PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22956, 13 May 1938, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT Enough talent to cast half a dozen hig Broadway productions, with the accompanying music, specialty numbers, dance offerings, settings, and costumes is offered in the farce-musical-comedy ‘ Merry-go-round of 1938,’ which is now at the Regent. Hollywood, Broadway, and other places were diligently combed for talent and novelties for this production. Mischa Auer, Alice Brady, and Louise Fazenda—enough comedy talent for three pictures—are in featured roles in the production. As if that were not enough, Billy House, Jimmy Savo, and Bert Lahr were imported from Broadway—each of whom is a stellar name in any show. Dave Apollon’s orchestra, long noted as the best musical act on the American stage, is featured in the picture, and Harold Adamson and Jimmie M‘Hugh, famous Broadway and Hollywood songwriting team, composed music for the orchestra renditions and for the song numbers by the four male comedians, and by Joy Hodges, another Broadway favourite who had just arrival from the national coast-to-coast radio networks. John King, of ‘ Road Back ’ fame, is seen opposite Miss Hodges in the chief male romantic lead. A feature novelty of the offering will be little four-year-old Beverly Ann Welch, youngest drummer girl in the world, in a unique specialty. Several dance and chorus numbers staged by Carl Randall spot the production with feminine beauty and grace. Song numbers composed by Adamson and M'Hugh for ‘ Merry-go-round of 1938 ’ incude two, ‘ The Grand Street Comedy Four,’ and ‘ Six of One and a Halfdozen of the Other,’ which are rendered by Billy House, Mischa Auer, Jimmie Savo, and Bert Lahr; ‘ I’m in My Glory ’ and ‘ More Power to You,’ which Miss Hodges sings, the latter to the accompaniment of Dave Apollon’s Orchestra; ‘ Y T ou’re My Dish,’ by John King, and ‘ A Masher is a Bad, Bad Boy,’ with Alice Brady and Louise Fazenda. STATE Samuel Goldwyn knew that he had a truly great picture in 1 The Hurricane,’ which is at the State, with Dorothy Lamour and Jon Hall heading a great cast, which includes Marv Astor. C. Aubrey Smith, Thomas Mitchell, Raymond Massey, John Carradine, and Jerome Cowan. In this dramatic saga of the South Seas, written by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall, authors of ‘ Mutiny on the Bounty,’ he was confident he had a story rich in every element of cinema entertainment. 1 The Hurricane,’ with its tender romance, its powerful drama, its picturesque setting, and its amazing spectacle climax, is a story ready-cut for the screen. On the low island of Manukura, 600 miles from Tahiti, two native sweethearts. Terangi and Marama, are wed. ,Their brief happiness is shattered when Terangi,, returning to

Tahiti on the trading schooner of which he is first mate, is imprisoned for striking a white man who insults him. After five years of unsuccessful attempts, the boy escapes from Tahiti and makes his way to his native island. Because of the implacable _ sense of duty of the French Administrator, however, he is forced to hide on a neighbouring island. The search for him is at its height when a great hurricane begins to blow. Unmindful of his own safety, the youth goes to Manukura to warn the inhabitants. In the fury that follows he plays an heroic part, and the hurricane scenes provide one of the most thrilling and powerful climaxes the screen has ever shown. Known as the discoverer of more new stars than any other producer, Goldwyn entrusted the role of the native hero, Terangi, to a Hollywood newcomer, Jon Hall. Handsome, possessed of a magnificent physique, Hall will undoubtedly be lifted to stellar rating by this performance. Lovely _ Dorothy Lamour appears opposite him as the native heroine Marama. OCTAGON Onco again Darryl F. Zanudk has indulged his enthusiasm for dealing cineraatically with historical personalities and incidents; and once again the resulting film is both interesting and entertaining—a colourful, romantic drama. Co-starring Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor, and featuring Victor M'Laglen and Brian Donlevy, 1 His Affair,’ has commenced a season at the Octagon. Not many persons have ever heard of Lieutenant Richard L. Perry, whose story is hero told. Unlike President William M'Kinlcy’s other trusted confidant, Lieutenant Rowan, whose adventures Mr Zanuck picturised in ‘ A Message To Garcia,’ Perry had no Elbert /Hubbard to make him immortal. Nevertheless, Lieutenant Perry was an actual character, who rendered his country a great service. In 1901 a wave of bank robberies swept the MidWestern States of America. President M'Kinley instructed a young naval lieutenant, Richard Perry, to desert the service, endeavour to find the culprits, gain their confidence, become their partner, and furnish the information to lead to_ their elimination. The plot moves rapidly, and with no dearth of incident. There is music and dancing, featuring three new songs by Gordon and Revel, and much of the dialogue is In the vernacular of the 1900 era. Coloured by these qualities, the dramatic story is well developed and the romantic contrast is handled in an intelligent manner. Despite Robert Taylor’s “ matinee idol ” appeal, his great acting ability cannot be overlooked, as he proved in ‘ Camille.’ And he proves it again by more than holding his own even in this distinguished company—Barbara Stanwyck, long considered one of the outstanding dramatic actresses in Hollywood, who played in ‘ A Message To Garcia ’; Victor M‘La glen, an Academy Award winner for his work in ‘ The Informer ’; and the brilliant Brian Donlevy, who scored in ‘ Crack Up.’ Tlie supporting cast is unusually large, yet quality is as much in evidence as quantity.

