PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23096, 24 October 1938, Page 6

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE ‘Submarine D-l,’ a melodrama dealing with tho exploits of Uncle Sam’s undersea boats and the’gallant. lads who man them, is screening at the Umpire. The picture is authentic as well ns stirring, for it was made with the complete co-operation of the navy, which turned over to the movie-makers all its facilities at Newport (R. 1.), Cocos Coco (in the Panama Canal zone), and San Diego (Calif.). There are scores of battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and aeroplanes taking part, and many hundreds of sailors and marines are seen going, through their peace time and war game .duties. So 1 Submarine D-l seems to. be just .what its makers term it—best “ service ” film Warner Bros, have ever turned out. Pat O’Brien and George Brent are co-starred, and in a part that seems to be quite as important is voting Wayne Morris, the lad who shot to the top ranking recently on the strength of one picture, ‘ Kid Galahad.’ Then, too, in the cast are such well-known troupers as Frank M'Hugh, Doris Weston, Regis Toomey, and Henry O’Neill. But after all it is the “ D-i ” itself —a new navy submarine, which also bears the title of “ Dolphin ” —that is the hero of the piece. The plot has largely to do with certain devices developed by Pat O’Brien and George Brent —one foi sending imprisoned men in. a sunken submarine to the surface safely by means of “ air ■ lungs,” another for raising the vessel itself. Miss Weston sustains what feminine love interest there is in the story, while Frank M'Hugh provides his usual brand of humour. Lloyd Bacon, who is at his best in stories of fast and thrilling action, directed ‘ Submarine D-l.’ REGENT * Romance for Three ’ heads the programme at the Regent. Nearly every poor man would like to enjoy the life of a millionaire for two weeks, and every rich man would like to go back to tho simple pleasures —at least for the same ' time. And that’s what Frank Morgan, Robert Young, and Reginald Owen do in this escapade of the Alps. Morgan turns poor while the other two actors become rich and powerful. Their plan works until Morgan's daughter, Florence Rice, his housekeeper, Edna May Oliver, and his “ girl _ friend,” Mary Astor, find out about it. But in the meantime Morgan, who has won a contest and has been given two weeks’ vacation at an exclusive Alpine resort, appears to be a poor man, and therefore is treated badly by the management. Only one man is kind to him, and he is Henry Hull, the dish-washer When Morgan’s family makes him return to his normal life as the wealthy capitalist, he orders the hotel manager and porter to his office, explains that he was actually staying at his own hotel, reminds theni of their treatment toward him, and makes the dish-washer their boss. Miss Rice and Young are outstanding in the leading romantic roles, while Morgan does the finest work of his career as the capitalist, with Miss Oliver, Owen, Miss Astor, Herman Bing, and Walter Kingsford at their best. Edward N. : Buzzell showed bis flair for comedy in directing the picture, and Sam Zimbalist gave it outstanding production. ; GRAND The mystery master stakes his life to play a dangerous game against a phantom killer in ‘Mr Moto’s Gamble,' which is showing at the Grand. This twentieth Century-Fox drama provides detective story fans with a most exciting murder thriller. Guns without bullets —silent, invisible, and deadly—with 20,000 witnesses unable to tell how death struck in the midst of : a packedl fight arena, provide Petei Lorre, the star, with an entirely different and far more exhilarating type of “ who-done-it ” drama than the star ever has given before. To add still further intriguing elements to this Twentieth Century-Fox hit, Keye Luke, playing his famous role as Charlie Chan’s No. 1 son, helps Mi Moto clear up the strange case of c prize fighter’s death. ‘Mr Moto’t Gamble’ is new, gripping to the last scene, and packed with surprises Smith Ballew, the singing cowboy, is featured in ‘ Panamint’s Bad Man, the second attraction. STUART ERWIN COMEDY. ‘Passport Husband.’ a Twentietl Century-Fox screen comedy developed from the theme of a gangster’s girl trying to avoid 'deportation, will bt screened at the Grand on Wednesday The passport husband is, according t( the Hollywood interpretation, a persox “of unassailable virtue and spotlesi refutation,” who by guile or force h induced to marry a woman wiio entered the United States without propel credentials. Stuart Erwin in the rob of the ‘Passport Husband,’ has one o the funniest screen performances of hi: career—and does a hilarious job o making fun of gangsters, rackets am night clubs. In accordance tin wishes of millions of filmgoers, Ericl von Stroheim, known as “ the mar you love to hate,” makes his come back to the screen in, ‘ Mademoiselh Doctour.’ Dita Parlo, famous Con tinental actress and popular Join Loder are other stars of this intrigu . ing spy drama. STRAND Some of the more vigorous aspect of the life of a fireman are unl'urle) in the romantic drama ‘ She Loved i Fireman,’ which is screening in asso ciatiou with ‘ Boots and Saddles,’ i ; Western musical, at tho Strand. Fas and exciting action is cleverly combine) with some spectacular photography _ii the former film, which features Did | Forau, Bob Armstrong, Ann Sheridan and May Beatty. Traversing a long ; standing feud between a captain of th ' Fire Brigade and an ex-bookmaker, th ! story relates how the latter joins ih ' force in an endeavour to pay off oh ’ scores. He falls in love with the cap tain’s sister, and the ill-feeling betweei , the two becomes even more pro , nounced. A thrilling climax is reachei . when the ex-bookmaker, at a great per , sonal risk, saves his captain from cer ’ tain death when both are engaged ii , fighting a fire which breaks out in | warehouse stored with explosives. On , of the most popular Western stars o 1 the screen, Gene Autry, heads the cas of ‘ Boots and Saddles.’ In traditions 1 manner, Autry rides hard, sings cow boy melodies, fights in the approve style, and courts his fair lady with tru ! Western fervour. The picture is c ■ additional interest to local audience , as included in the cast is Ra Hon Id - the Dunedin boy, who is rapidly mak ing a name for himself in Hollywooi productions. The plot is built up room the efforts of -rival factions to gai: i control of a ranch owned by the Ear i of Granville (Ra Hould) and manage by Autry. Prominent in the support ing cast are “ Smiley ” Burnette am Judith Allci|,

STATE Inhatitants of the supposedly slowwitted States of Kcntucy, Arkansas, and others have of late graced the pages of many a periodical and provided laughter over the radio and on stage and screen. Hollywood’s latest hillbillies are no other than the three Ritz brothers, starred in ‘ Kentucky Moonshine,’ which has commenced at the State. Comedy players are “ two a penny ” on the screen, but this combination has proved itself the funniest seen for many years. Highlight of their antics in this film is said to come at the end, when they burlesque Disney’s ‘ Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ’ in costume. To supplement their comedy will be the support of Tony Martin, the Raymond Scott Quintet, Marjorie Weaver, Slim Summerville, John Caradine, Wally Vernon, and Cecil Cunningham. Low Pollack and Sidney Mitchell wrote the musical score. The Ritzes are seen against a background of hillbillyisra and radio broadcasting. Caroline (Marjorie Weaver), waiting her turn for an audition at a radio station, overhears a conference at which it is decided to send Jerry Wade (Tony Martin) to the mountains of Kentucky to get “ real ” hillbilly talent. Caroline forgoes her audition to rush back to the theatrical boarding house and apprise the Ritz brothers of the radio company’s plan. They all hie to the hills of the Blue Grass State, don whiskers, become involved in a long-forgotten feud, but manage to steer the talent scouts in their direction. Extricating themselves from, the obvious results of this fraud is what provides most of the fun of the plot. There are excellent featurettes. OCTAGON Dancing her way on silver skates through a will-of-the-wisp story, Sonja Heme makes of her new picture, ‘ Happy Landing,’ a gay and delightful adventure. Recent audiences at the , Octagon laughed with a Sonja radiant beyond imagining and thrilled to the breathless artistry of her twinkling feet. It was a new Sonja, a little lovelorn Norwegian alone in a big city. Tho picture, which should add to the length of the Octagon’s successes, tells a story of a New York hand leader (Cesar Romero), whose plane comes down in a Norwegian fog bank almost in the middle of a folk festival, the “ Bride’s Fair.” The custom which starts all the