PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22351, 29 May 1936, Page 13

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE An almost all-English cast makes its appearance in Metro-Goldwyu-Mayer’s newest comedy, ‘ The Perfect Gentleman,’ which began a season at the Empire to-day. With the exception of Frank Morgan, who plays the leading character role, the entire cast is English born. Cicely Courtneidge, the noted British star, heads the list, which includes Heather Angel, Richard Warwick, Herbert Mundin, Una O’Connor, Forrester Harvey, Henry Stephenson, Mary Forbes, -Doris Lloyd, and others. Morgan plays an impoverished ex-army officer, wno goes to fantastic and often comical devices to “ put up a front.” Thrown out of his apartment for nonpayment of rent, he goes to visit his son, vicar of a country church, manages to disgrace the son in front of his bishop, and is packed back to London again. He finds a theatre ticket, and attends a show where a former favourite, a music hall comedienne, enacted by Miss Courtneidge, is “ given tbe bird.” 'The doughty major rises to her defence, and upbraids the crowd for disrespect to the woman who popularised ‘ Tipperary.’ The upshot of the episode is that he is employed by her for her act. They become a tremendous hit. But the bishop thinks they ought to be married. They quarrel—she tries to do a “ singfe ” and fails—hut he is in the audience to come to the rescue, for the sake of the vicar’s soil, who wants a better vicarage, and for the sake of the act that can’t succeed without them both. REGENT Unquestionably the most popular star in the British Isles to-day is Gracie Fields. Periodically English newspapers and film magazines conduct screen popularity contests, and the public favourite No. 1 is always “ Our Gracie,” as she is well and affectionately known to her legion of admirers. Unfortunately in the .past this tremendous popularity has not been so pronounced with all Australia and New Zealand audiences, although these audiences' are the first to admit that a Gracie picture is always a guarantee of bright and breezy entertainment. Many and varied have been the reasons advanced for this fact, but now Gracie has a new director—and the screen has a new Gracie—in the picture that will establish her in her rightful place among the world favourites of .the screen. ‘ Queen ot Hearts ’ is the film, which opened at the Regent to-day, and co-starred with Gracie are John Lqder, Tom Gill, and Jean Lester. The story deals with the adventures of a stage-struck girl, who, through a case of mistaken identity; is given her “ big chance.” But Grade’s ambition is to become a great singer, and the producer plans to make her the hit of the show—as an apache dancer. Imagine, just imagine. Gracie dancing ‘ The Dance of Death ’ —the funniest sequence ever filmed. Eventually, of coarse, Gracie V name heads the big cast in an elaborately produced stage presentation, of the musical comedy, ‘ Queen of Hearts,’ and it is here that the picture unfolds another of its many delightful surprises. OCTAGON Not only thoroughly convincing, but as natural in treatment and jiresentation ns it is thrillihgly exciting, ‘ The Thirty-nine Steps,’ a Ganmont-British picture, js now screening at, the Octagon. Robert Donat, well remembered tor his Jiowerful. interpretation of Monte Cristo,’ proves an admirable Richard Hannay, his personality being particularly well suited to the role of the adventurous young Canadian whose daring not only cast him falsely under police suspicion as a murderer, and brought the hounds of the law upon his heels, but also involved him in a life-and-death struggle with a criminal organisation. Madeleine Carroll lias in Pamela a type of role new to her. She has hitherto been seen in characters of regal dignity. In ‘ The Thirty-nine Stops ‘ no such aura is allowed to surround her. She is rushed here, dragged there, and carried yonder by the very energetic, purposeful young man whose urgent prayer to bo rid of her cannot be answered because they happen to be handcuffed together. Jack Hulbert——he of the triumphant grin and cheery demeanour—has an entirely new type of role in ‘ Bulldog Jack,’ the second feature, a mixture of heroics and comedy, 1 a role which fits him like a glove. To see Jack as an amateur sleuth taking over a case from Bulldog Drummond, plumbing the mystery, fighting the criminals, a-rescuing the heroine, and falling in love with her, is to witness the funniest of Hulbert comedies with a story which also packs genuine thrills. ST. JAMES A novel, and what has been described as being an exceedingly well-acted picture, filled with very tuneful songs, opened a season this afternoon at the St. James. Entitled ‘ Two Hearts in Harmony,’ and a product of British international Pictures, it is j comedy with a pleasant romantic aspect, and a thoroughly entertaining and unusual plot. The story moves vapidly in a series of well-varied episodes to a very satisfactory climax. The pictures open with a marionette show, an opportunity for presenting a fine little piece of entertainment within the film. One of the women who, running the show, does the soprano singing for one of the dolls, becomes dissatisfied with her position and seeks new employment. She finds the opportunity of posing for an artist who designs stained glass windows, but by mistake the address given her is that of a young widowed nobleman, whoe secretary is engaging