PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22413, 10 August 1936, Page 6

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND The moral which Charles Dickens so cleverly expounded in * A Christmas Carol’ literally springs to life on the screen in 1 Scrooge,’ which is delighting large audiences at the Grand. The story, which lends itself admirably to picturisation, has always been there, but it remained for the master character actor, Sir Seymour Hicks, and a talented cast to interpret it in the realistic and forceful manner in which it was written. Few do not know the story of the avaricious Scrooge who was visited at Christmastido by the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley, and the spirits of the past, present, and future; and the way in which he was admonished and shown the true way to happiness. With the touch of the master Seymour Hicks invests the title role with that light and shade which enables him to sink his own dynamic personality in that of his part. In support is ‘ My Marriage,’ a dramatic film of a society girl’s fight for society, featuring Claire Trevor and Kent Taylor, ‘THE TUNNEL.’ A film with unusual settings and theme, ‘ The Tunnel,’ is the next attraction at the Grand. A British production with a cast which includes several Americans, the film depicts the mighty achievement of building a tunnel under tho Atlantic, thus linking England and America. The works are filmed with realistic effect. Many setbacks arc encountered and the engineer-in-chief’s wife is blinded and his son is killed during the course of the undertaking, but the great work, nevertheless, goes on relentlessly, whatever the cost. The modem aids of radio and television are used throughout the film. Richard Dix takes the part of the engineer whose creation the tunnel is. -Part brilliant engineer, part dreamer, he makes a convincing character. Madge Evans is cast as his wife, and Helen Vinson as a rival for his affections. George Arliss and Walter Huston make brief appearances. EMPIRE Every element of prefect entertainment is embodied in the film ‘ The Story of Louis Pasteur,’ which opened a season, at the Empire on Friday. It abounds with humour, has at the same time a strangely beautiful theme, has been most magnificently produced, and contains performances by a great cast. Paul Muni as Louis Pasteur is amazing, and critics throughout the world have been unanimous in declaring his performance one of the finest in screen history. Audiences through-* out England, America, and Australia have borne witness to the entertainment provided by this outstanding picture. The film autobibgraphy of Pasteur depicts in graphic fashion the struggle of the gallant scientist in the world of research and the triumphs he achieved despite the opposition and the ever-present scepticism of his iellow medical men. Pasteur’s first triumph came when, following the FrancoPrussian War, Franco was faced with a Inigo indemnity to pay Germany. When every resource of tho country was required to meet the huge debt, the dread disease .of anthrax broke out among the stock of the land. Only one district escaped, that being the one in which Pasteur_ was carrying out bis experiments with special vaccines to combat the germs. Then comes Pasteur’s test by the contemporaries, and he triumphs again to win the respect of them all. He aims at a cure for hydrophobia, and his difficulties become greater, but he is again successful. The supporting cast is an excellent one, including Josephine Hutchison in the feminine lead. REGENT After an absence of nearly five years the matchless Chaplin in ‘ Modern Times’ is the feature in an extended season at the Regent. The picture has had remarkably enthusiastic receptions and record audiences overseas. _ The critics call it the funniest film in the whole of the master’s clown career, and ho is the first man of the screen to bo called a genius, in a world full or changes he remains constant to the character that has been synonymous with his name for 20 years. He is still the funny little tramp with a microscopic moustache, a battered derby hat, turned-up shoes, and a bamboo cane. There is only one Chaplin: nor can familiarity with his pantomimic an-

tics stale the infinite variety of his talent as an entertainer. Even more noteworthy is the fact that Chaplin makes only a few concessions to screen audibility. He breaks his silence only once and that is during a sequence in which ho sings a song. However, the him is synchronised with musical and sound effects. ‘ Modern Times ’ was written by Chaplin, directed by Chaplin, and produced by Chaplin. Chaplin, we are further informed, is credited with the cinematography, with the composing of the incidental music and scoring. Its cost is estimated to be in the neighbourhood of £400,000. As in all his comedies, the story is simple, having to do with the struggle for existence on the part of two characters—a tramp and an equally bedraggled waif whom he befriends. ST. JAMES . A picture that is said' to give Bette Davis an even greater opportunity to dsiplay her rare dramatic genius than did ‘ Of Human Bondage ’ or ‘ Bordertown,’ is the current attraction at the St. James. The picture is the Warner Bros.’ drama, ‘Dangerous, 'in which Miss Davis is supported by Franc. mt Tone, who has the leading masculine role, and Margaret Lindsay, again her rival in love. ‘ Dangeious,’ whim has been hailed as a masterpiece wherever it has been produced, is sheer, stark drama, featuring both the glamour and 1 the shadows of Broadway life. It is tlie story of the most brilliant actress of her day, who was loved by many, but who loved only her own career, and who sacrificed everything, and everybody to her ambitions. Then, a fallen idol, she becomes an object of scorn, sodden with drink, and pitied even by those she had ruined. This fallen idol is portrayed by Bette Davis, She is rescued from the gutter by Franchot Tone, a young architect, who also succumbs to her fatal fascination, neglects his profession, and his fiancee, Margaret Lindsay. He seeks in vain to wed the girl he had saved, despite the fact that she was thought to be a “ jinx ” and fatal to anyone coming in contact with her. Alison Skipworth, the famous character actress of both stage and screen, has the role of the housekeeper for Franchot Tone, who cares for the actress during her recuperative stage at the country home. John Eldredge is the husband whom the actress had ruined and cast aside and Dick Foran plays the part or a society man and friend of the architect and his fiancee. Others in the cast include Walter Walker, Richard Carle, George Irving, Pierre Watkin, Douglas Wood, and William Davidson. Alfred E. Green directed the picture. STATE The magic of great song is the principal attraction at the State, wheie Lawrence Tibbett is currently starring in Twentieth Century’s ‘ Metropolitan, the bright a’nd charming romance of a young singer. Pictured with sympathy, vigour, and an abundance of sparkling comedy, ‘ Metropolitan traces Tibbott’s career as a young singer who can brook no delay, launches out on the world on bis own, meets discouragement, disappointment, romance, and, at last—-recognition. . His trail crosses that of Virginia Bruce, and there is affection between them immediately. But because Alice Brady, who controls the money in their operatic company, is jealously fond of bun, they must conceal their affection. Between placating Alice Brady and attending to the wild vagaries of George Marion, sen., the orchestral conductor, Tibbett has his work cut out for him. When, at last. Miss Brady deserts the company all his anguish seems to have crone for nothing. But ingenuity and courage solves the problem, and me climax presents Tibbett as the hero of the evening, wildly applauded after his sensational debut. In the course of the action Tibbett sings selections Horn < Pagliacci.’ ‘ Carmen.’ and ‘ The Barber of Seville.’ as well as a number of popular compositions. In magnificent voice throughout Tibbett reveals ue.v possibilities as a romantic actor in ‘Metropolitan.’ Miss Bruce is charm.ng and lovely in the romant.o •sad. Miss Brady is still one of the most effective comediennes the screen boasts. STRAND - Yon May Be Next.’ Columbia’s amazing drama of a super-criminal’s attempt to hijack the billion-dollar radio industry with a secret radio wave

