PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22526, 19 December 1936, Page 13

PICTURE THEATRES

THE NEW PROGRAMMES

ACCUSED OF MURDER & - TWHILING MUSICAL-MYSTERY THEME The new programme at the Octagon this week provides essentially for the supporters of action andi mystery films. ‘ Sky Parade,’ the supporting him, is a gripping drama; ‘ Murder at the Vanities ’ is based on an unusual mixture of mystery and musical comedy. Both, however, are of a fine type, and Octagon patrons are assured of firstclass entertainment. Paramount’s filmisaton of Earl Carroll’s famous New York stage play, ‘ Murder at the Vanities,’ combines a highly satisfactory mixture of the screen’s most popular themes of the play—musio and mystery. It is an, exciting story with comic interludes, tuneful musio, and beautiful stage girls—all the glamour, spectacle, and_ beauty of a Broadway musical, underlying which is a thrilling, mystery story. With 11 of Earl Carroll’s bevy of show beauties, Duke Ellington and his famous orchestra providing the numbers to set the performance off to perfection, and Carl Brisson, noted Continental and English. screen and stage star, the musical side of' the film is in ■ capable hands.. Six new songs are introduced, written by Sam Coslow and Arthur Johnston, co-authors of many -made famous by Bing Crosby. The new songs, in the typical Coslow-Johnston vein, are entitled ‘ Cocktails For Two.’ ‘ Lovely One,’ ‘My Gigolo,’ tEbony Rhapsody, ‘ Marahuana,’ ‘ Live and Love Tonight,’ and ‘ Where Do They Come From.’ Carl Brisson and Kitty Carlisle, a newcomer to the screen, render these striking tunes in brilliant fashion. ‘Murder At the Vanities! tells of the premiere of a new musical show. The two .stars, Brisson and Miss Carlisle, late in arriving, bring news that they are to be married. Gertrude Michael, jealous; vows to get even with Brisson. Later, when < the. wardrobe mistress meets Brisson, it is evident she, is his mother. No one knows this but Miss Michael. Once a famous opera star, his mother is wanted in Vienna for murder. The jealous girl knows this, too. Then, while the orchestra is gaily playing and the girls are dancing and singing 'to! a, throng of first-nighters, the sinister hand of a murderer stalks backstage. Two crimes are committed M'Laglen, sure-shot detective, is called, and the .manner in which lie.solves,the situation while the musical show goes on is both thrilling and entertaining. TJsually associated with ‘‘ heavy ” roles, he is also in company with Jack Oakie 1 in providing the greater part of the comedy. % All the exciting adventure and gripping action which have made ‘ The Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen ’ the most popular serial on American radio have been brought to the screen in Paramount’s ‘ The Sky Parade.’ Featured with Jimmie- Allen, beloved hero of millions of radio fans, are a host of screen favourites, including William Gargan, Katherine DeMille. Kent Taylor, Grant Withers, Dean dagger, Bennie Bartlett, and Billy Lee. Built around the role which Jimmie has made famous, ‘ The Sky Parade’ tells in a swift succession of thrilling incidents, the inspiring story of man’s true conquest of the air; not merely learning to fly, but the more important angle of bringing such safety and sureness to flying that it could be transformed from a stunt used by daredevils into the dependable, useful force it is known to he to-day. Woven into the story is the tender romance between Gargan, hard-boiled flyer, and Katherine -DeMille,. which is made possible by Jimmie’s bravery and courage. ‘ The Sky Parade ’ has everything that goes to make a picture which will long.be remembered; speedy, thrilling action; flight scenes of breath-taking beauty; and scintillant _ comedy furnished by Billy Lee and Sid Saylor. The producers have chosen _ a first-rate vehicle to introduce Jimmie Alien to the screen; ‘ The Sky Parade ’ will delight his old friends and make many more new ones.