PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22540, 7 January 1937, Page 13

PICTURE THEATRES

JEAN HERSHOLT MAGNIFICENT A GREAT CHARACTERISATION About once a year there is produced by motion picture companies a really great tragedy, a film that imbues all the audience with a feeling of despair and sorrow; and although last year s quota was filled by ‘ 'the Story of Louis Pasteur,’ with Paul Muni, the performance given by Jean Hersholt in ‘ Sins of Man,’ the principal feature on the new Grand programme, surpasses even the triumph of this brilliant actor. Hersholt makes' the’picture; he plays his part faultlessly throughout; and in the final scenes, where he is shown as an old and enfeebled man, he gives a performance which will remain indelibly impressed on the minds of all who see the film. Xt is indeed hard to believe that the same man could take the part through the whole picure. The film depicts the stirring story of a father’s struggles, temptations, sorrows, and triumphs, and carries the audience along with it in a manner comparable to few motion pictures. The’picture opens in the small Tyrolean village of Zanebruck. Hersholt, sexton and bellringer of the local church, lives with his two motherless sons, Karl and Gabriel. Karl, the older boy, is an ’ adventuresome youth, filled with dreams of flying, Gabriel is a handsome lad, but ho has been a dear mute from birth. In a violent quarrel with his father Karl leaves for America and an aviation career. Shortly after, Hersholt is overjoyed to find that Gabriel is beginning to show symptoms of hearing. The only sounds evident to him are the bells ringing in the church. Hersholt takes the boy to the local doctors, but they tell him that only one man, a noted American surgeon, can effect a complete cure. A letter arrives from Karl, now a famous aviator. Hersholt forgives him, and goes to visit him in America, and at the same time prepare the way for Gbariel’s operation. Shortly after Hersholt lands in America Karl is killed m a flight, and war breaks out in Europe. Hersholt hears that his native village has been completely destroyed. The years go by. Hersholt has become a doddering old pauper, barely ekeing out a living in New York. One night he hears a symphony—its theme unmistakably the tolling of the church bells in Zanebruck. Hersholt discovers the composer is visiting New York, and manages to meet him. Struck by the young man’s resemblance to his dead son, Karl, Hersholt relates his story: The musician proves to be Gabriel, his hearing miraculously restored by the bombardment of Zanebruck. The tolling of the church bells, the only sound he could remember, was the inspiration for the symphony. The ending finds father and son happily clasped in each other’s arms. Hersholt carves a new niche for himself by ‘ Sins of Man,’ after his recent elevation to stardom in ‘ The Country Doctor.’ His characterisation is superb. The picture has also a fine and understanding supporting cast, headed by a handsome new leading man, Don Ameehe. Allan Jenkins has one of his inimitable comedy roles, and all concretes into a truly magnificent and stirring whole. The supporting feature, though incomparable to the main attraction in point of moving entertainment, is yet a fine one of its type. George O’Brien is starred, with Polly Ann Young as leading lady, the title being 4 The Border Patrolman.’ Paced to the roar of blazing six-guns, the film is a thrilling action romance that starts in a rush of exciting events and continues its headlong speed to a whirlwind climax. O’Brien meets Polly Ann in a forest where she is carelessly smoking a cigarette. She refuses to put it out, and they get into an argument which culminates in George carting her bodily to patrol headquarters. When the captain discovers that Polly Ann is a wealthy heiress he reprimands O’Brien, and the latter resigns. Interested in the dashing O’Brien, Polly Ann asks her grandfather to give him a job—; and he does, hiring O’Brien to tame the headstrong girl! A gang of international jewel thieves is attempting to smuggle a highly valuable necklace across the border. Hoy Mason, leader of the gang, reveals the nature of O’Brien's job to Polly Ann, and in a perverse mood she agrees to elope with the law-breaker. O’Brien gets wind of the plan, however, and in a series of exciting events, including a mile-a-minute race across the desert with the smugglers pursuing, he breaks up the gang, saves the necklace, and wins the girl. REGENT * Anthony ’Adverse,’ concluding its second and final week at the Regent this evening, was the biggest picture to come out of Hollywood. Frederic March appears in the title role, with Olivia de Huvilland as his leading lady. The film establishes a standard of dramatic tragedy that easily may stand as a standard for future productions, and the whole is an excellent example of interpretative narration, both by its principals and supporting cast. 4 ‘ FATAL LADY.’ An opera singer with whom it is certain death to fall in love is the character portrayed by Mary Ellis in ‘ Fatal Lady,’ which will open a season at the Regent to-morrow. In the course of the astounding plot revealed as the story progresses, every man who falls in love with, or pays attention to a beautiful metropolitan opera star, is murdered in a most mysterious fashion fashion. Innocent in any way of the terrible crimes, the singer is forced to flee from country to country. A young American finds her singing in a Paris apache musical show, and, as many others have done before him, immediately falls in love with her. When the culprit makes an attempt on the American’s life there is an amazing climax;* and the mysterious murders are solved. The audience is kept in the dark all along, and right, up to the final stages are not aware of the identity of the villain. Mary Ellis’s performance as the luckless opera star is equal to the highest standards, and the stage star, Walter Pidgeon, is also said to act well in the leading male role. There is promise also of some excellent music in the film, and if Mary Ellis sings as well as she did in ‘ The King’s Horses,’ the audience should be well entertained. Others in . the cast include Alan Mowbray, Norman Foster, Russell Powell, and John Halliday, STATE A very human story of the married life of a typical American couple during the periods of prosperity and subsequent depression of the last 10 years is presented in the Twentieth Century Fox production, 1 To Mary With J.orc,’ which concludes this evening at the State. Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy, who were last seen together in ‘ Broadway Bill,’ are the principals,

while Claire Trevor and lan Hunter also fill important roles with distinction. ESPIONAGE THEME EXPLOITED. One of the finest casts ever assembled for a British film is that of_ the Gaumont-British success, ‘ The Secret Agent,’ which conies to the State on Friday. The principal players are Madeleine Carroll, famous tor her work in ‘ i Was a Spy,’ Peter Lorre, the Gontinental star, and John Gielgud, the London stage star. Another important role is played by Robert Young the American actor. This film will need little recommendation to those who know the work of W. Somerset Maugham. His writing is of a sort which needs little adaptation to the screen, and this was abundantly s “ojvn in ‘Of Human Bondage ’ and The Painted Veil.’ This film is based on his celebrated book of espionage, ‘ Ashenden.’ It will therefore be different from most spy pictures. Ashenden, for instance, was rio inscrutable, courageous adventurer. He knew when ho was in danger ; yet he could not avoid adventures, though they were with people rather than deeds. In the part or Ashenden, Gielgud acts with super i restraint. He is a young soldier laced with the duty of murdering an enemy accent. Madeleine Carroll has the leading feminine vole of a woman spy assisting Ashenden in his perilous undertaking, and also plays her part faithfully. The third member of the trio of British spies is known as the Hairless Mexican, and the part is taken by Peter Lorre. EMPIRE A dramatic film, cleverly conceived and brilliantly acted by a strong cast, ‘ Craig’s Wife,’ concluding at the Empire this evening, has an outstanding and unusual plot, which is given full iustice by all concerned. It is the remarkable acting of its principal players, John Boles and Rosalind Russell, that raises the film to the high level it has attained. Both have difficult roles, and both portray them excellently. UNIQUE SUICIDES PLOT, The atmosphere prevailing in llobort Louis Stevenson’s series of thrilling stories of ‘The Suicide Club is tau tlessly maintained in the picture ot the game name coming to-morrow to the Empire. The quietness and dim lights of the Victorian era provide a strange contrast with the lights and excitement of to-day, but make the London scenes of the film reminiscent of descriptions in the works of the writers of the time. Due to clever photography and direction, the picture loses nothing by the absence of glaring arc lights and bustling broad daylight. The addition of a pair of sidewhiskers and a moustache is nob the only transformation which turns the debonair Robert Montgomery into a wayward European prince. His acting is one of the finest things m an always interesting and entertaining picture. As the adventurous princess who prefers to go abroad incognito rather than accept the hand of a prince whom she lias never seen, Rosalind Russell lepeats the success she scored in Under Two Flags.’ The part of Colonel Geraldine, the sturdy henchman and bodyguard of the prince, is admirably taken by Frank Morgan. When the three become involved in the activities of a sinister organisation whose express purpose is the more-or-less painless elimination of people who desire to commit suicide, hut have not the courage, the plot swings from light comedy to sheer drama, culminating in a duel with rapiers. ST. JAMES Maurice Chevalier is one of the latest world-famous stars to be acquired by a British studio, and his first film for Toeplitz Productions, ‘ The Beloved Vagabond,’ concludes its current season at the St. James this evening. The film is an adaptation of W. J. Locke’s famous novel, and it gives Chevalier the finest role of his screen career. barrier reef locale. Although many of Zane Grey’s stories have, been transferred to the silent and talkie screen, the brilliant author had not starred in any film until he headed the cast in ‘ AVhite Death,’ tho thrilling picture of deep-sea fishing off the Great Barrier Reef, which will he commenced at the St. James to-morrow. In his assuredness of the marvellous