PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21935, 23 January 1935, Page 13

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND The screen version of John Hastings Turner’s famous stage comedy success, ‘ Lilies of the Field/ commenced a second week at the Grand to-day. The charming and dainty star, Winifred Shutter, who has always been so popular in the Aldwvch Theatre plays with Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn, heads the cast, and she is assisted by Ellis Jeffries, as her caustic grandma, Judy Gunn, her twin sister, and Anthony Bushel), as the “visitor” around whom the escapades of the terrible rectory twins hinge. ‘ Lilies of the Field ’ is a piquant story of a tomboy’s masquerade as a demure Victorian miss. The ‘ London Cinema ’ considers it “ one of the best entertainments that has ever been offered on the screen.” The fun is born of a contest between a pair of high-spirited twins, Betty and Kitty, as to which of them can make .the best impression on Guy Mallery, a London visitor to their vicarage, a holiday in London with their grandmother being the coveted prize. Kitty, with a flying start, uses modern technique, but Betty romps home by appearing in mid-Victorian manner, complete with crinoline and a modesty of mien that astounds her whole family. Betty goes to London, and hilarious fun begins on her arrival in fashionable Mayfair a la Victorian era. Those who see ‘ Lilies of the Field ’ will be struck by the spontaneity of its humour, in which lies tho secret of its tremenduos success. EMPIRE ‘Treasure Island,’ the talking film version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic of the same title, is at the Empire. This choicest of all pirate stories, which lias stirred the blood of millions for half a century, is picturesquely presented by a strong cast headed by Wallace Beery as that hoary old rascal. Long John Silver, one of the most remarkable figures in the whole of the Stevenson gallery, whose villainy even becomes romantic and gorgeously bizarre under the circumstances under which lie and bis motley crew mutiny and murder on the high seas in their anxiety to secure the long-lost Flint treasure. How the artful old onelegged man conceives and carries out this bloody plot, and how young Jim Hawkins, hidden in the apple-barrel, overhears it, and so saves Captain Smollett and his fellow-officers from death, is grimly told. Wallace Beery makes another distinct hit as Long John Silver, and Jackie Cooper is appealing as Jim Hawkins. STATE As a shy and inoffensive missionary’s son from China, Harold Lloyd shows his true ability as a comedian in ‘ The Cat’s Paw,’ at the State. Although his performances in ‘ Grandma’s Boy ’ and ‘ The Freshman ’ were splendid, tho comedian relied too much for effects on witticisms. However, in his latest film, Lloyd is seen in an hilarious story, which does not strain the credulity of the audience, and he receives excellent support from a talented cast. Lloyd rounds up the whole of the criminal population and in the basement of an antique shop proceeds to enact a piece of ancient Chinese history by giving the criminals the alternative of confession or execution. When two bodies are carried in from the execution chamber with their decapitated heads lying neatly in basins resting on, their chests, the entire company becomes terrorstricken and confesses almost cn bloc. REGENT Produced by Beaumont Smith, ‘Splendid Fellows,’ at the .Regent, is undoubtedly the best picture ever produced in Australia. With tho fascinating background of the air race from England to Melbourne it is a story of compelling interest. Eric Column, a brother of Ronald Column, takes a large part and makes an auspicious debut on the screen. Others in the cast include Prank Leighton, Isabelle Mahon, and Frank Bradley. Briefly, the story concerns a young, irresponsible, but likeable aristocrat who is sent by his father to the Commonwealth to prevent an entanglement witli a ballet dancer. Tho young Englishman, accompanied by Thompson, his man, who is an expert aeroplane mechanic, and the Rev. Arthur Stanhope, a war “ ace ” who lias constructed a secret model plane for the centenary air race, fly in the great air race. They have some astonishing experiences, which form a part of a most arresting tale. ST. JAMES ‘Romance in the Rain,’ the comedydrama at the St. James, goes with a delightful swing from tho start, there is no hiatus in the hilarious tempo, and the last scene, satisfactory to all concerned (it is a story of a modern Cinderella), comes all too quickly. As the Cinderella, Heather _ Angel lias never been more bewitching. This young English actress, whose success in Hollywood has been unusually brilliant, acts with a disarming naturalness and charm. Her essentially English voice is a pleasure to listen to. Her interpretation of the role of a poor girl, over-ruled by a termagont step-motlier, and a couple of raucous step-sisters, is characterised by a restraint which merely serves as an emphasis to her delineation. She is admirably supported by Roger Pryor, as an enterprising Press agent and fiction writer, who, by cunning exploitation and publicity, raises her from obscurity to fame in a night. Pryor was last seen in ‘ Moonlight and Pretzels,’ and good as his performance was in that production, he eclipses it in ‘ Romance in the Rain.’ OCTAGON ‘ Batchelor Bait,’ a new comedy, with Stuart Erwin, Rochelle Hudson, Pert Kelton, “ Skcots ” Gallagher, and Berton Churchill, heads tho Octagon’s current programme. Romance, Inc., is a matrimonial agency founded by Erwin, dedicated to finding a bride for eve.ry bachelor and a groom for every spinster. Entirely different from the ordinary introduction bureau type of matrimonial agency, Romance, Inc., applies tho resources of science to aid mate-seekers. Obese individuals pro made sylph-like in the reducing classes; Skinny persons are built up by supervised expanding diets. Prospects are psychoanalysed, and love doctors are on hand to diagnose symptoms. So successful does Romance, Inc., become commercially that it attracts a greedy racketeer who attempts to “ muscle in.” A raid, confusing romances, and high-powered comedy, climax the film. ‘ Hat, Coat, and Gloves,’ a romantic drama featuring a cast headed by Ricardo Cortez, Barbara Robbins, and John Beal, is also shown. It centres about the drama of a marital holiday.

