PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22621, 13 April 1937, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT The full beauty of techhicolour is seen in the lavish film version of what was one of the most famous of silent films, ‘ The Garden of Allah,’ adapted from the famous Robert Hichens novel. This brilliant Selznick production is at present at the Regent. Marlene Dietrich plays the coveted role of Ilomini Enfilden, the sorrow-laden beauty who goes into the depths of the I desert in search of happiness—and unj expectedly finds both immeasurable joy land an inevitable parting. It is a ! beautiful tale in itself, and the wonderi ful background—regarded by many as ! perhaps the world’s most romantic—is ■’ magnificently illustrated by the now I medium of colour. Dietrich has the I French actor, Charles Boyer, as her ! mysterious desert lover. C. Aubrey Smith has a splendid character part ! as a priest, while Basil Rathbone and Joseph Schildkraut have other brilliant parts. One of the film’s most spectacular moments is provided by, Tilly Losch, the famous dancer. Like many good plays, the picture leaves the audience something to imagine. It is produced and acted with imaginative I restraint, and its beauty is never ' marred by melodramatics. FRANCIS LEDERER AGAIN. Francis Lederer, who plays the lead in ‘ My American Wife,’ to be shown on Friday at the Regent, possesses the only really unusual hobby in Hollywood. The star, who wears a uniform with more charm than any other male actor, is a persistent a>ad ardent campaigner for peace. He is the founder of the World Peace Federation, which to-day claims a signed membership of 48,000 persons. One of Hollywood’s best-known personalities, Francis Lederer is a native of Prague, the son of a poor, leather merchant. He studied at the Prague Grammar School, the Prague Gymnasium, and at the Prague Academy of Dramatic Arts, winning high honours. His stage debut was in a Prague theatre, and his genius was recognised in Prague, and he went to Budapest, Vienna, Breslau, and Berlin as guest artist. He scored a sensational success in Berlin with Elizabeth Bchgner in 1 Romeo and Juliet,’ a Max Reinhardt production. ‘ Wonderbar ’ and ‘ Autumn Crocus ’ followed, making him the toast of Europe. EMPIRE Large audiences are being attracted to the Empire, where the lavishly-pro-duced Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, ‘ The Great Ziegfeld,’ has been enjoying a most enthusiastic reception since its first screening in Dunedin on Friday. William Powell in the title role is excellently cast, and his portrayal of perhaps the most famous showman of all time, Florenz Ziegfeld, is without doubt one of the finest characterisations of his career. His study of *ho celebrated producer’s character, combined with the amazing story of tins remarkable man’s success and subsequent failure, makes a film which holds the interest from start to finish. Ziegfeld’s popularity was derived from his ability to exploit feminine beauty in his shows, and the film does full justice to this aspect of the story in some oj the most lavish sets the .screen has seen for many a day. In support of William Powell, Myrna Loy and Luise Rainer both give very satisfying performances, while Virginia Bruce also plays an important part with distinction. STATE P. G. Wodehouse’s most famous character, “ the inimitable Jeeves.” makes his screen debut in ‘ Thank You, Jeeves,’ which is now at the State. The perfect gentleman’s gentleman is played by Arthur Treacher, who skilfully creates a convincing study of a most difficult character. With Virginia Field as “the lady in distress ” and David Niven as Bertie Wooster, fiction’s most furiously funny characters—as charming as they are convulsing—move through an hilarious series of typical Wodehouse adventures. As the oicture opens, the poker-faced Jeeves is giving notice to Bertie. What with drumming, _ hanjolele playing, and romancing in various knife-throwing countries, even the iron Jeeves’s nerves are frayed. Jeeves’s dream of peace is rudely shattered by the ringing of the door bell. Opening the door, a girl brushes past Jeeves’s stony disapproval to the baffled but welcoming Bertie. She has tea, meanwhile making cryptic remarks about Bertie’s brother (he has none), and the old Wooster spirit for adventure is aroused. When the girl leaves, Bertie calmly announces to the apathetic Jeeves that they are going to follow her. Bertie, with his customary blundering, _ gets everything all muddled, and it remains for the imperturbable Jeeves, as usual, to straighten matters out. ST. JAMES The startling audacity of American racketeers is brought into bold relief m the picture which is now at the St. James. Appropriately titled ‘ Sworn Enemy,’ the picture reveals the amazing daring of a typical gangster leader, lulled into a sense of false security by his own peculiar success, Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer produced the film and made the fortunate choice of Calleia to play the gangster characterisation. Robert Young has the leading role as a youth whose brother has been killed because he knew too much. Florence Rice, the charming daughter of Grantland Rice, famous sports authority, plays the feminine lead with true feeling and a depth of understanding that establishes her as a real actress. The cast has been particularly well placed. Nat Pendleton—who plays the mighty Sandow in ‘ The Great Ziegfeld ’ —ap. pears here as a rising young hero of the prize ring who is the innocent prey of the gangsters. Young is his manager, who has sworn to even the score with the man who killed his brother. That distinguished veteran, Lewis Stone, plays a_ dramatic role as an innocent man convicted of crime and sent to the penitentiary. Other notable players are Harold Huber, Harvey Stephens, and Samuel Hinds. VAUDEVILLE AND GEORGE FORMBY. Memories of the old days, when half-and-half programmes were popular, will be revived when an entertaining three hours’ programme, combining a full-length film, short topical subjects, and high-class vaudeville acts will open at the St. James on Friday. Trevor and Dawn, Continental adagio dancers, will present some of their popular numbers which won them applause overseas, 1 while singing and tapdancing will be featured by Esme Chalk to the accompaniment of George Dawson, a pianist who will also present several items of a high-class standard. Described as “ the funniest treasure hunt ever filmed,” ‘ Keep Your Seats, Please,’ stars George Formby. He is said to be in his element, and puts over several saucy songs to the accompaniment of his ukulele. Florence .Desmond abix assists him.

