PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22722, 9 August 1937, Page 13

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT ‘ Green Light,’ that stirring story of heroism, sacrifice, and love, which has had many hundreds of thousands of readers in its book form, is now screened at the Regent. It is a faithfully made, splendidly cast Cosmopolitan production, released by First National. Errol Flynn, the young Irishman who made sensational liits in ‘ Captain Blood ’ and ‘ Charge of the Light Brigade,’ is the masculine star of Lloyd C. Douglas’s gripping tale. Instead of a swashbuckling pirate, in ‘ Green Light ’ Flynn is a heroic young doctor, who sacrifices his promising career in a great city by taking on his own shoulders the blame for an operation bungled by another. In search of some way to make himself useful to society and to prove to the girl he loves by deeds what he cannot in honour prove by words,’he goes to nil obscure mountain laboratory and searches for' a serum that will prevent deadly epidemics. Almost at the sacrifice of bis life, he finds it. and returns to fame and love, with his professional name cleared of all blame. Flynn rises to great dramatic heights in ‘ Green Light.’ Lovely Anita Louise, who shares the honours, is the girl for whose sake Flynn suffers and nearly dies, and with her natural charm and dramatic ability she is well cast. So, too, is the dark-eyed Margaret Lindsay, in the role of a nurse who has always loved, the young doctor, but is not destined to have him. In the end, however, her work and the companionship of another young doctor prove compensation for her. Sir Cedric Hardwicke, who received his knighthood for magnificent work on the stage, was brought from the London stage for this picture. He plays a religious dean, whose advice and philosophy shape the lives of the other characters. As the surgeon who bungles the operation and causes Flynn’s martyrdom, but subsequently redeems himself, Henry O’Neill gives one of his thoughtful performances. Walter Abel has the role of a ; fellow scientist of Flynn’s, who works with him at bis mountain laboratory. Spring Byington plays Mrs Dexter, one of the dean’s most trusting followers. GRAND A thrilling story of organised crime and its detection in the United States, ‘ Wanted—Jan© Turner,’ is continuing to' draw large and appreciative audiences to the Grand. Lee Tracy has the part of a “G-man” in the employ of the postal service who is ordered to track down a gang of mail robbers who are noted for their extreme ruthlcssness. There are some breathless moments as th© forces of law come to grips with those of disorder. The film is notable also for the performance of Gloria Stuart in a romantic role which affords welcome relief from the tenser scenes. Something different from the usual trend of screen entertainment is presented in ‘ Back to Nature,’ a refreshing and straightforward picture dealing with the life of a happy family which sets out on a vacation completely equipped with a car and a modern trailer, which supports. Comedy predominates, and the Jones family experiences a great deal of inconvenience and .misfortune before it ultimately arrives at its destination/ Some delightful scenery, has been incorporated in this film, and the humorous episodes are so . natural that .they could; he experienced :by any, also plays' a piart, .but,:-here; also tips’ stylo is again different,; the girl having a fortunate escape from being carried away by the charm and glib,tongue of a “ bird of passage.” Jed Prouty and Shirley Deane are in the leading roles. ‘ ROAD TO GLORY.’ Fredric 'March, Warner Baxter, and Lionel Barrymore are featured in the 'Twentieth Century-Fox production, ‘ The Road to Glory,’, which will be shown on Wednesday at the Grand with a noteworthy cast, including June Lang and Gregory Ratotf. Fired with the inspired acting of such performers, the film tells a gripping story of love in all its phases, painted on a canvas as great and encompassing as the war itself. Baxter- is seen as the war-weary commander of a valorous regiment Monique, a lovely French nurse, provides him with his Only interest in life. Fredric March, Baxter’s chief aid, unwittingly falls in love with Monique,' unaware that Basrter cares deeply for the girl. The triangle creates a crisis between the two men,which is increased when Baxter, to his astonishment, Histcovers that his father, Lionel Barrymore, is a private in the regiment. 'A new angle in criminology proves unusually successful in ‘ 15 Maiden Lane,’ Twentieth Century-Fox thriller of the world’s jewel centre, which supports. Determined to catch the silk-hatted crook, played by Cesar (Romero, who dared defy the scientific watchdogs of New; York’s Diamond Row, Claire Trevor is a sleuth in satin who sets her trap with a kiss, recovering the million dollar gem, as well as breaking up a crime ring. EMPIRE Eleanor Powell scores the biggest success of her career in ‘ Born to Dance,’ the lavish M-G-M musical comedy which is proving popular in its second week at the Empire. This'production is of special interest to filmgoers, because the star is surrounded by virtually all th© stars and. technicians who made ‘ Broadway Melody of 1936.’ Two favourites not seen in the previous musical are featured in ‘ Born to Dane© ’ in the persons of the jaunty James Stewart, who plays Eleanor Powell’s leading man, and lovely Virginia’ Bruce, making her first appearance since her success in ‘The Great Ziegfeld.’ Familiar daces from ‘ Broadway Melody ’ who sing and dance their way through ‘ Born to Dance ’ include Una Merkel and Sid Silvers, now recognised as one of the screen’s most hilarious comedy teams; Frances Langford, of radio fame; and the longlegged Buddy Efxsen. Also featured are Raymond Walburn, Alan Dinehart, Juanita Quigley (whose dancing and singing have earned her the title of tho “ Baby Eleanor Powell ”), the brilliant dance teams of Georges and Jalna, Gardiner, monologue star, Barrett, Reginald Parker, and the singing and dancing foursome composed of J. Marshall Smith, L. Dwight Synder, Jay Johnson, and Del Porter. ‘Born to Dance ’ was directed by Roy del Ruth, who directed ‘ Broadway Melody.’ and who is known in the picture industry as the maker of the fastest-moving musicals. ■ ‘ ROMEO AND JULIET.’ Experiments with the plays of William Shakespeare have already been made on the screen, and the makers of Romeo and Juliet’ have taken advantage of all this previous experience in the new film. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer spent over two years in preparing this story for the screen, in order that it would be completely faithful to every preconceived idea of what ( Romeo, and Juliet’ should be like when produced for the screen. Executives obtained the services of Professor JVilliam

Strunk, of the lowa University, so that the screen adaptation would adhere faithfully to the original script, at the same time maintaining the beautiful dialogue of the old master. The result is a triumph for the art of motion pictures, for the cast headed by Norma Shearer and .Leslie Howard, and foi every supporting member in it. As Romeo, Howard was faced with ttio difficult task of presenting to sophisticated, hard-bitten _ audiences ot liwi the romantic, poetical lover of a type not in fashion to-day, Such a role is by no means as easy as it appears on the surface. This actor handled it in a manner that calls forth nothing but admiration. ‘Romeo and Juliet will be the next change at the Empire. ST, JAMES Aptly titled, and replete with comedy of a "particularly acceptable variety, ‘Mad Holiday,’ the Metro-Goldwyn-Maver production which lias commenced a season lit the St. James, provides hilarious entertainment. The central theme, a murder mystery, is so surrounded bv episodes, scenes, and dialogue of a" brilliant and amusing character that the mystery itself is really only a secondary consideration, and merely serves its purpose as a link binding together a variety of extraordinarily funny sequence.-. Edmund _ .Lowe, in the principal role, handles his part with a deftness of touch that enhances its value immeasurably, employing a light and airy stylo that fits the story perfectly. Ho is giVcn excellent support by Elissa Eandi, who plays her light .ciomedy character with considerable charm and fascination, while prominent supporting roles are effectively presented by Zasu Pitts, as a fluttering and slightly dim-witted “ film fan,” and Ted Hcaly, as an annoyingly pushing publicity agent. Lowe' is seen ns Philip Trent, a motion picture star who. tired of portraying a famous detective on, the screen, walks out 'of the studio seeking peace and solitude from anything savouring or crime o.t feminine hero-worship. No sooner has he started on his vacation cruise than a real .murder follows the fake crime staged by his enterprising Press agent, and from then on the continuity of the picture develops a pattern as extraordinary as.a jig-saw puzzle. The supporting programme is an unusually interesting one, and includes several interesting newsreels, a Pete Smith oddity entitled ‘ Bar-Rac’s Night Out/ a clever Popeye the Sailor cartoon, and a bright little musical interlude entitled ‘ A Girl’s Best Years.’ •AREN’T MEN BEASTS.' _ English studios excel in the production of farce, especially where a touch of , sophistication is introduced, and * Aren’t Men Beasts? ’ which opens at the St. James next Friday, is well up to the standard. It deals with the efforts of a young man to escape from his past in time to - .marry. On' the brink of a marriage ceremony, his father, a mild dentist with no practice to speak about, becomes involved in a scandal with a young woman, who says (quite falsely) that he has attacked her. His only clue to her identity is that -she has a mole on her shoulder. And from then on the fun begins, and the plot sets out to prove that “ men are beasts.”