possibilities of such a story, set in Nature’s own glorious surroundings, Zane Grey devoted much of his busy life to the making of ‘ White Death,’ a film which, with the added prestige gained by Mr Grey’s association and starring appearance, enhances Australia’s bid for recognition in the world of motion picture production. In tho cause of ‘ AVhite Death,’ Zane Grey temporarily deserted his writing; he denied himself relaxation and pleasure iff the fishing gounds, as with a hand of Austalians he worked to the orders of a film director in bringing to fruition a unique venture in motion-picture entertainment. Magnificent pictorial effects are said to mingle with drama, romance, and comedy as the story moves from the big game fishing haunts of Sydney to tho Great Barrier Reef, where Zane Grey journeys in search of AAUiite Death, the giant, man-eating shark which has struck terror into the hearts of the natives, and has been responsible for many deaths, including those of the wife and son of a missionary, STRAND Two excellent films comprise the programme concluding at the Strand this evening, ‘ The Big Noise,’ featuring Guy Kibbee, and ‘ So They Were Married.’ which has Alary Astor as its principal. Guy Kibbee has a role well suited to his capabilities in the former picture, portraying a business man who is ousted from his business and gets into amusing difficulties through trying to combat idleness. FINE MYSTERY DRAMA. ‘ The Case of the Velvet Claws,’ a murder mystery drama, will be commenced at the Strand to-morrow. This is the fourth of the popular novels by Erie Stanley Gardner to be brought to the screen by the same producers, with Warren AVilliam starred as the brilliant amateur detective, Perry Mason. The plot of ‘ The Case of the Velvet Claws ’ is unique, bafflling, and the suspense is maintained up to the moment of the amazing climax. There are two possible motives for the murder—to cover a love scandal and to gain possession of the wealth. Perry Mason’s problem is to find which is the real cause of the crime. Eight persons arc suspected, one of whom believes herself to be the killer. Circumstantial evidence points to the probability that Perry Mason himself did the deed. The hero is injected into the case by the pistol method—just as he is starting on his honeymoon—by the wife of the man who is marked for slaughter, and who has laid herself open to suspicion through a secret love affair. AA’inifred Shaw plays the wife suspected of the murder, while Claire Dodd is the bride. ‘ Roaming Lady,’ described as a gay, thrilling adventure story of the China seas, will be the associate picture, in which Fay AA’ray and Ralph Bellamy are tho featured players.

OCTAGON Clark Gable and Loretta Young have the stellar roles in ‘ The Call of the Wild.’ the main film of the programme concluding to-nigbt at the Octagon. Adapted from the famous story by Jack London, the story tells of the search for gold in the dreary wastes of Alaska. Remarkable talent is displayed by Buck, the central figure in tho film. ‘ Transatlantic Merry-go-round ’ is also screening. ‘SANDERS OF THE RIVER.’ Paul Robeson, known to thousands of radio listeners, will be seen and heard in the picture ‘ Sanders of tho River,’ which will form the programme at the Octagon to-morrow. Based on popular Edgar AA’allace stories of the same title, the film deals skilfully with British rule in Africa, a subject which hitherto has been conspicuously and surprisingly ignored by British film producers. After spending four months in the heat of Africa, the director has given some exquisite patterning; spectacular, authentic scenes of native ceremonials, with their delirious and ecstatic dances; unlimited drama in keeping with the author’s reputation ; vivid aerial shots of disturbed animal life; and negro singing which rolls through the theatre, deep, sonorous, and musical. The story sets out to show that the way to control millions of untamed jungle dwellers is not by harshness and violence, but by making it obvious i that their welfare is at the heart of the ruler. Leslie Banks and Paul Robeson are superb in the principal parts. Others prominent in the cast are Nina Mae Al‘Kinney, Tony Wane. Eric Mnturin, Robert Cochrane, and Martin AValkcr. MAYFAIR A young actor who has achieved outstanding success in recent years, Robert Donat, gives a particularly sound performance in ‘ The Ghost Goes AA 7 est,’ which heads the programme being presented at the Mayfair. A mixture of sparkling English comedy and satire on America, the picture makes firstclass entertainment. The plot is most ingenious, and lends itself admirably to the introduction of bright dialogue and smart action. The relations of three people—Murdoch Glourie, a ghost haunting the ancient Glourie Castle, his descendant, Donald Glourie, and a modern American girl—arc the central theme. The close resemblance between the ghost and Donald—both parts are played by Robert Donat—causes the girl some misgivings, especially when the ghost is very forward with his affections, and Donald, her true lover, appears rather backward. All is solved in tlie climax, however, and tho interest is maintained until the last scene. The supporting film is an exciting mystery drama entitled ‘ Guard that Girl.’ The leading roles arc taken by Robert Alien and Florence Rice.