PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22780, 15 October 1937, Page 15

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Love-hungry soldiers, hardened by four years of battle, yearning for the touch of a woman’s hand, for her smile, eager for escape from the memory of days and nights in the trenches, tread the road back to their homes. It is their story that Erich Maria Remarque penned in his world famous novel, 4 The Road . Back,’ a sequel to ‘ All aiiet on the Western Front,’ now at e Remarque’s book dealt with the period following the close of the World War, when the German people cast out their leaders and groped for relief from the famine and hardships which had been their lot during the four-year conflict. The novel proved a political bombshell, and the author was forced to flee from his native land. Universal Studios has now screened this powerful story. James Whale was selected to direct it, for he had proved his ability with * Journey s End.’ R. C. Sherriff, playwright, who wrote 1 Journey’s End,’ was assigned to write the screen play. The dramatic narrative concerns the experiences of the returned soldiers as they try to adjust themselves to peace-time conditions, and to find love and happiness to supplant the hate and misery through which they had struggled. Whale considered hundreds of actors for *he Road Back ’ cast, finally choosing John King, Richard Cromwell, Slim Summerville, .Andy Devine, Noah Beery, jnn., Maurice Murphy, and John Emery for the rotes of returning soldiers. In leading feminine parts ne placed Barbara Read, of ‘Three Smart Girls,’ Louise Fazenda, Greta Gynte, Jean Houverol, Spring Byington, and Laura Hope Crews. Other important roles were entrusted to Lionel Atwill, Etienne / Girardot, Henry Hunter, A 1 Sheen, of the former Gallagher and SHean team; Samuel Hinds, and Robert Warwick. ST. Mill All the essentials of first-class screen entertainment have been introduced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer into the film ‘ A Family Affair,* which began a season at the St. James to-day. The story is original and interesting, there are passages of an intensely' dramatic nature, there is plenty of action, and there are charming, romantic interludes and an abundance of .delightful comedy. The naturalness with which the players interpret their respective • roles is commendable. ‘ A Family Affair ’ is get in a small American town which has awakened from its usual lethargy into uproar and anger when it is understood that the Jaw, personified by the county judge, is going to wreck a project that appears to hold great promise for civic advancement. The judge, played by Lionel Barrymore, falls heavily from public favour through his attitude, and his replacement in the judiciary is threatened. To add to his troubles his daughter becomes involved in a malicious scandal, while her younger sister is the victim of an unhappy love affair. How he finally solves his difficulties and exposes the corruption which lies behind the scheme that has been given the support of his townspeople makes aborting entertainment. Lionel Barrymore is exceptionally well cast as the kindly, humorous judge, .who never allows himself to be ruffled, who-is always sympathetic and sincere, and yet who can boldly and ■unflinchingly stand up against any odds. In supnort is an excellent cast, including Cecilia Parker, Eric Linden, Mickey Rooney, and Julie Hayden. BRAND Courageous coastguard crews rescue from the crater or death passengers from a burning ship, and later passengers and crew from a hurricane-bat-tered vessel in R.K.O. Radio’s romantic drama, ‘ Sea Devils,’ which is showing at the Grand, starring Victor M'Laglen, Preston Foster, and Ida Lupino, with Donald Woods heading the supporting cast. M‘Laglen appears in the role of a hard-boiled bo’sun’s mate in the coastguard, who becomes greatly concerned when his daughter, Ida Lupino, shows interest in Preston Foster, a happy-go-lucky sailor who prides himself on being quite a ladies’ man. Bp’sun M'Laglen decides his daughter , should marry an ambitious young coastguardsman, Donald Woods, and he is none too subtle in letting Foster know that he would rather die than have him as a son-in-law. The enmity between these two leads to some wild melees. M'Laglen and Foster played together in R.K.O. prize-winning play of ’1935, * The Infpmer,’ which resulted in M'Laglen gaining the academy award for the best male screen performance in 1935. Guy Kibbee, Una Merkel, and Lynne Overman reach new comedy heights in R.K.O. Radio’s, screen comedy ‘ Don’t Tell the Wife,’ which supports. As a matter of fact, the reputation of all the players, including Guinn Williams, Thurston Hall, Frank M. Thomas, Harry Jans, Hattie M'Daniels, Lucille Ball, Harry Tyler, and William Demarest, is raised by their portrayals. The successful Broadway play * Onop Over Lightly,’ by George Holland, was adapted. as ‘ Don’t Tell the Wife ’ for the screen by Nat Perrin. It was produced byJEtobert Sisk and directed by Christy Cabanne. ITRAH Combining the speed and thrills of aviation with a modem mystery plot, Universal’s flying story, ‘ Reported Missing.’ opened to-day at the Strand, wil|i William Gargan and Jean Rogers in the leading rotes. The picture deals with the adventures of a young inventor who perfects a navigating device for the giant transport planes of a major air line—-and then sees plane after plane, depending upon his instrument, plunge to destruction until the inventor, by clever detective work, unmasks an unscrupulous and merciless sky bandit who is responsible for the wrecks. Gargan and Mist 'Rogers are supported by Dick Purcell, Joe Sawyer, Michael Fitzmaurice, Hobart Gavanr augh, and Billy Wayne. Milton Carruth, one of Hollywood’s rapidly rising young directors, made the picture. George Bancroft, in a role reminiscent of his memorable portrayals in ‘ Underworld,’ ‘Dragnet, and ‘ Docks of New York,’ heads the large cast appearing in Columbia’s ‘ Saints in Exile,’ the supporting attraction. Appearing opposite Bancroft is Wynne Gibson and Evelyn Venable, last seen opposite i Jack Holt in ‘ North of Nome.’ Directed by Erie C. Kenton, from a story by Harry Sauber, ‘ Saints In Exile ’ relates the story of “Big Bill ” Walden, racketeer and public enemy, who hides in his home town. When, at a church social, he discovers he has the gift of oratory, he launches on a new raefeet—as a fake evangelist. When Bill falls in love again with' Evelyn Venable, his childhood Sweetheart, his character takes an unexpected development

STATE With George Arliss at the head of the cast a film has always been assured of success, but never before have this great actor’s efforts deserved such unstinted praise as they do in ‘ His Lordship,’ the present attraction at the State. Playing in the dual part of a pompous secretary of foreign affairs and his scallywag twin brother, Arliss has probably his finest roles to date, and demonstrates his remarkable versatility and superb acting ability. When the story opens, a young Englishman (admirably - played by Romilly Lunge, a newcomer to the screen), is attempting to obtain an audience with the Emir of an Eastern State. The Emir is murdered by two conspiring Ministers. The Englishman* enters the room, is found bending over the body, and has to make a hasty escape. Dressed as an Arab and with Arliss’s assistance, he leaves the country, and the two determine to warn the Crown Prince, residing in England, against returning to his homeland. The news is spread that the murderer was an Englishman, and the cunning native Ministers arrive in England to seek retribution for the crime. The young Englishman and his friend attempt to explain the position to the latter’s brother, who, in his Ministerial capacity, is to deal with the case, but he refuse* to listen, and insists on a policy which might bring war between the countries. How the Minister is kidnapped, his place taken,by his brother, and the murderers are preyed guilty form an interesting part of a very exciting story. The supporting programmer ia of a very high standard. RIftERT Musio such as has never been heard in the cinema before is provided by Ignaoe Jan Paderewski, the worldfamous pianist, who, at the age of 76 is making his screen debut in ‘Moonlight Sonata,’ which is now at the Regent. Charm is the keynote of Moonlight Sonata,’ with Paderewski as the chief charmer. There have been' more exciting films, but none more beautiful or so completely satisfying. Lotbar Mendes, who made a special journey to Paris to persuade Paderewski to appear in the film and who brilliantly produced and directed it, deserves the warmest congratulations. The film has been skilfully built round Paderewski and his music. It opens with the pianist giving a recital in a crowded concert hall. Attention is drawn to a happy young couple and their baby daughter. Later, in his club, Paderewski tells the story of their romance, how it waa nearly broken and how his music brought them together again. Erie is steward on the remote, picturesque Swedish estate of the Baroness Lindenborg, who encourages his affection* for her beautiful granddaughter, Ingrid. An aeroplane makes a forced landing -on the estate, bringing with it Paderewski, his secretary, and an elegant young man, Mario. Mario is a professional conjurer pretending to be a gentleman. He completely fascinates Ingrid, and within the few short days of his stay. persuades . her to elope with him. Eric she dismisses aa unexciting. But at the eleventh hour Mario is unmasked and Ingrid bitterly realises what a fool she has been. Of more than ordinary interest is tho appearance of Marie Tempest, beloved figure of the English stage, as the imperious, but kindly, baroness. This is Marie Tempest’s first taking film, but, acting with complete composure, she gives a brilliant performance. It is to be hoped that this is not by any means the great across’s last screen adventure. Other fine portrayals are