. An outstanding cast . includes Robertson Hare, Alfred Drayton, Billy Milton, Juno Clyde, Judy Kelly, and Ellen Pollock. StRAHD Two feature-length films, each full of entertainment, constitute the new programme 'at. the Strand. The main attraction is ‘ The Mighty Trove’. starring Noah Beery, jam., Barbara)Read, and Samuel R. Hinds, but two, nonhuman, actors manage to steal many of the scenes. These are a collie dog, which takes the title role, and a parrot. The story is an adaptation of a novel by Alfred Payson Ter nunc, the American author, whose delightful tales of collies have long been popular features of various periodicals in the United States. Noah Beery, as a homeless youth, sets out in the world with his dog and his parrot to find, his fortune, and is lucky enough to .find romance. His dog is disliked by his new employer, the uncle of the girl whom the lads finds to bo a strong attraction, but after Trevo has rescued him from a prowling cougar and shows his worth in the routine work of handling the sheep, the rancher relents. ‘ The Mighty Trove ’ is appealing because of its direct simplicity and the beauty of its backgrounds. Paul Kelly and Jacqueline Wells are starred in ‘ The Frame-up/ a gangster film, which is the second feature. As a detective who; is forced to work under cover because the criminals are holding his fiancee as hostage, Paul Kelly is well cast. The story is an ingenious one, and the suspense is well maintained until the thrilling climax. OCTA6OH The inimitable Mae West is seen in a very different typo of story from those in which she has figured in the past in ‘ Go West, Young Man/ her latest vehicle, now at the Octagon. Tho “ curvaoious ” star provides a hilarious and delightful satire on presentday moviedom and Press agents’ publicity methods in a very modern comedy which strands her in a “ hick village ” out in the waybacks; and when she falls for a lusty son of the soil, as the Press agents put it: “ How the hey-hey grows!” Mae proves herself, in this film, a great mistress of her art, and justifies the greatest critics’ attribute, ” a positive film experience.” ISIIO is supported by an exceptionally fine cast, which includes Warren William, Randolph Scott, Alice Brady, and Elizabeth Patterson. Tho second picture is entitled ‘ Till We Meet Again.’ This is a gripping story of the war years, when two lovers have to face the prospect of serving their respective countries on opposite sides or ‘‘ No Man’s Land.” Herbert Marshall and Gertrude Michael play tho principal roles. MAYFAIR ‘The While Angel/ a dramatisation of the life of Florence Nightingale, the feature attraction at the Mayfair, has Kay Francis in the stellar role. The story of this wealthy English girl who renounced a life of social frivolities to become a war nur.se and laid tho groundwork for what subsequently became the Red Cross, is filled with absorbing drama, tragedy, and romance. Miss Francis has the vole of the immortal nurse who, single-handed, fought hostile and prejudiced doctors and Government officials, in order to weed out the filth, neglect, and immorality that honeycombed the hospitals of tho last century, both in London and at the tvar front. ‘ Eight Bells/. Columbia’s thrilling romantic drama, starring Ann Sotheni, is tho second filni. Ralph Bellamy and John. Buckler perform excel lently in featured roles. The story presents tho accomplished trio in a love triangle that takes place for tho most part aboard a freighter bound for China. STATE •That Girl From Paris,’ which is now at the State, is a musical romance presented in an atmosphere of comedy.

Tho film has one objective—to provide the maximum amount of good music, airy romance, and light-hearted comedy. This production marks the second screen appearnce of Lily Pons, the diminutive French opera star, whose first film, ‘ I Dream Too, Much,’ won a world-wide success. Opposite the star are cast Gene Raymond iu a sympathetic role and the popular comedian. Jack Oakie, who grows more like the traditional brass Buddha every day. The great charm of this extraordinarily amusing comedy is the violent contrast it embodies in the marvellous flights of operatic music from the “ xiocket edition xirima donna,” and the hilarious and the reverse of refined humour that Air Oakie broadcasts. Such are tho situations created that one finds oneself enrapturedi with the interludes of brilliant coloratura song while laughing at the foolery of Oakie and his jazz band friends. It happens in the story that Lily Pons is Niki, a young girl with tho promise of a brilliant career, who is about to marry; but decides at the altar to say “ No, I don’t,” instead of “ I do.” Having made a scene before Monsieur le Maire, she dashes into the country on a temperamental “ jag.” Miss Pons sings delightfully a much befrilled setting of ‘ The Blue" Danube ’ (Strauss), a tarantella by Panofka, the' French love song, ‘ Seal It With a Kiss/ and, best of all, the aria, ‘ Una Voce Poco Fa/ from Rossini's opera. ‘ The Barber of .Seville,’ which is worth walking miles to hear.