also excellent in their different parts. The play is sumptuously mounted, the dialogue snappy, and the fun is kept going on top gear throughout. A most interesting ‘ Pa the Gazette ’ gave glimpses of their Majesties at functions in London, highlights of the Melbourne centenary celebrations, and views of the second cricket test match between England and Australia at Lord’s. REGENT Anna Sten is now to be seen, in her first English-speaking picture', 1 Nana, at the Regent Theatre. Throughout a performance which makes big histrionic demands her language is flawless, with just that quaint little foreign accent which lends additional attractiveness. But in the beauty and talent of the actress herself one soon loses all thought of the word-medium she is using. Goldwyn has given filmland a new star of the first magnitude. She has a voice, face figure, and that strange thing screen jiersonality. In all the moods which her first .vehicle calls for Anna Sten shows herself as the convincing actress, ’ and those who have seen her first Hollywood appearance will already be eagerly awaiting her next film. In the screen version of Zola’s_ novel, which startled the English-reading public many years ago by its daring portrayal, Anna Sten is seen as Zola s creation, but the story is handled in a more subdued form. The woman of the streets rises to fame, triumphs, and passes on without the sordid side of her life being emphasised. Nana is met at the graveside of her pauper mother, lives her life through those Parisian years just prior to the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, and faces death. unflinchingly that the man she loves and bis brother may not be forever estranged in u time of national crisis. The incident which leads to her elevation from a lady of the boulevards to an idol of the* stage gives the first taste of the nctresss’s undoubted genius, and thenceforward the audience follows the many events of her life, her faithfulness to her girl companions of poverty days, her triumphs over men, her one great love affair, with a sympathy created as much by the talent of this young Russian as'by the story itself. GRAND In ‘ Charlie Chan’s Courage,’ at the Grand, Earl Derr Biggers’s lovable old character keep's his audience amused very effectively with his quaint mannerisms of speech, his complete ignoring of either definite or indefinite articles, and his deft and well-reasoned conclusions when on the trail. Others in this tale of the attempted theft of a half-million necklace, with its occasional niurdercrs and hold-ups, are Donald Woods and Drue Leyton, both of , them accomplished young performers with a good sense of tho dramatic and enough film -sense to allow the experienced and skilful AVarner Gland to make most of the going. The most vivid recollection that the majority of the audience will have of the programme, however, will be ‘ Krakatoa,’ an amazing study of volcanic activity in various parts of the world. First, the audience is taken on a round of visits to the world’s betterknown volcanoes, tho kind that are to be found in volcanic ‘ Who’s AA’ho.’ Among them are Etna, Vesuvius, Stromboli, and some of the more active Japanese and Hawaiian convulsions. Lava floods are seen overwhelming towns and countrysides, and after a aeries of comparatively minor manifestations of the boundless volcanic activity of this unstable world the watcher is formally presented to Krakatoa. There can be nothing faked or artificial about these scenes. They are staggeringly genuine, but are as nothing compared with what is to follow. Other supporting features include two or_ three exceptionally interesting Fox Movietone Nows items, which include international lawn tennis and international cricket, as well as a Paul Terry cartoon. STRAND James Cagney, the bad boy of the screen, arrived at the Strand Theatre to-day in ‘ Picture,- Snatcher,’ with a thoroughly “ hard-boiled ” role, although a delightfully entertaining one. 4 Picture Snatcher ’ is based on a newspaper story by Danny Abeam, which treats of a little known phase of the work on a yellow tabloid of the most sensational type. Jimmy, in the title role, is the man who gets photographs of people and news events by hook or crook, regardless of ethics or common decency. The hero is particularly fitted for the job, having served a term in Sing Sing for robbery just before he enters upon his new vocation. He decided to go straight, and becomes the most resourceful and daring picture snatcher on the paper. Patricia Ellis, a seventeen-year-old Broadway actress, plays opposite Cagney in her first leading role in pictures. She was cast for the part after her notable work as the ingenue in 4 The King’s starring Mr George Arliss. Others in the cast include such notable players as Ralph Bellamy, Alice White, Half Harolde, Robert Emmet O’Connor, and George Pat Collins. This is Miss White’s second picture since leaving the screen two years ago to make personal appearances throughout America. BT. JAMES May Robson, whose brilliant and versatile performances during the last few years have made her one of the outstanding interpreters of “ grand old lady ” roles on the screen, gives another powerfully dramatic portrayal in ‘ You Can’t Buy Everything,’' which opened a season at the St. James Theatre to-day. As Hannah Bell, popularly known by the financiers *of Wall Street as “Old Hannibal,” she has.a more exacting part than that she interpreted in ‘Lady for a Day,’ her work in which has been nominated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as one of the three best performances, by an actress in 1933. The story treats the theme of a mother.s love for her child from a new angle. It concerns a rich old woman whose ambition is to make her son the richest man in America, Her shrewdness in monetary dealings is tho admiration ol financiers, and is only matched by her meanness, a trait inherited from her

father, which prompts her even to send her beloved son to the charity ward of a hospital. She is a woman of strange contrasts, however, given to making magnificent bequests on sudden impulses, while her love for her son is matched by an implacable hatred for a former fiance, whose standing in the world of finance is almost as great as her own. Her son and this man’s daughter by a trick of fortune fall in love, and the climax is reached when her schemes put her in a position to ruin her enemy, but only by .sacrificing the love of her son. The humour of the piece is somewhat sacrificed to the dramatic, but May Robson shows herself equally at home in the moments of comedy. ‘ Lewis Stone adds another to his long list of successful potrayals in the chief supporting role, while others in the cast arc Jean Parker, AVilliam Bakewcll, and the New Zealand-born boy actor Tad Alexander.