ST. JAMES A new “ Tarzan,” Herman Brix, appears in the production ‘ The New Adventures of Tarzan,’ Which marks a new and refreshing departure in the presentation of jungle adventure films, and which will be shown this evening at the St. James. This is the . first time in “ Tarzan ” history that an entire motion picture company, with tons of freight and an entire sound studio equipment trekked directly into the heart of the wilderness to make a picture. The result more than justified the effort, for ‘ The New Adventures of Tarzan ’ combines all the thrills of action of the famous “ Tarzan ” stories with the stark realism of an actual jungle locale. Herman Brix, who plays the part of “ Tarzan,” makes the character live on the screen, and he is ably supported by Frank Baker, Ula Holt, Dale Walsh, Don Gastello, Lew Sargent, Harry Ernest, and the famous chimpanzee Nkima. The picture was filmed by the Ashton Dearholt Expedition in Guatemala, Central America. Miss Ula Holt is one of Hollywood’s outstanding female athletes and movie actresses who has appeared in Grantland Rice’s ‘ Sportlights,’ and has, the exotic characterisation in the film. Miss Holt was entirely familiar with the dangers ot this wild country, having spent many months among the Indians and natives of that Central American republic. EMPIRE 1 Navy Blue and Gold,’ a colourful and spirited story of life at the United States Naval Academy, is at the Empire. The cast is beaded by Robert Young, James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Florence Rice, Billie Burke, and Tom Brown, with Samuel S. Hinds, Paul Kelly, and Barnett Parker in important supporting roles. Sam Wood, one of Hollywood’s most accomplished directors, achieved enviable results with the original novel by George Bruce. Robert Young, as a cynical young midshipman, unquestionably gives one of his finest performances. James Stewart, in the role of a navy oiler from a battleship to gain his stripes at the academy, adds to his stature as an artist of the screen. Barrymore, of course, is Barrymore always, which is to say that his characterisation of the veteran coach is superb. Miss Bice, in the leading feminine role, is adorable. The storv presents three midshipmen from different stations in life, who are drawn together at the academy. Young is a cynic with no intention of remaining in the service. Stewart, from a battleship, is trying for a commission. Brown is a scion of wealth, with a pretty sister, played by Miss Rice. Stewart is involved in a scandal when it is learned that he enrolled under an assumed name owing to the fact that his father, a navy officer, had been cashiered out of the service. He clears his father’s name in a dramatic scene and is reinstated. ‘ Navy Blue and Gold ’ is splendid entertainment for all type of patrons. A specially-selected supporting programme will include the Laurel and Hardy comedy, ‘ A Country Hospital.’

