PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23123, 24 November 1938, Page 9

PICTURE THEATRES

ST. JAMES One of the most delightful comedies of recent years is 'The Thin Man, which will conclude a successful season at the St. James to-night, in company with ' Absolute Quiet.* Myrna Lqy and William Powell, as well as their dog Asta, made a namo for themselves in this first of the ' Thin Man ' series, and its return to Dunedin is being received with ' bvious enjoyment. The second film, ' Absolute Quiet,' features Lionel Atwill. ' MUSICAL POTPOURRI. ' Manhattan Merry-go-Round,' the attraction coming to the St. James tomorrow, is a merry, musical potpoun, concocted by the best wits in Hollywood, and turned out with a dash and gay vigour which makes it one of the most popular musicals of the season. It stars Phil Began, that golden-voiced tenor, and the lovely and talented Ann Dvorak, and it features such personalities as Henry Armetta, Leo Carrillo, Tamara Geva, James Gleason, Cab Calloway, Ted Lewis, Joe DiMaggio, and Kay Thompson and her Rhythm Choir. Everything that makes for high-class entertainment is promised in ' Manhattan Merry-go-Round.' Song and dance acts and striking new tunes, including ' Mama, I Wanna Make Rhythm ' and others are introduced. Those who have heard about the sensational popularity of Gene Autry, the singing cowboy, will have an opportunity to find out first hand, as Gene has a sequence in the prodadtion, as does Max Terhune and his dummy " Elmer." Man's age-old battle to get gold out of the ground brings war into the ranch country in I'aramount's ' Bar 20 Justice,' Clarence E. Mulford's latest ' Hopalong Cassidy ' story, which will support. William Boyd, playing the hard-boiled rancher, goes into action against the West?s most daring gold thieves when they make an attempt to steal the mine of one of his frineds. He is assisted by his two old-time saddlemates, George Hayes as " Windy Halliday," and Russell Hayden as '"' Lucky Jenkins." EMPIRE Constance Bennett and Brian. Aherno are co-starred for the first time in the new Hal Roach-M.G.M. production, ' Merrily Wo Live,' now at the Empire. Billio Burke, who scored so successfully as the Victorian wife in ' Topper,' has tho role of Mrs Kilbourne, a philanthropist, whose specialty is the reformation of hoboes who call at her door. Alan Mowbray, also of ' Topper ' fame, again is cast as a butler. Patsy Kelly romps through the role of a cook in the Kilbourne establishment. In the role of a senator's daughter, whose predatory eye settles upon Miss. Bennett's romantic interest in the'film, is Ann 'Dvorak. Bonita Granville, not entirely grown up, but wearing her first floorlength, dinner gown in a picture, plays the "kid sister" in the Kilbourne family. She augmente her allowance by threats of blackmail and sells petty secrets between members of tho family for fancy prices. Tom Brown is the " kid brother," whose growing up passes unnoticed by other members of the family. As Henry Kilbourne, nominal head of the family, but in reality as ineffectual as his wife or any of his children, is Clarence Kolb, long a star on the stage. Marjorie Ilambeau, for more than a decade a reigning favourite on the New York stage, plays the role of the senator's wife. Another popular film player lending his talents to 'Merrily We Live ' is Philip Reed, who plays the role of Miss Bennett's discarded suitor, and acts as a foil for the pranilts of Alierne and Mowbray.

