PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22209, 11 December 1935, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

v '; !^:i * »?• - EMPIRE Taken from the last and most popular novel by the late Gene StrattonPorter, ‘ The Keeper of the Bees,’ which is being shown at the Empire, faithfully preserves the fine spirit or the original'tale. Set against the charming natural backgrounds made familiar to audiences by previous film adaptations of Gene Stratton-Porter’s stories. * The ' Keeper of the Bees ’ tells of the experiences of Jamie, a wounded returned soldier,- who believes he has only sis months to live. Following a meeting with an attractive girl, Molly, be forgets that his early intentions were to make his last six months a wild fling and he goes to Peaceful Bay, domain of the Bee Master. In aiding that kindly soul his whole outlook on life is changed and the story is brought to a pleasant and logical conclusion. REGENT Sparkling entertainment is provided in ‘ Paris m Spring,’ which is attracting large audiences to the Regent Theatre. Directed with consummate artistry, the film ,has admirably captured the joyful atmosphere of spring, a season when Paris is seen at its best. Tullio Carminati, the noted Italian actor, who achieved great success with his performance in ‘One Night of Love,’ has a part in which ho ably demonstrates his flair for light comedy, There is a clever plot and counter-plot which never allow the interest to nag, and the acting of the large cast is of a .uniformly high standard. There is » fin© associate programme, including one of the popular ‘ Pop Eye 'the Sailor ’ cartoons, while M. de Rose and his orchestra also contribute several attractive items. ST. JAMES Essentially a family story, ‘ There’s Always To-morrow,’ which heads the • current bill at the St.' James, tells of a misunderstood husband who seeks his pleasures elsewhere. Very human ahe the domestic touches ; the wife • immersed in her family of young men and women. The children have grown up with the idea that 'their male parent is merely a provider and there is a lack of love and tolerance among them. When it is revealed to the children that their father does not spend his evenings at lodge, where he is supposed to be, there is the danger of a family debacle, for the elder son is about to tell his mother of his father's guilt when his fiancee, by an adroit move, turns the tables and saves the father’s secret. Binnio .Barnes, the popular London stage star, plays the leading part, while catt opposite her is Frank Morgan. Lois Wilson and Margaret Hamilton also appear in the film. STRAND Heading the current hill at the Strand is a very enjoyable picture iii ‘ Radio Pirates,’ in which Willie Jenkins, Enid Stamp-Taylor, • Mary Dawson, and Leslie French take the main roles. It is a story of throe young people who cannot make money. Mary has a cafe, Leslie has a radio shop, and Willie composes popular songs, which, fail to be popular. Leslie hits upon the idea of advertising themselves, and they start broadcasting as a pirate station—that is, one which is not licensed. They continue to broadcast, and the result of their efforts is fame. The story works up to a fine climax when an unscrupulous band of financiers takes possession of their ' “ studio,” in the ‘ dock tower which houses the mighty works of Big Ben, ■ and are caught'littering seditious words when the police at last track the statio’n down. The first feature is a Leslie' Fuller Comedy entitled ‘.What a,,. 2s T ight]i

OCTAGON Two , sharply contrasting personalities in. Carole Lombard and May Robson come together in a strange friendship in the lively comedy-drama, ‘ Lady by,*GKdieb ; ,’;fwhich is the main feature at the Octagon. It is a bright and entertaining story of two women, one a fan dancer, and the other an old reprobate, who meet in a courtroom and form an attachment which brings with it some happy surprises. The older woman has lived a hard life, but when she is adopted by the fan dancer as her foster mother on “Mothers’ Day” she mellows and develops fine characteristics. ‘The Crime of Helen Stanley,’ the supporting film, features Shirley Grey and Ralph Bellamy, while the story centres round the studios of Hollywood. STATE Large audiences are still being attracted to the State, where the brilliant pageant of natural colour, ‘ Becky Sharp,’ is the main attraction. Marking a new era in popular entertainment the picture is a succession of pleasing studies comprising every imaginable colour. The producers have spared no pains to make a production of faultless technique and great use has been made of contrasting bright hues against neutral tones. It would have been difficult to have chosen a more fitting subject for this epic of the screen than Thackeray’s ‘ Vanity Fair.’ Miriam Hopkins gives a delightful portrayal as, the fickle little adventuress around whom the whole story revolves. Alan Mowbray appears opposite her, while others in the cast are Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Frances Dee, and the New Zealander, Colin Tapley, MAYFAIR Further proof of Dickens’s genius is furnished by the fact that his stories can survive the transition from print to film without losing any of their appeal. Neither time nor medium can dim the greatness of the master’s conception, and this is shown in ‘ David Copperfield,’ which opened to-day at the Mayfair. The story commences with the birth of David and the later infatuation of his mother for the fiendish Murdstone jiul her death. There with distressing detail is shown the travail of little David, his weary tramp from London to Dover, and his succouring at the hands of the temperamental Betsy Trotwood and Mr Dick. Then follow' in perfect sequence the happy days at Mr Wickficld’s and Pcggotty’s, and hard upon the latter conies the perfidy of Steerforth and the villainy of Uriah Heep; David’s marriage to Dorn, lief death, and, following on the exposure of Heep’s treachery, his marriage to Agnes Wickfield. One cannot pass lightly over David’s encounters ' with penurious Micawber; his affectionate contacts with Peggotty, old Dan’l, and Ham Peggotty at Yarmouth, and the whimsical scenes with Betsy and Mr Dick without a word for the faithfulness and “ heart ” with which they are played. A very beautiful and touching performance is that of Freddie Bartholomew as young David, while Frank Lawton is ingratiating as the adult David. Betsy is inimitably played by Edna May Oliver, and W. C. Fields makes an amusing and convincing \Vilkins Micawber. LAURIER, PORT CHALMERS Concluding a short season at the Laurier to-day is ‘ Devil Dogs of the Air.’ An excellent trio heads the cast of this new service picture, James Cagney, Pat o’Bri*n, and Frank M‘Hugh, while'Margaret Lindsay has the leading feminine role. The story concerns a recruit who joins the marine corps and tries to tell the officers what it is all about. He, however, wakes up one day to what the service means after a thrilling incident which brings a smashing climax.