PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23025, 2 August 1938, Page 11

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT Set in the glamorous background of Budapest night life, ‘ .Romance in the Dark,’ now showing at tho Regent, is a bright comedy, in which music plays a prominent part. As Ilona Boros, the ,star singing pupil of a small-town music teacher, Gladys Swarthout is 1 most charming. Her lovely voice has its full opportunity in a series of melodies old and new. She sings excerpts from * Carmen ’ and ‘ The Barber of Seville,’ as well as tho haunting ‘ Song of India.’ As Antal Kovach, tho vain opera star whose affairs are more successful on the stage than off it, John Boles improves on previous performances. John Barrymore makes a suave villain as the promoter Zolton Jason, who also is the reason why Kovach’s private life is a series of failures. As Kovach’s latest “ find,” Claire Dodd takes the part of the Countess Foldessy.' The result is a /comedy of typical Continental flavour. HILARITY AND SPECTACLE. The popular team of Eleanor Powell and Robert Taylor are again together in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayev’s latest musical comedy, ‘ Broadway Melody of 1938,’ which will be presented for the first time at the Regent on Friday. The film is a worthy successor to the outstanding production of the same name shown here last year, and it reassembles many of the cast of the former success. In the cast are such players as Buddy Ebsen, Robert Benchfey, the girl singer Judy Garland, and Robert Wildhack, the last-named being tho man who gave such a brilliant exhibition as the snorer in last year’s film. He appears now as a collector of sneezes, and plays the role with his laughable and earnest solemnity. With so many popular comedians in the cast the film moves with delightful ease and gaiety, and has at the same time beauty and spectacle which eclipse those of the majority of earlier productions of a similar character. A number of new songs are presented, among them being ‘ Sun Showers,’ ‘ Follow My Footsteps,’ 1 Everybody Sing,’ and ‘ Your Broadway and Mine.’ Among the singers are the well-known Sophie Tucker and Charles Igor Gorin, while tap-dancing is featured by Eleanor Powell, her new partner, George Murphy, and Buddy Ebsen, who are seen in several bright numbers. The film promises delightful entertainment in music, dancing, and comedy. GRAND James Gleason and Zasu Pitts, the screen’s highly diverting detective combination, are back in action again in ‘ Forty Naughty Girls,’ heading the programme to conclude to-night at the Grand The story deals with the mysterious murder of two men in a variety show, and it so happens that the pair is in the audience. Their services are called upon, and in a film overflowing one minute with mirth and in another minute with thrilling situations, tho murder is solved. ‘ There Goes tho Groom ’ is another fine comedy. TWO CLEVER FARCES. Stated to be one of the season’s funniest offerings, ‘ Go Chase Yourself.’ Joe Peimor’s new starring vehicle, will come to the Grand to-morrow with an ingenious story, a notable supporting cast, and a wealtli of hilarious silua*

tions which give the famous radio and film comedian his best opportunity for mirth-making to date. Penner enacts the role of a small-town bank teller, with two peculiar habits—he fancies himself as <i crooner, sings while work ing, and cannot resist buying raflle tickets. As a result of this latter habit he wins a luxurious trailer, for which ho owns no automobile, and tows the vehicle homo himself. His wife, disgusted, makes him sleep in the trailer that night. During the night the bank is looted and the bandits appropriate Penner and his trailer, which they 7 attach to their cur, to throw the police off the scent. The next morning Penner finds himself with his strange companions many miles from home. The ensuing complications come m rapid succession, developing in the kidnapping of a beautiful heiress, wrecking her marriage to a titled for-tune-hunter. and having Penner’s wife arrested. The climax, _ with Penner and his friends trapped in the trailer, running wild clown a steep mountain road, is said to constitute one of the most exciting and hilarious sequences ever filmed. Fenner, who has the solo starring role in ‘ Go Chase Yourself.’ is supported by Lucille Pall as his sarcastic wife; Richard Lane as a bandit; June Travis as the heiress; Fritz Feld as the fortune-hunter; and Tom Kenrledy as another gangster. The second film .will bo an English farce, ‘lnterrupted Honeymoon,’ starring Claude Halbert STRAND “ Rackets ” swung from liquor to cleaning and other small businesses in America. How they are now swinging from “ strong-arm ” methods to the polite “ shake-down ” is illustrated in Columbia’s ‘ When G-Men Step In,’ a drama describing the work of the Government’s G-Men, screening at the Strand. The new racketeer uses approved methods of glib business management, a staff of gilib salesmen, and operates in the guise of a social or political crusader. That when they come to grips with the law the new-style racketeers are as ruthless as the old appears in Columbia’s presentation of this topical problem. Don Terry, Jacqueline Wells, and Robert Paige head • the cast. ‘ Good-bye, Broadway,’ is shown in support. The cast starts with Alice Brady, who has become the talk of the country after her performance in ‘ In Old Chicago,’ for which she won the Motion Picture Academy award. Co-foaturecl with her is Charles Winninger,’ ‘ Show Boat’s ’ “ Cap’n •Andy,” who stole the honours in ‘ Nothing Sacred ’ and ‘ Every Day’s a Holiday.” Then come Tommy Riggs and Petty Lou,- of the Rudy Valiee radio programme. There is also Tom Brown, fresh from his performance in ‘ Navy Blue ami Gold.’ STATE In ‘ Dinner at the Ritz,’ which heads the current programme at the State, the most dangerous intrigue that ever involved a beautiful woman in love whirls Annabella from the brilliant salons of Paris through the fabulous gaining rooms of Monte Carlo to a luxurious private yacht on the Mediterranean. Paul Lukas. David Niven, and Romney Brent are featured in the cast. Shortly after the apparent suicide of a Parisian banker, an event which precipitates a financial panic, a gay adventuress turns up at the famous Monte Carlo resort, playing the dangerous game of tracking' down the I banker's enemies. A lovely, carefree girl one day* Annabella is the daring l adventuress the next, for the banker was her father. Annabella traces each elusive clue until, as the guest of the ringleader aboard his private yacht, she finds the information leading to a fast-paced, action-filled climax. There is a strong supporting programme.