capable of transmitting every broadcast into an unintelligible bedlam is the feature of the Strand presentation. The dramatic “ last-ditch ” battle between organised crime and the nation’s law enforcement agencies, notably the' socalled G-men, provides a thrilling theme. Featured iu the large cast are Ann Sothern, Lloyd Nolan, Douglas Dumbrille. John Arledge, and Bertou Churchill. The story, a powerful dramatisation of one of the most daring rackets ever conceived, details the plot' of a super-criminal who is able to extort a king’s ransom from the nation’s broadcasting companies by. threatening to effectively jam every legitimate broadcast. The Government, too; takes a hand when the amazing plot threaten* the operation of radio compass stations and the transmissions of signals between ships of the United States fleet, Lloyd Nolan, as Neil Bennett, a young radio engineer recently discharged by the; leading broadcasting company, is suspected of the incredible crime when he suddenly disappears.- Douglas Dumbrille, the real culprit, holds Nolan a prisoner in his cafe, where Ann Sothern, Nolan’s sweetheart, sings her torch melodies each night, ignorant of her lover’s presence. Taking advantage of a chance opportunity, Nolan manages te escape. - MAYFAIR • All the glamour and excitement of.» great modern circus are contained In ‘ O’Shaughnessy’s Boy,’ at present showing at the Mayfair. The_ story centres round the life of “ Windy ” (Wallace Beery), the trainer of the giant tigers at a circus, whose wife,fretful and discouraged by circus life, runs away, taking their small son, Stubby (Spanky M‘Farland) with, her, Windy is unable to trace them, and in the cage that night he loses his nerve, with the result that he is mauled by a tiger and loses his‘right arm. When he comes out of hospital he . finds thAe he is unable to regain his reputation in the circus, as he is frightened of the tigers. Finally there comes news that his wife is dead, and father and son are reunited. But the boy’s aunt has filled his head with false tales, of his father’s cruelty to his mother, and there are poignant scenes before events come to a satisfactory conclusion. ‘ Hell in the Heavens,’■ the associate film, is a portrayal of the war in the air and the men who fought it, starring Warner Baxter. . Herberts Mundin,Andy Devine, and Ralph Morgan have supporting roles, OCTAGON George Arliss, one of the finest character actors on the screen, leads ip ‘ The Guv’nor,’ the delightful story of a tramp, which is the principal feature* on the Octagon’s current programme. With,Arliss is featured Viola Keats a» the owner of an iron foundry, which is the object of a plot deeply laid by two cunning crooks. Pat Knowles, as the wholly honest stepson of one of these financial experts, is in love with Voila,a pretty, attractive little _ thing. . A" somewhat simple soul, Pat is used as, a tool by his cunning father. Meantime George Arliss’s pal, cleverly. played by Gene Gerrard, discovers that his fellownomad’s real name is the same as that of a famous millionaire stockbroker, and he turns the coincidence to advantage. He is one of those happy-go-lucky individuals to whom anything is better than effort, but by the time “ The Guv’nor ” has been playing -the part of the great financier for -half a day Gene finds it takes just all his energy to allay suspicion, let alone extricate himself and his fellow-mas-querader. A ripple of merriment tune right through the_ supporting ‘ Things are Looking Up,’ most of if supplied by the star Cicely with the admirable support of Mas Miw ler and William Gargan. The amusing story is amazing in its many complications, which will bo understood wheif it is realised that a circus rider, particularly capable in the sawdust ring, takes school duty for her_ runaway sister without knowing anything of the school curriculum. <; ■'