PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22070, 2 July 1935, Page 3

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Everyone who enjoys a really good mystery story will be delighted with ‘ The White Cockatoo,’ which is now showing at the Empire Theatre. The picture provides first-class entertainment from every angle. The story opens with an attempted abduction, and then the action changes quickly to murder, and as the plot thickens two more murders are left for the police to solve. The leading roles are taken by Jean Muir, a charming and attractive personality, and Ricardo Cortez, a polished and convincing actor of wide experience. The story concerns a young heiress about to claim her fortune. Others with designs on the money are quickly on the scene, and the plot develops round their activities, which are not of the kind that a benign police force furthers, but those that cause them an immense amount ,of trouble. * The White Cockatoo ’ is perfect entertainment, and is undoubtedly one of the best mystery films seen in Dunedin for a long time. REGENT Patrons of the Regent Theatre are at present being entertained by the film, ‘ The Private Life of Don Juan,’ in which the name character is played by Douglas Fairbanks, who made fame when he first played Juan on the silent screen. He instils all his reckless gaiety and irresponsible suavity into his portrayal of Byron’s character, and with the aid of a capable cast (which includes Claude Allister, Merle Oberon, Benita Hume, Owen Nares, Binnie Barnes, and Heather Thatcher) makes the film one to be long remembered by theatregoers. The dialogue and story, which besides being stimulating and refreshing, are lightly tinged with witty repartee, were written by Frederick Lonsdale. , The setting of the picture gives a faithful interpretation of the usual conception of Old World Spain~a glamorous panorama of taverns, operas, and tangoing senoritas. In the excellent supporting programme is included Walt Disney’s latest Mickey Mouse cartoon. * Orphan’s Benefit.’ STATE ( Out of the past, from the sealed and guarded archives of the great nations, the truth arrives at last in the amazing motion picture, ‘ The First World War,’ how at the State Theatre. Based on Laurence Stallings’s best-seller, it is the first authentic and uncensored screen record of the great conflict—and more than that. The very sources pf the Great War are reported to be included in the film, for many motion picture records of events leading up to the conflict are here given to the public for the first time. Intimate glimpsse of Europe’s royalty in the years before the war, their conferences, their alignments, their secret plans were entrusted to the’ producers for use in ‘ The First World War.’ Besides these, there are sensational and hitherto unscreened pictures of the important battles of the war—both on land and sea—and- a great variety of glimpses of life behind the fronts. . Among the world figures who appear in unguarded and intimate views are Kins George, the Kaiser, Lloyd George. Wilson, Trotsky, Lenin, the late King Alexander of Yugoslavia, King Albert, King Alfonso, the Prince of Wales, the Crown Prince of Germany with his family, Emperor Franz Joseph, and others. ST. JAMES The popularity of William Powell and Myrna Loy is well demonstrated by their latest production, ‘Evelyn Prentice,’ which has been greeted with unbounded enthusiasm at the St. James Theatre. The reputations which they established in ‘The Thin Man’ and ‘ Manhattan Melodrama ’ are well maintained, as their perfromances in ‘ Evelyn Prentice ’ are a triumph of polished acting. Other excellent portrayals are given by Una Merkel and Cora Sue Collins. The story is a thrilling one, and is full of brilliant wit and repartee. It concerns the domestic life of Prentice, a successful lawyer, whose practice keeps him continually away from his wife and home. On the eve of a second honeymoon to Europe his wife becomes enmeshed in a scandalous murder case. The ensuing scenes, in which Powell has the dual task, of trying to save both his wife and his client from conviction are probably the finest and most dramatic seen for many a day. Included in an outstanding supporting programme is a Charley Chase comdey and a beautiful colour film, ‘ Holland in Tulip Time.’ GRAND Only to-night remains for theatregoers to see ( D’ye Ken John Peel?* the musical romance which has met with such conspicuous success at the Grand Theatre during the past week. A good story superbly acted and studded with several rousing songs makes ‘ D’ye Ken John Peel?’ an entertaining film.. The part of John Peel is taken by John Garrick, whose pleasing personality and vocal talent make him a star of the first rank. Samuel Small, his batman, is acted by Stanley Holloway, who treatts the audience to many fine comedy sketches. Winifred Sbotter is appropriately demure in the chief 'feminine role, while the spice of adventure is provided by John Stuart as Captain Moonlight, the “Gentleman of the Road. Excellent supports precede the mam feature. OCTAGON Although it is a mystery drama, ‘ Crime Without Passion,’ which heads the programme at the Octagon Theatre, does not actually centre on the crime so much as it lays bare the thoughts of the murderer and probes into his mental reactions as he mechanically establishes a number of alibis. This unusual treatment and the brilliant acting of Claude Rains make the film outstanding. The second attraction, ,‘ One Sunday Afternoon,’ is a romantic drama. The handsome Gary Cooper starred in a role that fits him like a glove; Frances Fuller, a new screen “ discovery ” in the feminine lead; thousands, of colourful costumes; and a whimsical story of love and romance interwoven with golden threads of humour and song—these are only a few of the elements that contribute to the entertainment value of ‘ One Sunday Afternoon.’ STRAND Mystery is the predominant ingredient in the Strand Theatre’s current programme, but it also includes a liberal quantity of enjoyable comedy and excellent acting. There are two pictures, ‘ What Happened to Harkness?’ and ‘Fog Over ’Frisco.’ Both concern the solving of murders, and are ingeniously conceived. Robert Hale, supported by Jimmy Finlayson, is mainly responsible for the success of the former film, which deals with the mysterious disappearance

of a thoroughly unpopular English county man of wealth, and the amusing efforts of the village policeman to clear up what they suspect to be a violent murder. ‘ Fog Over 'Frisco ’ features Bette Davis, Donald Woods, Margaret Linckay, and Lyle Talbot, and tells an exciting tale of bond swindling and gang complications in the Golden Gate city. BAYFAIR A new starring romantic team is presented to film audiences in ‘ Now and Forever,’ at the Mayfair Theatre. It is Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard, the picture marking the first time that these two popular players have appeared together as leads. In addition, five-year-old Shirley Temple plays a starring role. Together, these three compose one of the most perfect combinations seen in films. The characters they play are sympathetic, human, and entirely believable, and they enact a story that is sincere, with sadness along with the smiles and laughs..