STRAND ' The Little Giant,’ the diverting comedy at the Strand has Edward G. Robinson cast as the racketeer who, after conquering the Chicago underworld with grim armament, sets out to tame society with nothing more potent than an awkward manner. He does not succeed, hut in the course of failing, he is extremely laughable. ‘ The Little Giant ’ primarily depends for its story upon the old clash between two different environments. The film develops to the full the theme of the lowly-born mixing, or failing to mix with his social superiors. Comedy is the prevailing characteristic, but laughter at the earnest though unfortunate endeavours of a likeable person must be mingled with a sense of sympathy. Edward G. Robinson contributes a perfect and self-contained character study, but indeed the whole cast is evenly-bal-anced.

MAYFAIR Which is the strong love—the love of a woman for a man or the love of a mother for her child P In ‘ Gallant; Lady,’ tho latest 20th Century picture which opened to-day at the Mayfair Theatre, Ann Harding embodies the answer to this question. Faced with the alternative of becoming reunited with her little son after years of separation under the penalty of silence regarding her true identity, or of disclosing the facts and thereby wrecking his future, Ann makes a decision which changes the whole course of her life—and the hoy’s. The story of ‘ Gallant Lady ’ deals with the experiences of an unwed mother who achieves phenomenal business success, and then accidentally meets her own child, whom she Jtad signed away for adoption immediately after its birth through inability to care for it. The cast includes Clive Brook, Tnllio Carminati, Otto Kruger, Dickie Moore, and Janet Beecher. LAURIER Jack Hulbcrt is seen at his best in ‘Jack Ahoy!’ the rollicking British farce at tho Laurier, Port Chalmers. Hulbert evidently joins the navy as an able seaman for no other reason than that, his ancestors wore mariners, and he is no sooner on hoard H.M.S. Stupendous than he is profoundly attracted by the admiral’s daughter. Of the many entertaining incidents in the film, probably the most hilarious moments occur when Hulbert, in charge of a submarine, which he has only the foggiest idea of manipulating, steers a zig-zag course both below and on the surface of the sea. He is chased by pirates in an armoured motor launch, and tho scene where the submarine rises to the surface and tips the occupants of the launch into the sea is unbelievably funny. Hulbert sings a tuneful number, ‘My Hat’s On the Side of My Head,’ and also dances a screamingly funny hornpipe that will bring any “ hopse ” down.