STRAND One •of the strangest mystery dramas to come to the screen, ‘ Murder by an Aristocrat,’ is now at the Strand. Based on one of the most popular novels by Mignon G. Eberliart, the picture is packed with exciting incidents. The plot centres about the deaths of two members of the proud and aristocratic Thatcher family. Bayard Thatcher, a part played by William Davidson, is the first to meet death. The black sheep of the family, who is attempting to blackmail his relatives, is wounded mysteriously one night by a bullet, and the next day he is found shot through the heart. Five other members of the family are suspected, as also are the butler and two maids. Later Gordon Elliott, in the role of Dave Thatcher, is eliminated as a suspect, he being found dead in the attic of the Thatcher mansion. There are dramatic developments before the plot is uncovered. The ever-popular Western actor Hoot Gibson is seen in a typical action role in ‘ Rainbow s End,’ which is screened in support. Owing to extensive alterations the Strand will have no matinee screenings this week, and will be closed all next week. OCTAGON ‘ King of Hockey,’ the stirring Warner Bros, romance with the popular ice sport as its background, has commenced at the Octagon. Staged in the atmosphere of Madison Square Garden, New York, the exciting incidents of the game are brought to the screen by crack hockey players. A worthy successor to ‘ Seventh Heaven ’ comes from the same author, Austin Strong, in Paramount’s ‘ Along Came Love,' a gay comedy of young love, which will he shown in support. ‘ Along Came Love ’ is the story of a romantic shop girl who meets her ideal and contrives to make him fall in love and propose to her despite the fact that he has other things on his .mind. Irene Hervcy and Charles Starrett play the leading roles. GRAND Five players of first-class abilitv appear in the attraction, ‘ 'The Bride Walks Out,’ concluding at the Grand to-night. The story is an old one. that of a girl who marries in haste to repent at leisure, but it has been so originally and expertly treated as to seem a new plot. Barbara Stanwyck, who scored a success in ‘ A Message to Garcia,’ and Robert Young, an actor who excels in light comedy, have the principal parts. Helen Broderick, Ned Sparks, and Gene Raymond fill 3 U P‘ porting roles with success. COMEDY AND MYSTERY. Action, suspense, romance, and marVellous photography are the qualities which distinguish Universal’s Yellowstone,’ the mystery film to be commenced' at the Grand to-morrow, the storv tells of a bandit horde searching for ‘buried treasure which one of their number hid 18 years before. The conniving struggle for the loot reaches a pitch of violence that ends in a mysterious murder. Of all the suspects the man in the worst spot is a forest ranger, under suspicion because of an exploded shell in his gun. He is helped by a beautiful girl, daughter ot the victim. The strange manner in which the crime is committed, and the astonishing solution develop novel situations in the story which have never been screened before. The magnificent grandeur of Yellowstone National Park is another reason why the picture is gripping entertainment. The cast includes Henry Hunter as the forest ranger, Judith Barrett as his sweetheart, Ralph Morgan, Alan Hale, Michael Loring, Andy Devine. Monroe Owsley, and Paul Harvey. When a young man singing on a radio (programme interrupts things to broadcast a frantic appeal to the girl o£ his heart, who is out on some highway rolling along toward marriage with his rival, there is likely to be action, which is just what happens in RKO Radio’s ‘ Walking On Air,’ with Gene Raymond as the boy and Ann Sothern as the girl. This 'picture will be shown in support of ‘ Yellowstone.’ Raymond lands in gaol as a result of his escapade. Miss Sothern as a dynamic Beverley Hills heiress, hears of his radio appeal and throws a shoe through a courtroom window in order to join the man she really loves. This is just one of the many situations of the film, which rips along at a tornado pace, with love getting the two principals into every sort of insane escapade imaginable. MAYFAIR Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has again produced an outstanding picture in * San Francisco,’ to conclude to-night at the Mayfair. The picture is most dramatic, and the most enthralling part of it is that which deals with the earthquake and fire which swept San Francisco in 1906. Jeannette Macdonald and Clark Gable are the stars. ‘ Where the Power God Dwells ’ is an interesting and instructive film dealing with the oil industry. ‘ The King Steps Out,’ featuring Grace Moore, Franchot Tone, Walter Connolly, and Raymond Walburn, will be screened at the Mayfair to-morrow. It achieves a new height in screen romance—the lyric lark of the divine madcap who stole a king on his wedding day! Thrills are promised in the golden voice of Grace Moore, the romantic dash of Franchot Tone, and the glorious melodies of Kreisler! ‘ The King Steps Out ’ is Grace Moore’s gayest gift of glorious entertainment—the rollicking romance of a merry madcap who tempted a monarch! _ Supporting the principals is a cast including Victor •Tory, Elisabeth Risdon, Nana Bryant, Frieda Inescourt, Thurstan Hall, and Herman Bing. ‘ Devil’s Squadron,’ a thrilling aerial drama, starring Richard Dix, will be shown in support. The life of a test pilot is openly disclosed by this gripping film, and the scenes of roaring planes and death-defying stunts by the pilots provide exciting entertainment.