PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21945, 4 February 1935, Page 13

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Gorgeous spectacles and lavish ensembles, bright songs, and delightful comedy situations, interwoven with a refreshing story, make the Warner Bros.' musical production ‘ Dames, at the Empire, entertainment or a high standard. The story has the familiar background of a struggling playwright endeavouring to stage his 4 show. The chox-us scenes are magnificently staged, and the “ tunnel of living beauty number, is a triumph of screen photography. Another scene which is remarkable for its spectacular lavishness is the “ tapestry of living girls ” number. In one scene, the whole chorus appears as a garden of living white waterlilies, and in another a series of clever designs is formed by the bevy of attractive young ladies. A feature of outstanding merit is the clever gin at ‘the ironing board ” scene, in which the chorus is led by Miss Joan Blondell. The romantic interest in the story is provided by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, and the former is particularly good as the energetic. ana ambitious playwright, Jimmy. Joan Blondell, as the attractive and somewhat unscrupulous “Mabel,” acts splendidly and sings two of the songs in a most fascinating manner. The comedy is provided by Zasu Pitts, Guy Kibbee, and Hugh Herbert. REGENT ‘Madame Du Barry,’ a film’which caters for a wide diversity of tastes, is being screened before exceptionally large audiences at the Regent. The attractive actress, Dolores Del Rio, has the principal role, and she enhances her already fine reputation. The writers of this version have made a thorough job of it. They tell Jeanne’s story from her meeting with. Louis XV. until his death. They give the story of the summer sleigh ride, but turn the salt that was, used for snow int i sugar. One of the best incidents from a dramatic point of view is that of the intrigue or the Choiseul faction to prevent Jeanne’s formal presentation at Court. When she discovers her frock, carriage, and gpoasor have been stolen she _ gatecrashes the thronged Royal salon in* her nightie—silk" gauze—to the astonishment of the. nobility and the confusion of her enemies. • Even the fertile imagination of . Dumas could not conceive such a situation. There is also a version of her meeting with Marie Antoinette that is more amusing than veracious. The widest departure froni truth is that she ■ stayed by the bedside of Louis when he was dying—not Jeanne! His three daughters sjhould not be robbed of that amazing episode. It is on record that the emanations from the room were so dreadful that courtiers could not stay in the corridors, but the three daughters locked themselves in the room with their father, who was dying of confluent smallpox—and, what is stul more amazing, came out alive. GRAND Judging by the remarks of the crowded audiences that have already witnessed * Danny Boy.’ the current attraction at the Grand, this delightful Irish romance can look forward to a successful season in Dunedin. A clean, popular story embracing excellent comedy, favourite Irish songs, and melodious music makes the film even more -entertaining than its predecessor, .‘.Lily,of JKillarney.’ The acting of Ronnie Hepworth, a clever twelve-year-old star in the title role of Danny, is superb, and may be classed as the most natural performance given on the screen by a child star. He is supported by Frank Forbes-Robertson and Dorothy Dickson, two English stage stars who are making their first appearance in films. More will be heard of these capable stars. The second film, ‘Song at Eventide,’ is based on an original story suggested by Easthope Martin’s ‘ Evensong.’ The plot embraces the whole span of a woman’s life from girlhood until the time when she sees y her own daughter embarking upon a public career. «Many beautiful songs are sung by, the charming star, Fay Compton. These include ‘ My Treasure,’ ‘ For You Alone,’ ‘ Vienna, City of Dreams,’ and ‘ Wandering to Paradise.’ The supporting cast includes Lester Mathews, Leslie Perrms, and- Minnie Raynor. STATE A picture unexcelled for idyllic romance and gay, youthful appeal, the Fox Film production ‘ Love Time ’ is at the State. The new .film, which features the exquisite English beauty, “Pat” Paterson and Nils Asther as the principals of its romantic story, deals with the youth of the worldfambd composer, Franz Schubert, and the first great love of his life. Set in Austria in the early years of the nineteenth century, ‘ Love Time ’ follows Schubert from his remote village home to the court of the Emperor at Vienna. And with him goes the lovely Valerie (“Pat” Paterson), who, history relates, was the daughter of a nobleman high in the councils of ,the Emperor, though she was reared as a village maid. Many of Schubert’s immortal compositions, among them the famous ‘ Serenade,’ ‘ Moment Musical,’ ‘ Impatience,’ and the delightful ‘ Who Is Ss'lria?’ have been woven into the story.

