PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22308, 7 April 1936, Page 15

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT Not only because of the wonderful i music it contains but also because of I the highly impressive acting of JoseEhine Hutchinson, ‘ The Melody ingers On,’ an excellent film which > is now at the Regent, will remain fresh I in the memory of all who see it. Em- ' bodying in a’ distinctive manner the best features of grand opera, it is a ■ refined production, in the mak : ng of ' which the directors have struck a new 1 note. Mother love is the motive power of the plot, and Josephine Hutchin- : son, who provides this element, is i thoroughly convincing. There is a sugr gestion of ‘ Smiling Through ’ in the ! early scenes, where the principal is • seen in her late ’teens. In the more ‘ advanced stages of the story she be- ' comes a famous pianist endeavouring ■ to assure the future of her son. Though I her singing is exemplary, in view, probably, ot the inclusion in the cast of « a renowned operatic singer, she is con- > tent to concentrate on the exacting ’ role she is called upon to interpret. George Houston, dashing and debonair, ■ playing opposite Miss Hutchinson, is ' well suited to his part. EMPIRE Everything that has been said about ‘ Mutiny on the Bounty ’ by the critics of England, America, and Australia is true. It is the screen’s greatest achievement. Although the cast is headed by Charles- Laughton, Clark Gable, and Franchot Tone, the spectator forgets that he is watching some of the most popular film stars of the present day. He is carried hack to the eighteenth century, when the world still held the romance of the unknown, and when places like Tahiti were, to Europeans, like islands on another planet. The truth of the matter is that the director (Frank Lloyd, of ‘Cavalcade’ and ‘Berkeley Square’), the craftsmen who rebuilt the Bounty, and the actors deserve every word of , the acclaim they have been given so generously. An enormous amount of research has gone into the production and one of the greatest achievements of the director and technicians is the way in which detail is emphasised without sacrificing the continuity of the story. The idyllic beauty of the Tahitian sequences and the realism of the fight of the little British warship against the storms of the Atlantic and Pacific alone would make this production into a supreme film achievement. ST. JAMES * Calm Yourself,’ the film now at the St. James, may be taken as a sample of good average American comedy. It starts with an interesting name, and builds upon it with deligntful people, delightful situations, and a fair measure of drama, romance, and thrills thrown in—a most satisfying entertainment. It has the merit of originality, plenty of action, and most satisfactory casting, and moves swiftly through a series of most involved situations to a distinctly pleasant ending. Robert Young, who is well known for his good work in many of the lighter American films, heads a strong cast, and with him are Madge Evans and Betty Furness, both of whom are convincing and amusing. ‘ Calm Yourself ’ is the slogan Robert Young uses when he loses his job and sets up a new enterprise called Confidential Services Ltd. The company’s staff .of one will take care of anything rif it is paid a sufficiently high fee. First it is a drunken husband, then the charming daughter of a banker, then a dangerous dog, and finally a kidnapped baby] STATE Magnificent as a spectacle and powerful in its drama, R.K.0.-Radio’s film, | The Last Days of Pompeii,’ which is having a season at the State, is an ambitious production. The film is imbued with all the pomp and spectacle, all the luxury and extravagance that have immortalised this Roman city of antiquity. Vesuvius, standing ominously in the background, in the early stages, becomes the dominant power in the latter scenes, and the story hinges on the eruption. It must, however, be remembered that the film does not pretend to follow the theme of Lord Lytton’s work. Rather does the picture take the splendour of Pompeii and the exterminating eruption and build up round these extracts an original story. Heading a talented cast is Preston Foster, who gives a masterly performance. His role is that of overseer of a huge Pompeiian amphitheatre who, having adopted a son, does his utmost to secure for him a great position in the Roman Empire. Basil Rathbone is ideal as Pontius Pilate, while many other important parts are in competent hands. MAYFAIR Two films, ‘ Public Hero Number I,’ an exciting story of - the Secret Service, and a gay musical comedy,. ‘ Paris in Spring,’ will conclude at the Mayfair this evening, in ‘Public Hero Number 1 ’ Chester Morris is cast as an American G-man, who eventually captures a notorious public enemy. Supporting Morris are Lionel Barrymore and Jean Arthur. Mary Ellis and Tullio Carminati are the featured players in ‘ Paris in.Spring.’ GRAND The ability of Will Rogers as a humourist and a character actor has scarcely ever appeared to such great advantage as in his Jest picture, ‘ in Old Kentucky,’ which concludes at the Grand this evening. With Will Rogers in the film are Dorothy Wilson. Russell Hardic, Charles Sellon, and Bill Robinson. 1 Thunder Mountain,’ the supporting feature, stars George O’Brien. STRAND An opera singer who takes a violent dislike to singing, and wishes to make cakes instead is unusual, but such a person is Yvonne, the principal character in ‘ Manhattan Moon,’ which is now showing with ‘ Adventure Girl ’ at the Strand. Yvonne has other characteristics, which, however, are more in keeping with what one would expect a French singer to have. Two of them are a decided French accent and a temperament. A newcomer to the screen, Dorothy Page, acts the part of Yvonne very capaniy. ‘ Adventure Girl,’ which stars the authoress of the production, Jean Lowell, is the record of a trip with a camera to the wild South American jungle, and a graphic description is given of the ceaseless war that goes on between the denizens of this tropical region. An instance of the type of thrill which the film provides is a struggle between a dangerous snake and a sworn enemy, a mongoose. The photography is excellent, and the film must be ranked among the best of the wild-life pictures : which have achieved such popularity in - recent years. I

OCTAGON 1 Tlie Barretts of Wimpole Street,’ the Rudolf Besier play adapted by a talented scenario-writing team, is at present being shown for a return season at the Octagon. This picture tells the story of the lives of two poets, Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning—a love nearly frustrated by a demoniacal father. Norma Shearer is Elizabeth Barrett, Fredrie March, Robert Browning, and Charles Laughton, the elder Barrett. Elizabeth had resigned herself to a lingering death when correspondence with the poet Browning suddenly materialised with his handsome presence in her own room. It was love at first sight between the fragile girl and her ardent admirer. With all the spleen and cunning of his nature the elder Barrett throws himself against this romance, and thereon hangs the tale. In 1 Sequoia,’ the supporting feature, #a Nature story of originality and charm is presented, and the settings are such that could not help but appeal to the most fastidious picture-goer. The acting, too, is delightful, tjie performance of Joan Barker, who is entrusted with the main role, being most impressive.