PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22248, 28 January 1936, Page 13

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE ‘ Broadway Melody of 1936,’ which, is at present screening at the Empire, is unlike the first ‘ Broadway Melody and also different from any other mU; sl " cal comedy. A new leading lady, Miss Eleanor Powell, makes her debut m this film. She is an actress of charm and personality, added to which she is rated as the world’s greatest tap dancer. Perhaps the most impressive feature of the production is the subtle and novel manner in which the various dances and songs are introduced; Each one comes as a worthwhile embellishment of the central story. Nothing is obviously staged or thrust upon the audience, and the various „ musical scenes sparkle through the piece as gems of entertainment. A talented cast of artists interprets the principal roles. The comedy is largely in the capable hands of Jack Benny, noted American radio entertainer. As a newspaper columnist who achieves success through notoriety, he is vastly amusing, and he is well supported by Una Merkel, Sid. Silvers, Robert Taylor, and June Knight. REGENT It is confidently claimed of ‘ Midshipman Easy,’ the British film at present at the Regent, that it is entertainment designed to please every member of the family. The claim does not seem far-fetched when one considers the popularity of Captain _ Marryat’s story over a long period with readers of all ages. Hughie Green, the ;*>ung English radio artist, is excellent in the name part; he makes the character of Midshipman Easy step right out of the pages of Marryat’s fascinating story. A grand performance is given by Robert Adams, the negro actor, as the giant black servant, Mesty. Under the name of “ The Black Eagle,” Adams has won fame as a wrestler as well as an actor, and in ‘ Midshipman Easy ’ he has some great fights. His encounter on the cliff tops with the brigand, Don Silvio, js one of the most thrilling things of its kind ever screened. Margaret Lockwood delicately strikes the romantic note as Donna Agnes. GRAND ‘ The the British film starring Claude Rains and Fay Wray, will conclude at the Grand to-night. Claude Rains, as the_ hero, is given the mystic power of being able to foresee the future, and he predicts a tram accident, the winner of the Derby, and a mine disaster. On the same programme is a bright musical comedy, ‘ Car of Dreams,’ which features the new Continental actress Grete Mosheim and Robertson Hare. ST. JAMES Herbert Marshall and Sylvia Sydney give outstanding performances in ‘ Accent on Youth,’ the intriguing comedydrama which is now being shown at the St. James. In this production the humour is more or less ironical. It is an ironical situation for a playwright to be forced to live through the bitterness of a dramatic romance which he had himself conceived. Sylvia Sydney is the young secretary to the successful playwright (Marshall), and it may have been auto-suggestion that made her fall in love with him (in spite of his 50 years), after he had written a play about the love of an ageihg man for a youthful girl. The romance developed beyond suggestion, and the playwright found himself face to face with the reality of his stage problem. He cannot solve it. She dives deep and marries another man. Her husband symbolises the youth which the playwright advised her to seek. She finds that youth cannot attract her. It is a problem play, after all, more than a comedy romance. But a good one, nicely acted and, of course, with a leavening of comedy. There is an entertaining supporting programme. OCTAGON Those who like plenty of variety in their picture entertainment will find sufficient to interest them at the Octagon this week, for included in the new programme are two first-class films. The main attraction is entited ‘ The Clock Strikes Eight,’ which must be considered one of the most exciting pictures seen in Dunedin in recent times. The film begins with a suicide, afterwards found to be a murder, then another murder with a singer strangled while giving a song over the telephone, then more attempts at murder, and finally a time bomb which destroys the murderer and finally provides the happy ending. Arline Judge, Kent Taylor, and Wendy Barrie take the leading parts, and they are assisted by several good artists. The second film on the programme is 1 Circus Clown,' in which Joe E. Brown, the versatile comedian and clever dancer, provides laughs and thrills with a rapidity that takes the. audience all too quickly through the delights of a big circus and the life of its principals. MAYFAIR Bing Crosby is featured with W. C. Fields and Joan Bennett in ‘ Mississippi,’ which heads the double-feature programme which concludes at the Mayfair to-night. The film tells the story of a youth who grows to be a notorious gambler, and a gun fighter whose name is feared along the -whole Mississippi. ‘ The Dragon Murder Case,’ featuring Warren William, Lyle Talbot, and Margaret Lindsay, is the supporting feature. STATE The principal attraction at the State Theatre is the appearance for a short season of Miss Gladys Moncrjeff and Mr Git Dech, who have on numerous occasions previously delighted large audiences in Dunedin with their artistry and musicianship. Miss Moncrieff sings a large number of songs with her customary charm and grace, her engaging personality and rich vocal gifts completely winning the hearts of her audiences. Mr Gil Dech, -who also plays several pianoforte solos with a high degree of mnsicianly skill, provides sympathetic and artistic accompaniments to Miss Moncrieff’s numbers. The principal picture on the programme is 1 Redheads on Parade,’ an entertaining production of the musical variety. Brunettes and various types of blondes have formed the theme of numerous pictures, hut this film sets out to sing the praises of the red-headed girl, and an amusing story relates the history of a new type of hair dye wdiich quickly provides the desired auburn locks. John Boles is well cast in the chief male role, with Dixie Lee playing opposite him, and they are ably supported by Jack Haley, Raymond Walburn. Herman Bing, Alan Diuehart, and William Austin,

STRAND The story of the sister of a pretty American girl marrying her man is unfolded in ‘ Smart Girl,’ at present showing at the Strand, and the love of two sisters for the same man adds a delightful romantic touch which greatly appealed to last night’s audience. Ida Lupino as Pat Reynolds, the young girl who outwits the unscrupulous oil brokers, is superb in a role which suits her to perfection, while Kent Taylor, as Nick Graham, the unsuspecting tool of the oil concern and object of the girls’ affections, plays his part convincingly. Joseph Cawthorn keeps the audience in laughter as Pat’s employer, and serves as the deus ex machine that removes all their troubles. The supporting feature is ‘ Jennie Gerhardt,’ a film version from the novel of the same name by Theodore Dreiser. Sylvia Sydney is the featured player in the production, with Edward Arnold and Mary Astor in support. LAURIER, PORT CHALMERS The disclosures that followed a surprise raid last year by civic officials and reporters on one of New York’s biggest penal institutions prove that nothing is too wild or too improbable to occur in an American prison. Racketeers in expensive clothing, waited upon and valeted by fellow inmates, were running the entire penitentiary and dominating the warden and his staff. In writing the story of 1 The Daring Young Man,’ which opens at the Laurier, Port Chalmers, to-day, the had no need of exaggerating these disclosures in order to_ write one of the funniest sequences in modern picture offerings. James Dunn and Mae Clark are the featured players.