WITHERS AND MILLIONAIRES. Jane Withers starts throwing things around, studies Louise Henry’s interest in Thomas Beck, and joins up with the Hartmans, who help her throw voices, dancing, and discretion to the winds as 45 millionaire club members throw up their hands in amazement in Jane’s latest picture, ‘ 45,.Fathers,’ Twentieth Century-Fox comedy which will be screened on Friday at the State. Surrounded by an exceptional cast, Jane raises a not in an exclusive bachelors’ club when its members adopt her, exposes a false romance, and brings happiness to everyone. Based on a story by Mary Biekel, the screen play written by Frances Hyland and Albert lEay, it is full of highly mirthful situations sprinkled with tenderness and romance. OCTAGON , A millionaire who does his dancing in a bank instead of .a theatre, and who attends to finance in the theatre instead of the bank, is the amusing comedy theme of ‘ Paradise For Two,’ Jack Hulbert’s new London Film production, which heads the bill at the Octagon. It is the story of a millionaire banker—with a mania for dancing —and a chorus girl. Only in this case the girl does not know the banker, but is run over by his car and driven to the theatre in it. The incident sots rumour flowing and she finds herself a leading lady with unlimited credit; but all the bills get sent to Jack. The millionaire calls on the chorus girl. to find out why he has to pay her bills, but she is expecting a reporter, and then starts one of the most hilarious incognito romances the screen has ever presented. The chorus girl is the beautiful singing and dancing star, Patricia Kills, and Jack Hulbert has further splendid comedy support from Arthur Riseoe as the theatrical manager. One of the most amusing scenes in the film is where the manager, Jacques, wishes to meet the millionaire, and the chorus girl is forced to bring him to a dinner party, all the time thinking that he is a penniless reporter. The film winds up with an exciting and exceedingly funny scene on the opening night of the vaudeville show. ST. JAMES Three outstanding features are offered in the current programme at the St. J ames*. The one that will probably prove of most interest to patrons is the motion picture record of the Louis-Schmeling world championship boxing contest in which the coloured fighter knocked out his opponent early in the first round. Though the film is necessarily brief, scenes taken in slow motion liavc recorded the victor’s damaging punches in faithful detail. The programme is completed by the full-length features 1 Sinners in Paradise ’ and ‘ State Police.’ in the first of these the leading roles are played by John Boles and Madge Evans. ably assisted by Bruce Cabot. Gene Lockhart, Nana Bryant, Charlotte Wynters, Milhum Stone, Marion Martin, Morgan Conway, and Willie Fung. The story concerns the adventures and experiences of the passengers on a Pacific airliner that crashes into the sea near a tropic isle. They are a widelyassorted group, and their reactions to one another herded together as they are on their small earthly paradise, are cleverly worked out. 1 State Police ’ is a thrilling tale of the efforts of a police squad to crush a gang of “ racketeers.” CASSIDY AND MYSTERY FILM. Contrasting fare is offered in the new programme to be screened at the St. James on Friday. Hopalong Cassidy makes a welcome return in ‘ Partners of the Plains,’ while a small-town murder mystery forms the basis of ' Scandal Street.’ Louise Campbell ami Lew Ayres head the east of the latter production, although Miss Campbell definitely takes acting honours. As the subject of malicious gossip in Mid burg, a small and closely-knit community, she is involved in a murder, am! the citizens unjustly accuse her of the