trouble is that when a man dances twice with a girl he is considered to be affianced to her. Treated to generous doses of bis favourite potion, hero worship, by the ingenuous Sonja, the band leader dances twice with her—and sets the ball rolling. It’s a glittering ball, with colourful American winter carnivals, the gaieties of Paris and Miami, the breathless ice ballets of New York roof gardens—and tho songs of Poprass and Ycllen. ‘ A Gipsy Told Me ’ makes a charming theme number, insinuating itself into the canvases on which Sonja paints so charming a picture. Don Ameche is a rather nonchalant hero, but a very satisfying one, and his shattering defeats of the gold-digging American o-irl, very much engaged to the butterfly Romero, provide laughable interludes. There are fine supporting features. ST- JAMES That Variety is indeed-thernspice of. entertaihmeiit is more than; boVhe out by tho varied fare offered in the attractive double bill at the St. James. Another of the popular Judge Hardyseries, ‘You’re Only Young Once,\ heads the programme, while the associate feature, ‘ Non-Stop New York,’ is worthy of no less attention. The Judge Hardy series of films has, within the past few months, attracted an ever-growing host of followers who admire these homely comedy-romances. The extraordinary adventures of an ordinary American family, the films possess an unusual appeal. The latest of the series, ‘ You’re Only Young Once,’ adds to the high standard set by the production and at least maintains the tempo of previous releases This time the family is off on its first holiday for 11 years. Catalina Island, the playground of America, is the scene of their adventures and misadventures, and although their accidents and unintended misdeed may upset a few the Hardy family makes hay while the sun j shines. Mickey Rooney reaches the i status of youth'in this production, and | is saddled with his first serious love affair. His calf-like love of the past is replaced by a more subtle mode, but, although to the audience the result is humorous, to Mickey it is a very serious matter. Lewis Stone is east as the , head of the family, while Cecilia Parker, Sara Haden, Fay Holden, and , , Frank Craven form the rest of the featured players- ‘Non-Stop New i York,’ as its title suggests, is a fasti moving production. What happens to a chorus girl who accidental !y witnesses a brutal gang killing in New , York forms the basis of the plot. Hurried off to England, she is imprisoned ; temporarily on a trumped-up charge i go that she cannot testify at the trial [ of an innocent man. - I L MAYFAIR ! Irene Dunne scores heavily in the year’s choicest comedy role as Lucy 1 \Varriner in Columbia’s ‘ The Awful Truth,’ which is at the Mayfair. It remained for her hilarious clowning in ‘ The Awful Truth ’ to reveal the treasure-trove of talent in her inimitable personality. This gay, madcap story of the Warriners, played by -• Miss Dunne as Lucy and Cary Grant 1 as Jerry, is uproariously funny. The 1 fun starts when Jerry and Lucy decide to separate with the only bone of coui tention the custody of Mr Smith, their ; wire-hair terrier. The court allows ■ Mr Smith to Lucy but permit-- Jerry i to visit the dog. Thus many of tho : film’s outstanding comedy scenes arise , out of Jerry’s visits to Lucy’s apart- • inent while she is entertaining im- ; patient suitors. Film detective en- > thusiasts who pride themselves on solvi ing screen mysteries before the cinema 1 detective have a difficult task in ‘ The - Lady in tho Morgue,’ another one of i the famous Universal Crime Club tnys- . teries, which is also screening. 1 - i GREEN ISLAND i ' Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor is the 1 thrilling combination presented by J Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the new * comedy-romance, 1 Man in Possession,’ J which will be screened at the Municipal 1 to-night. Taylor, current idol of the - screen, comes from the arms of Garbo * in ‘ Camille ’ to his romance with Miss s Harlow in the present photoplay, which • is based on. the H. M. Harwood ■ stage success, ‘ Man in Possession.’ j Miss Harlow was last seen in the four- * star hit, ‘ Libelled Lady.’ ‘ Man in 1 Possession ’ comes from the hands of W. I S. Van Dyke, who has achieved the 1 unique record of never having turned • out a failure. Among Van Dyke’s reI cent hits were ‘ After the Thin Man,’ San Francisco,’ and ‘ Rose Marie.’