REGENT One of the most authentic aviati<fti stories ever filmed, ' Test Pilot,' starring Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and Spencer Tracy, is to conclude to-night at the Regent. Clark Gable, in the title role, is divided between his love for .Myrna Loy and his love of flying. The conflict between his wife and his job is the basis of a plot which incorporates scenes fjrom air races, testing of new planes, riotous night club sequences, and touching romantic scenes between Gable and Miss Loy. SPARKLING MUSICAL. Borne along by attractive melodies sung by Nelson Eddy, the dancing feet of Eleanor Powell, and the comedy of Frank Morgan. Edna May Oliver, and Billy Gilbert, 'Rosalie,' coming to the Regent, is hailed as one of the brightest and beet of this year's talkie offerings. It is spectacle and composite entertainment of the type in which Hollywood specialises with success. You come away from it with that rested sensation which is the best contribution that the pictures make to work-a-day life (says a northern writer). It came into being in the United States as a Christmas attraction, and, even if in its voyaging to the down-under regions, it nearly caught up with Father Christmas on his next round, it still has the sparkling quality of carefree fun-making that is the characteristic of the " out the old in the new " season. Its major characteristic is that it is big. That timebattered " spruik" of the carnival showman that he has brought his particular patch of entertainment to the thronging millions " regardless of expense," does not need to be tagged to this M.G.M. production, for it hursts upon the spectator with a glitter of spectacle and a dazzling array of stars. William Anthony M'Guiro, who wrote the original ' Rosalie ' that was one of the greatest Ziegfeld successes, lias rewritten it for the screen, and produced it, too; and ho had as off-sider, writing the musical numbers, Cole Porter. Porter has some of the best musical " hits " in the world to his credit, and this show will add to that list. Cast in a military role, but spending the greater part of the time singing is Nelson Eddy. He is separated from Jeanette MacDonald. but in her place is Eleanor Powell, whose lively legs find plenty of work to do. Supplying the soprano is Ilona Massey, who has " a way with her " as well as an attractive voice. BRIGHT COMEDY BILL VARIED FUN AT GRAND Something new in murder mysteries brings Jack Oakie to the screen as an amateur detective in 'Super Sleuth,' now at the Grand, with Ann Sothern co-starred. Unlike the usual run of mystery pictures, this story makes no secret of the killer's identity. Ho is established early in the story, and the suspense of the picture is derived from the attempts of the murderer to slav Oakie, who believes him to be his friend. Tn support is a fast-moving comedy featuring Victor Moore and Helen Brnderiek. How a conceited but likeable motion picture actor who believes himself the world's greatest amateur sleuth actually solves a series of sensational Hollywood crimes to the amazement of everyone but himself, is the basis of the thrilling mystery story, ' Supcsi'Sleuth,' in which

Jack Oakie and Ann Sothern have costarring roles. Set against the professional life of the glamorous cinema capital, the comedy-drama presents Oakie as a screen star famous for his detective characterisations, a role he confidently attempts to play off the screen, usually with hilarious results. When -he receives word that he has been chosen as the next victim by a notorious ‘‘ celebrity killer,” Oakie calmly lights up his calabash pipe and plans to capture the mysterious murderer. To this end he seeks the advice of a self-styled professor of criminology, who operates a “ crime museum ” at the beach and who is in reality the unknown killer—a role played by the renowned Eduardo Oiannelli.

Contemptuous of police assistance, Oakie plays a lone hand, despite the warnings of the studio publicity director (Ann Sothern), and the fact that seven attempts are made on his life. How Miss Sothern has Oakie gaoled as a safety measure, only to see him bailed out by the mad professor, and how her arrival at the beach “ horror ” museum in a film sound truck aids the amateur detective to capture the criminal, are events excitingly dramatised in the film, which Ben Stoloff directed for RKO (Radio.

A romance of young love struggling in a sea of hilarity is offered picturegoers in ' Meet the Missus,' RKO Radio's new comedy co-starring Victor Moore and Helen Broderick, which is also screening. Anne Shirley and a promising newcomer, Alan Bruce, have the romantic leads in the film, which deals with the two stars' troubles after Miss Broderick wins a national title in a contest to select the nation's best housewife, and goes to Atlantic City to compete in the finals. Moore, a barber in a small town, is the real housekeeper, tending the home because his spouse is" alwavs prize-hunting. With Moore as Miss Broderick's protesting husband and Miss Shirley as their daughter, the family difficulties make the story. William Brisbane, Frank M. Thomas, Ray Mayer, and other favourites are in the cast. STRAND There is plenty of excitement in the double-feature programme concluding to-night at the Strand, where the two attractions are ' The Return of Jimmy Valentine ' and ' The Main Event. The former picture, featuring Roger Pryor, Charlotte Henry, and Robert Warwick, marks the return of a notable film cracksman of a few years ago.' The second film tells an exciting story of racketeering in the world of sport. M'LAGLEN AND FAST COMEDY. A story of the adventurous lives of five pals who emerge from one of the toughest districts in New York, Umversal's ' The Devil's Party ' will come to the Strand to-morrow, with Victor M'Lagleu starred. Adapted for tho screen from a novel by Borden Chase, this picture delineates the enduring friendships and fierce loyalties that develop among children who grow up together in a great city. One of these youths in manhood becomes a wealthy night club proprietor, a part played by the brawny M'Laelen. Two others become policemen an'd another a priest. The only girl they ever welcomed as a boon companion and member of their " gang " develops into a night club singer. ' Who's Your Lady Friend?' the new A.B.F.D. release, will support. Frances Day is a clever exponent of French coquetry, with an " i love you " ever ready on her lips, chiefly for a famous plastic surgeon, who is expecting a visit from a Frenchwoman to have her nose remodelled. But his secretary brings Miss Day, a cabaret artist, who can speak no other language but French, by mistake. The story works itself up to a finish in which the various errors are made clear. Vic Oliver and Betty Stockfield are cast as the doctor and his wife. Romney Brent supplies a clever performance as the rather muddling secretary who gets everybody in trouble, and Margaret Lockwood is charming as his fiancee.