GRAND A picture that is entirely different to the usual film fare with which Dunedin is provided unexpectedly turns up in ‘ Said O’Reilly to M'Nab,’ a Gainsborough film, released by GaumontBritish, which is at the Grand. Its wit and humour are most captivating, and create the heartiest laughter. This delightfully presented comedy of an Irish-American and a canny Scotsman, both of whom continually attempt to outwit the other, has an instantaneous appeal. Played without the least exaggeration of national characteristics, the subterfuges of O’Reilly and M'Nab —especially in their_ golf game, and while they are drinking together—keep the audience constantly amused. The story’s chief attraction are the episodes that result from O’Reilly’s attempts to get his son married to M'Nab's daughter, something which brings out the Irishman’s agile astuteness and M'Nab’s canny caution and initiative. The highlight of a first-class comedy is when O’Reilly attempts to out-dance M‘Nab. No funnier bit of foolery, accompanied by excellent dancing, has been seen. Will Fyffe, as Malcolm M‘Nab, is one of the most entertaining Scots the screen has presented. As Timothy O’Reilly, Will Mahoney is equally as good. Young Robert Gall should be ranked with the principals for his performance as M'Nab’s , * i< snooping and blackmailing ” small son, Jock. Entitled ‘ Big Business.” the supporting film gives the typical American family, the “ Joneses,” an opportunity to display their homely and pleasing type of humour. STRAND A vivid slice of life under the “ big top ” in all its colourful phases, Columbia’s ‘ The Shadow,’ featuring Charles Quigley and Anita Hayworth, is screening at the Strand. A double murder plot adds to the suspense in the story, which is played against the background of aerial trapeze artists, the roar of wild animals excited to a frenzy, and the general off-stage life of circus stars. From the moment that Miss Hayworth takes over the management of her father’s circus after his death, things happen with thrilling rapidity. Quigley, the carnival Press agent and barker, is in love with Miss Hayworth, and risks his life against preponderous odds to save her from impending disaster. ‘White Lilac,’ the exciting film which is also on the attractive bill, was made by Fox at the Wembley studios. It was directed by Albert Parker, who is responsible for numerous Hollywood successes, and has an outstanding cast. It was adapted from the well-known Viennese play by Ladislaus Fodor. Following upon the great success of ‘ The Riverside Murder,’ Basil Sydney and Judy Gunn are again appearing together. The supporting cast includes such well-known players as Claude Dampier, Percy Marmont, Leslie Perrins, Edward Dignon, Constance Travers, and Gwen Gill, who was chosen as the Scottish representative in the ‘‘ search for beauty ” contest a year or so ago. ‘ White Lilac ’ is an unusual mystery story with big human interest appeal, romance, and comedy,

MAYFAiR That gift of sparkling repartee which has made Claudette Colbert a delight to many thousands of filmgoers is given full rein in ‘ I Met Him in Paris,’ which will conclude to-night at the Mayfair. With Melvyn Dojiglas and Robert Young, the film can boast a trio of first-class comedy stars, while the story provides them with plenty of opportunities. An abundance of laughs, with plenty of pathos, is provided in ‘ Counsel for Crime.’ RACE TRACK DRAMA. A griping romance, comedy, some fine character portrayals, and thrills of a thundering race track are highlights in ‘ Saratoga,’ featuring Jean Harlow and Clark Gable, which will bo shown at the Mayfair to-morrow. Gable is cast as the “ square ” gambler and bookmaker in the new race track story, written by the authors of ‘ San Francisco.’ Anita Lopg and Robert Hopkins. Jack Conway directed. ‘ Saratoga ’ tells the story of the spoiled daughter of a wealthy horse owner, and a gambler and bookmaker whom she first hates, fights, then loves. The background of the swift action ranges from penthouses and a London hotel to a Kentucky horse farm, the Saratoga race track, and famous races on tracks in various points of the United States. The final racing climax, photographed by special equipment, provides a genuine thrill. Bulldog Drummond returns to the screen in another “ Sapper ” story, with John Howard playing the part or Drummond. The now picture is entitled ‘ Bulldog Drummond Comes Back,’ and will bo the associate feature. The cast is headed by John Barrymore, Louise Campbell, and Reginald Denny. ‘ Bulldog Drummond Comes Back,’ a Paramount picture, is the story of Drummond’s fight against a ruthless gang of criminals who kidnap his fiancee in a mad chase all over England, which ends in a breathless climax with Drummond and his friends at bay in a fight for their lives. The picture was directed by Louis King.