deed. Everything is eventually cleared up, but not before an abundance of comedy and excitement. Roscoe Karns, Porter Hall, Virginia Weidler, and Edgar' Kennedy are in supporting roles. William Boyd, who has made Hopalong Cassidy the world’s favourite Western hero, takes the part of that hard-riding cowboy again in ‘Partners of the Plains.’ a film that fully maintains his enviable reputation. Gwen Gaze, a spectacular new star, plays the role of an English girl who tries to “ wind the cowboy around her finger,” only to find herself at his feet. Others iu the cast are Russel Hayden (“ Lucky”), Harvey Clark, and Earl Hodgin. EMPIRE The main picture screening at the Empire this week is the fast-moving Western production from the MetroGold wyu-Mayei- studios, ‘ Bad Man of Brimstone.’ Directed by J. Walter Ruben and produced by Harry Rapf, the film has Wallace Beery in the title role of a lovable, gruff outlaw who rules the town of Brimstone. Recapturing the spirited and lawless era of tho old frontier days of the West of the ’eighties, the picture offers a thrilling panorama of stage coach travel, a gold rush and unscrupulous politics. Beery, giving a performance which outshines even that of his famed ‘ Viva Villa!’ gathers his confederates against the United States marshal until in a striking denouement he discovers that the marshal is his son. His capitulation to a force greater than greed or vanity gives the film a human touch. Virginia Bruce, iu her first outdoor role, offers a splendid portrayal of a pioneer school teacher, while Dennis O’Keefe, a new discovery, displays considerable acting ability in the role of Beery’s son Bruce Cabot also is prominently cast. BOXING KANGAROO AND COMEDY Having enjoyed so many years of success and popularity on tho stage, ‘On Our Selection ’ was the natural choice' as the subject for Australia’s first talkie, produced by Cinesound some five years ago with Bert Bailey heading the original cast. As a picture, ‘ On Our Selection,’ which comes again to the Empire on Friday, enjoyed oven "renter success, and the unprecedented records that stand to the credit of the film now set a standard of box office achievements iu the motion picture industry in Australia. In many centres the picture has been repeated again and again, but in recent months a Commonwealth-wide demand for a reissue of tho film has been so persistent that Cinesound, realising the whole of Australia wants to enjoy another good laugh, has released ‘ On Our Selection.’ As a second attraction Mr Lindsay Fabre will present “ Aussie,” the boxing kangaroo, a beautiful creature which Mr Fabre captured in Australia and brought up “ on the bottle” from the ago of six months. Mr Fabre spent a long time teaching “ Aussie ” tjie art of boxing, and the remarkable animal has undoubtedly proved an apt pupil. ‘‘ Aussie ” has his own ideas on the noble art, and as he can stand up on his tail, leaving his legs free, ho is able to got in lightning “ kicks ” that make their presence felt —usually below the belt. Both Mr Fabre and his animal give a really remarkable exhibition which is as thrilling as it is amusing, and “ Aussie ” proves that he is almost human in his knowI ledge of the game. MAYFAIR ‘ Thin Ice,’ the second film to star Souja Honie, to screen finally to-night at the Mayfair, is a gay and magnificent musical feature, with its location among glittering alpine slopes and with the twinkling skates of Miss Heine to enchant the patron. . Opposite her appears Tyrone Power in the part of a prince who comes to an alpine resort for the winter, and introduces himself as a newspaper reporter. Tho second film is ‘ Pick a Star,’ a delightful satire of Hollywood life, featuring Laurel and Hardy, Patsy Kelly, and Jack Haley.

TARZAN AND MARRIAGE MIX-UP. The New Universal’s brilliant comedy drama, ‘As Good as Married,’ the story of a /marriage for convenience, comes to the Mayfair to-morrow. In producing this picture the New Universal assembled an excellent cast, including John Boles, Doris Nolan, Walter Pidgeon, Tala Birell, Ernest fossa rt, Katherine Alexander, Alan .Mowbra- and Esther Ralston. As a background .for such an outstanding cast, John Hardrider, the studio’s art director, designed sets that will attract much attention. The New Adventures of Tarzan,’ starring Herman Brix, will be the second film. It brings to the screen further exploits of this worldfamous fiction character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The story starts with Tarzan boarding the s.s. Wingai to help a friend, where he ••(•(■•’dentally meets an archaeologist leading an expedition to the Guatemalan jungles in the hope of locating tho famous Green Goddess—a priceless Mayan relic containing a fortune iu gems.. Tarzan joins the expedition, and immediately tho party is beset with perils that keep the action and suspense at a high pitch. GREEN ISLAND Apart from its fascinating mystery, the screen drama coming to-morrow to the .Municipal, ‘ The Thirteenth Chair,’ is one of the best examples of the. new Hollywood technique yet to reach the screen. The picture .was filmed largely iu shadows, which adds to its element of mystery and its photographic splendour. The story is an adaptation of the* stage success by Bayard Veiller, and with the greater resources of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, it becomes even-more interesting. Thirteen people are seated in a room where a seance is in progress, arranged by one who hopes to find the murderer of his close friend. In the darkness, he himself is killed by a knife wound—no one enters or leaves the room and yet no knife is there. The mystery is extremely unique, while a tender romance threads its way into the action, enhancing the interest of the narrative. M-G-M kas assembled a remarkably fine east, all featured players, and the able George Seitz directed. The east includes Dame May Whitty. who scored an outstanding triumph iu ‘ Night Must Fall,’ Madge Evans, Lewis Stone, and Elissa Landi.