GRAND'S NEW FEATURES

Evening Star, Issue 22683, 24 June 1937, Page 16

GRAND'S NEW FEATURES

AMERICAN PRISON SYSTEM With its cast headed by Lewis Stone, Bruce Cabot, Louise Latimer, and Betty Grable, ‘ Don’t Turn ’Em Loose,’ the chief picture of the doubleprogramme which began at the Grand Theatre yesterday, deals with the American prison system. It is a criticism of the regulations that make it possible for hardened criminals to walk out of the penitentiary after a short term and continue to ply their vicious trade at the expense of the public. Annually American parole boards fail to realise where the truth ends and sympathy begins. The convict performs an emotional scene before the board, his lawyer explains in florid phrases that his client has atoned, and the board soon orders the warden to release the prisoner. Such a case is represented in ‘ Don’t Turn ’Em Loose.’ Bruce Cabot, the gangster, appears with a “ wife ’’ and a “ child ” before the board, his “ family ” having been hired from a theatrical agency or private persons. Promising to lead an honest life, he obtains a release. And only six hours after the prison gates close behind his heels, he commits a hold-up, killing a cashier I Then Cabot returns to his home and respected family in a small town. He bears expensive gifts, ostensibly from foreign ports in w'hich he has been very busy as an engineer. He had strengthened this deceit by having one of his henchmen mail postcards from these points while he was incarcerated. Soon ne returns to his secret _ career of crime. He is betrayed by his moll. Returned to prison, he serves the required sentence and_ applies for a parole. Meanwhile his father, an eminent public figure, has been appointed to the parole hoard. In a dramatic climax the parent is stunned to discover that his son is a convict. ‘ Don’t Turn ’Em Loose ’ necessarily gives audiences a faithful insight into the routine of the system. In addition to Lewis Stone as the father; Cabot as the gangster; Gleason as bis ever-dogging _ police sleuth ; Louise Latimer as his small town sweetheart and Betty Grable, ‘ Don’t Turn ’Em Loose’ has Grace Bradley as a diamond-worshipping gang moll; Nella Walker, Frank M. Thomas. Harry Jans, Addison Randall, Maxine Jennings, Frank Jenks, and mans others. ‘Wedding Present,’ the second feature, has Joan Bennett and Cary Grant in the chief roles. The film is a fast-moving romantic comedy set against a background of newspaper life. Heading the supporting cast are George Bancroft, Conrad Nagel, Gene Lockhart, Inez Courtney, Edward Brophy, and Damon Ford. Taken from a story by Paul Gallico, ‘ Wedding Present ’ introduces Grant and Joan Bennett as reporters on a metropolitan daily. Their ability and pranks make them the joy and despair of their hard-boiled city editor, Bancroft. As the story opens, one of these pranks puts a halt to a proposed marriage of the two reporters. Bancroft resigns as city editor and Grant succeeds him. Intent on becoming a success, he forgets his playful nature and becomes as hard as his predecessor. An argument with Joan Bennett results in her running away to New York, where she convinces herself she is in love with Conrad Nagel, a writer of inspirational books. Grant, quitting his job and following her, prepares to give her the most impressive wedding present of all time.