given by Charles Farrell, best remembered as Janet Gaynor’s leading man in the silent ' Seventh Heaven ’ and other well-known films, and by Eric Portman, superb as the charming cad. * Moonlight Sonata,’ technically as flawless as the most pretentious productions, offers rare entertainment which all fllmgoers will appreciate. DCTARIR ‘ The Case of the Stuttering Bishop,’ which is now at the Octagon, is from the pen of Eric Stanley Gardner, whose success with the “ whodunit ” type of novel has been mounting since 1923 until ho now ranks high among best sellers. Donald Woods plays the part of Perry Mason, debonair lawyer-detec-tive, and Ann Dvorak, his quick-witted secretary. They find themselves drawn into a baffling murder of Ronald C, Brownley, a millionaire oil man, bv a bishop who is anxious to see that justice is . done in the matter of inheriting the oil man’s wealth. Six people are suspected of the plot, and the resultant murder to obtain the fortune of the oil man for a girl who poses as his granddaughter. The bishop is one of the suspected impostors by virtue of the fact tnat he stutters, and the unfolding of the story, the discovery of impostors, and the real murderers, suspense woven into each incident until the moment of its denouement, is said to make ‘ The Case of the Suttering Bishop ’ one of the most thrilling dramas of the year. Edward M'Wade is the stuttering bishop, and others in the cast includes Charles Wilson, Helen M'Kellar. Craig Reynolds, and Gordon Oliver. The other feature on the programme is ‘ King of Gamblers,’ with Akim Tamiroff in the starring role. This actor is said to be more forbidding than he was in ‘ The General Died at Dstwn.’ The film is an action-packed drama of one of America’s most dangerous rackets. Other featured players are Lloyd Nolan, Claire Trevor, and Larry Crabbe. ■■■. ft MAYFAIR An unusual film, ‘ The Devil Doll,’ heads the current programme at the Mayfair, where the associate feature is ‘ Air Hawks.’ In ‘ The Devil Doll’ Lionel Barrymore gives a great performance as a half-ro.ad scientist who impersonates an old woman. An excellent cast includes Maureen O’Sullivan and Frank Lawton. ‘ Air Hawks ’ features Ralph Bellamy. The noted aviator Wiley Post also appears in the film. ‘THE ROAD TO GLORY.’ Fredric March, Warner Baxter, and Lionel Barrymore are starred in ‘ The Road to Glory,’ which will be shown to-morrow at the Mayfair, with the supporting cast headed by June Lang and Lionel Barrymore. 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 itsejf. Baxter is seen as the warweary commander of a valorous regiment. Monique, a lovely French nurse, provides him with his only interest m life. Fredric March, Baxter’s chief aid, unwittingly falls in love with Monique too, unaware that Baxter cares deeply for the girl. The triangle create* a crisis between the two men, which is increased when Baxter, to his astonishment, discovers that his father, Lionel Barrymore, is a private in the regiment. A gay and merry comedj'j Paramount’s ‘Let’s Make a Million, is the associate feature. It is a story of one man’s bonus and how it grew, ■with Edward Everett Horton as the

veterinary and Charlotte Wynters as the girl he intended to marry—without reckoning with the “ pixilated ” sisters. GREEN ISLAND The star of the immortal ‘ Seventh Heaven,’ Janet Gaynor, and the sensation of ‘ Magnificent Obsession,' Robert Taylor, have joined hands to bring to the screen. one of the most stirjing modern romances in their latest picture, ‘ Small Town Girl,' coming to-morrow to the Municipal. Miss Gaynor was never more lovely in her successful career than she is in the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production. With the sensation of the screen season, the dashing Robert Taylor, as her co-star, a perfect screen team is formed. Taylor’s dramatic work is even finer than that in ‘ Broadway Melody of 1936 ’ and ' Magnificent Obsession.’ Taken from Ben Ames Williams’s famous novel, brought to the screen by John Lee Mahin and Edith Fitzgerald, the plot of ‘ Small Town Girl ’ concerns a country girl who marries a handsome young doctor while he is intoxicated. The story of ‘ Ourselves Alone,’ coming on Wednesday next, was written by; Major Dudley Sturrock, who served in Ireland during the “ trouble ” —and by Noel Scott—and is founded on fact. ‘ Ourselves Alone ’ is an impassioned drama of young hearts in rebellion, fighting for freedom and ideals Gripping in its intensity—when love of country makes men do unbelievably terrible and surpassingly beautiful things. Outstanding is the performance given by John Lodge, handsome Hollywood star, who appears ns the hard-bitten R.I.C. Inspector. Lodge will be remembered for the fine performance he gave in the leading male role opposite Marlene, Dietrich in ‘ The Scarlet Empress.’ John Loder appears as a young English officer on duty in Ireland, who falls in love with his inspector’s fiancee; and Antoinette CelHer is seen as the girl whom both men love.