STATE An appealing human story of the fates and fortunes of an every-day American family is told in ' Mother Carey s Chickens,' the feature concluding tonight at the State. It tells. how a young widowed mother sets out to make a home for her children and of their Loyalty to each other until finally they are happily settled with a double wedding as a not distant event. Anne Shirley, Ruby Keeler, James Ellison 'and Ralph Morgan, have the leading roles. POPULAR JUVENILES STARRED. Two of the most talented children in the entertainment business combined their efforts in the making of 'Breaking the Ice,' which comes to the State to-morrow. These children are 11-year-old Bobby Breen and six-year-old Irene Dare. Breen, the star of the picture, and a top-ranking singer of radio and screen, sings five new numbers in a story which has an appeal both to youngsters" and adults. Miss Dare, who is making her film debut in ' Breaking the Ice,' is the youngest figure-skater in the world, and before she was lured to Hollywood was known throughout the Middle-west as " the baby Sonja Henie." This child, with a record of starring in 17 ice shows at her early; age, seems defined for honours in both films and the rink. She whirls, spins, and does skating acrobatics so expertly that her sponsors plan soon to put her on tour in competition with the world's leading ice professionals. In ' Breaking _ the Ice,' which presents Bobby Breen in a musical romance with comedy, the boy actor is said to have been transformed into a new and more vitalised personality. In addition to his singing, he portrays a happy-go-lucky, hard-fisted son of chance. Supporting these talented children in the picture are Charlie Ruggles and Dolores Costello, featured at the top of a cast of 32 important players. The picture was directed by Edward F. Cline, from the screen play by Mary M'Call, iun., Manuel Seff, and Bernard Schubert, adapted from the original story by Fritz Falkenstein and N. Brewster Morse. OCTAGON A. E. W. Mason's original story, from which ' The Drum,' now at the Octagon, was made, is a canvas of the North-west Frontier of India, and it is said to be the most important film of its kind ever attempted. But through it there runs a strong vein of humour, provided by a new and unusual team—the boys Sabu and Desmond Tester, with Edward Lexy. Sabu is the Indian prince who finds drummer-boy Tester of the Gordon Highlanders a never ending source of amusement. The drummer boy considers that army life would bo perfect without the sergeantmajor, played by Edward Lexy. There aro some funny sequences, such as the one in which Tester is caught by the sergeant-major in the middle of telling a very tall story to Sabu and lying back in his cot smoking. The sequel is the rasiing of the famous Gordon kilt and the beating of the drummer boy with his drum stick, to the delight of Sabu. Director Zolton Korda has succeeded in_ diverting the natural youthful mischievous pranks of young Sabu

into comedy channels while still retaining the unspoilt charm of the " elephant boy." The technicolour unit which photographed the locations had special permission from the Governor of the North-west Frontier province. They arrived at Chitral in June last year and went up into tribal country, 100 miles from Russian territory. Not even army officers are allowed to visit this remote country unless on duty. ' The Drum ' is a United Artists release. MAYFAIR ' China Clipper,' the new First National production which is featured at the Mayfair, is a glamorous romance of the air, marking a milestone in the pictorial history of daring aviation. There is an exceptionally talented cast, which includes Pat O'Brien, Beverley Roberts, Ross Alexander, Humphrey B. Walthall in the principal roles. While the story itself is fictitious, it is based to a large extent on the hazardous flights of the famous China Clipper of the Pan-American Airways, which not so long ago established an air service between Alameda, on the Pacific coast near San Francisco, and the Philippine islands. ' There's Always a Woman,' a romantic comedy co-starring Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas, is the second feature. Based on a. popular magazine story, ' There's Always a Woman ' tells of the' efforts of Joan Blondell to ' outsleuth " her sleuthing husband Melvyn Dougla's.