a governess for the sou of the house, a precocious ami studious boy, who makes a chance acquaintanceship with the marionette artist when his chauffeur runs into her on the street. With the encouragement of the hoy, she decides to take the position, giving her young charge a more healthy type of training than that to which he has been accustomed. Her employer is a man of expensive tastes, engaged to a young woman who is busy flirting with another man. The whole situation becomes delicate, especially ts the new governess has to return to help her friends with the show till they can got another partner. Nevertheless, it moves on to a surprising and eminently satisfactory climax. GRAND A peace officer walking into the levelled guns of four desperadoes to thwart a daring kidnap scheme is only one of the many thrills packed into ‘ The Arizonian,’ the film now at Ihe Grand, in which Richard Dix has flic lending role. Deemed n 1 Cavalcade ’ of the Wesi. ' The Arizonian ’ is n romantic history of the early ’eighties. Dix ns a courageous devotee to law and order in n country teeming wifh outlaws and gunmen prelects his brollier

and the woman he loves, as well as the community from these enemies. ■ In producing ‘ The Arizonian ’ Arizona history was consulted diligently. No incident of the thrilling record of the American frontier was allowed to go unnoticed, and as a result the picture graphically portrays many incidents of that day. Well-known stars of the stage and screen are seen in support of Richard Dix, who is said to give his finest performance since * Cimarron ’ in ‘ The Arizonian.’ Such lights as Margot Grahame, Preston Foster, and Louis Calheru play featured parts under the direction of Charles \idor. The supporting film is ‘ The People’s Enemy,’ a film which has its basis in the campaign against crime which lollowed the inauguration of the “ New Deal.”STATE The gayest and most charming of romantic comedies, ‘The Man \\ho Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo,’ opened a Dunedin season at the btato to-day. Ronald Column, the screen’s ablest player of suave and debonair roles, mis the title part, and is supported by Joan Bennett in the feminine lead. Tnc picture is full of humorous interludes, and is infused with a delightful romantic element. Column enacts the role of an impoverished Russian Prince who runs up his meagre savings as a taxi driver into 10,000,1100 francs at tnc Sporting Club in Monte Carlo. He returns to Paris, and divides half of his winnings among fiis fellow expatriates, wno hau added ihcir savings to bis original stake. Having mot and lullen in love with Joan Rennett, hired by the gambling syndicate to lure Column bacK to Monte Carlo for another session at the tables, he uses his fortune in pursuit ot her. She and her companion in deceit, Colin Clive, lead Column a merry chase through the gay centres of Europe to Interlaken, Switzerland. Here, m u setting of moonlight and romance, Alias Bennett falls in love with her victim, tohe tries to save Column, but Clive manages to get him back to Monte Carlo. Column Joses Ids winnings, but wins Miss Bennett, much to the satisfaction of both principals and to the audience. In support of the main feature there is an outstanding programme of shorts. STRAND One of Harold Bell Wright's most famous novels, ‘ The Calling of Dan Matthews,’ began a season at the Strand to-day. It is a dramatic story of a small town clergyman who sets out to rid the place of vice in varying forms, With how much success he meets theatregoers will be able to see for themselves. The author’s work is sufficient recommendation alone, but with careful treatment the film version has been rounded out into a thrilling and absorbing story. Richard Alien and Charlotte Wynters have the leading roles. ‘ Sweet Surrender,’ the first film musical to be filmed in New York in three years, is the supporting feature. The co-stars of ‘ Sweet Surrender,’ Frank Parker and Tamara, arc both well known to radio audiences, hut arc new to the screen world, Outside of a small film role with his radio side partner. Jack Benny, in ‘ Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round,’ and one or two shorts, Frank Parker has done nothing previously in pictures, though his lovely tenor voice has circled the world. Tamara, the girl who made ‘ Smoke Gets in Your Eyes ’ a national song hit when she rose to overnight fame 'in the Broadway stage production in Jerome Kern’s operetta ‘ Roberta,’ is a native of Moscow who is making her screen debut as a star without any previous motion picture experience. Another promising Broadway player who takes a first step into movieland in this film is Helen Lyml, favourably known to New York theatregoers for her work in the comedy leads of 1 The Hook Up,’ ‘ Ladies’ Money.’ and ‘ Battleship Gertie.’ She has the principal feminine comedy role in ‘ Sweet Surrender.’ Miss Lyml is a blonde strongly resembling Ginger Rogers. MAYFAIR An attractive double-feature programme concludes at the Mayfair this evening, the two films being ‘Dr Socrates ’ and ‘ Silver Streak.’ Featuring such accomplished players as Paul Muni. Barton Mac Lane. Ann Dvorak, and Mayo Methot, ‘ Dr Socrates ’ is an exciting story of the criminal escapades of American gangsters and the activities of the G-men in bringing them to justice. The supporting picture. ‘ Silver Streak,’ features Sally Blanc, Charles Stnrrett, Hardie Albright, and William Farnum.