The musical climax of the picture is achieved when Schubert appears before the Emperor and his court and directs a huge orchestra in a rendition of his own music. The drama of this situation is heightened by the fact that the composer believes he is to lose the girl he loves at the conclusion of the concert. She has been revealed as a daughter of royalty; he is hut a lowly musician. ST. JAMES A story which presents delightful comedy and drama which is not lacking in poignant touches is presented in ‘ Wake Up and Dream,’ now screening at the St. James. The plot may be said rather to represent a slice out of life than to be a romantic tale, but it is a slice of existence that will surely appeal'to many. Three wanderers, two young men and a girl, who fill in their time between one period of hunger and the next by doing vaudeville and revue turns, are the central figures. Paul Scotti (Russ Colombo) is an excellent baritone but jobs are difficult to find in spite of the efforts of his bosom friend, Charles Sullivan (Roger Pryor), whose endeavours introduce the party to many scrapes. The third of the trio is Toby Brown, played by June Knight, also a singer of ability. The tale covers the achievement of tame by Scotti in talking pictures, but it is a long row to hoe, and his progress towards success has many setbacks. Sullivan finds himself in trouble with the police, and they are all forced to take to the road again. When they are down and out, Sullivan walks a tight rope ten storeys above the street to make money. On the supporting programme are a newsreel, a ‘ Stranger Than Fiction ’ selection, and a comedy. OCTAGON Thrills, comedy, and romance are provided in generous measure in “ The Captain Hates the Sea,” which is being shown at the Octagon at the present time. A pleasant variation of the familiar “ cruise” theme, the film treats the matter from an entirely different » angle, and consequently provides entertainment that may be recommended to all classes of theatregoers. The people who board the ship at New York are a mixed company, and before the vessel returns to her home port many exciting and interesting things happen. A , drunken reporter embarks on the cruise to try and shake off the alcohol and also to start the book he has always been meaning to write. A Cuban leaves for his homeland in order to start a revolution; two crooks boai'd the ship, elotely followed by a detective; and the chief steward falls foul of the captain, who spends most of his time on the bridge detesting the sea as heartily a% He can. The Cuban reaches home and is shot within ten minutes of his arrival, the detective falls in love with the lady crook, and the reporter keeps on drinking. By the time the ship arrives back in New York the various situations have been cleared, and the picture ends happilv. Victor M‘Laglan, John Gilbert, and Helen Vinson have the leading roles, and receive valuable support from the subsidiary players. There is a good supporting programme* STRAND In these days a really original mystery thriller is a novelty, but ‘ Murder in the Private Car,’ at the Strand, is full of diverting ideas, and the plot is worked out with such smoothness that the story and its characters become entirely convincing. The film owes its success to two factors. The first is the way in which the director has woven a series of disconnected incidents —ranging from the kidnapping of an heiress to the escape of a circus gorilla—into a logical story with a completely satisfying conclusion ; and the second is the restrained and competent acting of the exeellept cast. Charles Ruggles and Una Merkel have congenial roles—the first as an amateur detective whose chief claim to fame lies in his ability to solve crime mysteries before the crimes are committed, and the second as a stolid telephone operator with a capacity for shrewd commentary—and to these two belongs much of the_ credit for keeping the story well within the bounds of credibility. "For the rest praise is due for the ingenious mechanical effects that help to achieve the exciting climax. MAYFAIR Heading the Mayfair’s current programme, ‘ Life in the Raw ’ is the Fox picture in which George O’Brien returns to the screen after an absence of about six months. The story that Zane Grey-has written combines the elements for which his writings have gained world-wide fame. There is romance, adventure, danger, acts of undaunted heroism—all set against the dynamic background of the West. It is reported as a story of humans whose emotions are laid bare by the unrelenting pressure of arid wastes. ‘ Tin's Side of Heaven,’ the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture which is the second feature, Presents the problem of a typical middleclass family—the climactic events of all their individual lives crowded together in a picture. Heading the impressive cast is Lionel Barrymore, supported by Fay Bainter, Mae Clarke, Tom Brown, Una Merkel, Mary Carlisle, Onslow Stevens, Henry Wadsworth, Eddie Nugent, C. Henry Gordon, and Dickie Moore. ?