PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22274, 27 February 1936, Page 3

PICTURE THEATRES

TWQ EXCELLENT FILMS GRAND'S ATTRACTIONS Two outstanding pictures, ‘ Strangers All.' a drama of mother-love, and ‘ Dressed to Thrill,’ an entertaining comedy, comprise the new attractions ’at the Grand. ‘ Dressed to Thrill,’ an entertaining and tuneful picture of lovers in Paris, marks the debut of Tutta Rolf, an attractive new European artist in American films. Coupled with Clive Brook, Miss Rolf has the romantic lead in a tale filled with ingenious twists and original angles, and bristling with brilliant dialogue. Miss Rolf plays the part of a jilted woman who had revenge at her finger tips, but gave it up because love proved too strong. The story begins in the days of the war. Clive Brook, a handsome former officer in the Canadian army, has left behind him in France a dressmaker, whom he had promised to marry. Years later she turns up in Paris, a tantalising beauty, totally unlike her former self, and proceeds to cast her spell over him. Under the influence of her intoxicating beauty Brooks squanders his fortune, loses his business, and even old friends. Then, when she feels that she has tortured him sufficiently, she reveals her true identity in a surprising climax that brings the story to a happy conclusion. Miss Rolf sings two fascinating new songs in the course of the picture— My Heart is a Violin ’ and ‘ My One Big Moment.’ Leading the capable cast of supporting artists are Robert Barrat and Nydia Westman. The age-old theme of mother-love is charmingly presented in ‘ Strangers All,’ the supporting feature; but it is presented in a way never attempted before, and contains situations that should appeal to all. Comedy vies with pathos so that the iiTulience is laughing one moment and bending towards the solemn the next. In ‘ Strangers All,’ May Robson has the leading- role, that of a mother who is intent on mothering a family, the members of which have nothing in common. The eldest son, Preston Foster, is a worker, but his two brothers nearly earn the title of loafers. One son thinks that he is a great actor, while the other has strong political views, and plays the role of soap-box orator. And to make matters worse, the only daughter is a harum-scarum. How May Robson guides this troublesome family is told in a manner all will enjoy. BRILLIANT CHILD STAR ‘CURLY TOP' ENTERS SECOND WEEK Shirley Temple's delightful personality has never been seen to better advantage than in ‘ Curly Top,’ the film which entered its second week at the State yesterday. r Only those who have not seen Shirley Temple act may be heard criticising her, and to them it should Ire said, “ Do not criticise until you have seen her; after that yon will not wish to.” For Shirley Temple is charming, clever, and most pleasant to see and hear. Her success has now been proved in ‘ Bright Eyes,’ ‘ The Little Colonel,’ ‘,Onr Little Girl,’ and 1 Curly Top.' This last is perhaps the most charming and happy of her pictures!. She is given dozens of opportunities to please her public and to show that she can act many different moods and many different ages—in the picture she acts jn a concert in costume, first as herself, next as a girl of IG, next as a bride of 21, and then as an old white-haired lady, who suddenly becomes the five-year-old again, doing a tap dance with tne long black skirts held fantastically above her knees. It must be said that this musical romance is-a wholly delightful film; Shirley Temple's acting is so good or the little star is so charming, the audience would be glad to have her leading all the way through. But she is supported by John Boles and Rochelle Hudson, who, although they do their parts well, do not rob her of any of her glory. The scenes in the orphanage at the beginning of the film are particularly good; the episode on the very wet night when Elizabeth signalled to her pony from the window and the pony came inside, up the stairs, and into lied, was one of the best things in the picture. Of its kind it is surely an outstanding piece of production. The scene showing the orphans in the dining room with Shirley Temple, dressed in the orphanage overalls, leading the crowd in spoonbanging. and singing her catchy song, Animal Crackers in My .Soup,’ is perhaps the most popular part of the film. But there are many incidents to please everyone; Shirley sings two songs which are easily picked up, she dances a tap dance oa top of a piano, and she does a complicated skipping and tap-danc-mg turn in the concert she helps lo arrange for the orphans. .Vo one could regret seeing ‘ Curly Top.’ REGENT ‘The Last Outpost,’ which concludes at the Regent to-night, provides firstclass entertainment.. The film is a truo-to-lilc story of the Great War in Armenia and the Sudan, and the principal characters are a British secret service agent, an officer in an armoured car division, and the wife of the agent. Cohn Tapley, formerly of Dunedin, is prominently cast in the film. EMPIRE Very rarely does a picture combine so many thrills as ‘ The Raven,’ which concludes at the Empire this evening. The film could have no better inspiration than a story by Edgar Allan Poe, and it has added to the effect of the book by the photography- and make-up. Bela L ugosi and Boris .Karloff are the featured players, with Irene Ware and Lester Matthews in the supporting cast. ST. JAMES * Dr, Socrates,’ a thrilling gangster drama dealing with the adventures of a surgeon who loses his nerve when his fiancee dies on the operating table, is the main feature at the St. Janies. How he works for racketeers in looking after their wounded, and later manages to expose them, is the basis of the story. Ann Dvorak plays opposite Paul Muni. STRAND Two outstanding pictures, ‘ Atlantic Adventure,’ a thrilling drama, and 'Half a Sinner,’ a bright comedy,, comprise the attractive programme which concluded at the Strand this afternoon. ‘Atlantic Adventurb,’ as well ns starring Nancy Carroll and Lloyd Nolan, features the once famous actress Clara Kimball Young. 1

OCTAGON As a book, a stage play, a silent film, and a talking picture, ‘ The Silence of Dean Maitland ’ has gone from success to success. This film, which concludes at the Octagon to-night, stars John Langden and Charlotte Francis. ‘ The Return of Bulldog Drummond ’ is also being shown. MAYFAIR ‘ Naughty Marietta,’ which proved its popularity in Dunedin over a long season, is at present being screened at the Mayfair. The story is, briefly, that of the lovely Princess Marie de la Bonfain (Jeanette Macdonald), who is being forced by her uncle (Douglas Dnnibrille) to marry the odious Don Carlos de Braganza' To escape this marriage, which is sponsored by King Louis XV., she exchanges identities with her servant, Marietta, and, armed with the latter’s credentials, leaves France as one of the 40 “ casquette ” girls bound for the French settlement of Louisiana to find husbands. The ship is captured by pirates, who land with their fair captives in the Everglades, but are routed by a band of woodsmen under Captain Richard Warrington (Nelson Eddy), commences a quaint courtship oi Marietta. The c!irinx L -aLsl'aciorv lo all comrrrrcl.