PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23179, 31 January 1939, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON Shirley Temple always turns in a fine performance, but in her.current film she is said to excel herself. She is a Shirley of surprises surrounded by singing, dancing, romancing, and funmaking show people. ‘Little Miss Broadway ’ is the title of the film, and it is the attraction at the Octagon. The grand group of troupers which aids and abets Miss Temple is headed by George Murphy; the irrepressible Jimmy Durante; blonde Phyllis Brooks, and Edna Mae Oliver, tho prim and prudish “grande dame of fiJmdom.” To make this the musical hit of the year, six new Bullock and Spina melodics are featured, and include ‘ Be Optimistic,’ ‘We Should Be Together,’ ‘ If All the World Were Paper,’ ‘ Swing Me an Old-fashioned Song.’ ‘ How, Can 1 Thank You?’ and ‘ Little Miss Broad way,’ the title song. Darryl F. Zanuck, Twentieth Century-Fox pro- . duct-ion chief, lias surrounded Shirley Temple with n stellar cast in her new film. George Murphy, Jimmy Durante, Phyillis Brooks. Edna Mac Oliver, George Barbier, Edward Ellis, Jane Darwell; El Brendel, Donald Meek, Patricia Wilder, and Claude Gillingwater, sen., are included. EMPIRE The kind of comedy provided by George Formby in ‘ It’s 'ln the Air,’ which is now being shown at the Empire, is after the manner of ‘Punch,’ in that .American producers could neither originate nor successfully copy it. The dialogue is bristling with humour; in fact, there is hardly a letup between one laugh and the next. George Formby plays the part of a “ softy,” who turns out trumps in the end. Donning an Air Force uniform to save his future brotber-in-laW from trouble bv delivering a forgotten despatch to" nearby headquarters, George finds himself dragooned into the service by force of circumstances. He is made 'the butt of all manner of practical jokes by an aircraftsman who is in love with the sergeant-major’s pretty daughter (Polly Ward), but ■ George counteracts this by showing Ins.unusual

talents as a banjo player and singer of comic songs, one of the best of which is directed at the sergeant-major. There arc many hilarious scenes, culminating with an accidental Right, when George finds himself for the first time in his life at the controls of an aeroplane. George Formby introduces several now song numbers in this picture, notably ‘ They Can’t Fool Me,’ 1 Our Sergeantmajor,’ and ‘ It’s hi the Air.’ There is a good supporting programme.

LOY, TONE, AND RUSSELL. Four of the screen’s leading players, Myrna Loy, Franchot Tone, Rosalind Bussell, and Walter Pidgeon, head a strong cast in the film ‘ Man-Proof,’ which will commence a season at the Empire on Friday. A light social drama, in which witty conversation and the ultra-modern type of “ streamlined ” acting plav major parts. ‘ Mar.Proof’ tells the story of Mum Swift, a young society girl who imagines she is In love with a man-nboiit-town of the tvpicnl American type. Miss Loy handles the role of Mimi in magnificent fashion, while Walter Pidgeon excels all his previous performances with his portrayal of tho good-looking but shelllow American. Mimi, however, is placed in tho unenviable position of finding herself as a bridesmaid at tho wedding of the man she had hoped would marry her. When lie returns from his honeymoon with his wife, which part is taken bv Rosalind (Russell, Mimi endeavours to recapture his affections, but is prevented from doing so by the shrewd generalship of the wife. It appears that all will end unhappily for Minn until she finally discovers that she reallv loves not tho American, but her faithful friend Jimmy Kilmartni (Franchot Tone). All the principals give sparkling performances and carry the film triumphantly. ST. JAMES A constantly changing variety of hilarious scenes has kept audiences in the St. James rocking with laughter, when ‘ Professor Beware,’ starring Harold Lloyd, has been screened. Harold Lloyd is cast as a professor who is •greatly intrigued by a story in Egyptian characters dealing with the lilc of a man who fell in love with the Pharaoh’s Daughter. Finally this man was buried alive. By a strange sot of circumstances ‘Harold Lloyd finds, him-

self in a similar position, except that he meets tho daughter (Phyllis Welch) of a big business magnate. Many laughable situations crop up when he suddenly decides that he must escape Miss Welch if he wishes to be freed from “certain death.” Finally ho marries her to escape a year’s imprisonment. One of the funniest scenes is the last, in which Harold Lloyd dashes around the New York waterfront causing as much annoyance as possible in order to get an irate following that chases him everywhere demanding his blood. He leads them on to a yacht where he supposes his wife to be, and a fierce fight ensues between the members of the crew and the angry band after “the professor’s ” blood. The second film, ‘ Booloo,’ stars Colin Tapfley, the Now Zealander. Taplcy is east as an explorer in search of a white tiger said to exist in a remote portion of the jungle. Screened against a background of Malayan jungle life, the film is tense with dramatic situations. WESTERN AND SEA DRAMAS. Dramatic faro is offered in the actionpacked ‘ King of Alcatraz,’ the story of a crime czar who terrorised a ship at sea, which, with another of the popular JHopalong Westerns, ‘ Pride of the West,’ will open a season at the St. Janies next Friday. ‘ King of Alcatraz ’ tells of the friendly feud between two radio operators, who are in constant fights about women, liquor, and anything else they can think about. As punishment for a fight the owner of the line assigns them both to the same ship, but just before it sails a runaway convict takes control at the point of the pistol. How he finds that the law of the sea was even more relentless than the law of tho prison from which he had escaped makes first-class entertainment. Gail Patrick, Lloyd Nolan, J. Carrol Naisli, and Harry Carey are starred. William Boyd, George Hayes, and Russell Hayden, tho screen’s most popular ranch trio, head the cast of ‘Pride of the West.’ This Mulford story tells of the ranchers’ fight to clean the Overla ml stage coach trail of highway robhers. REGENT The many who saw Edgar Bergen and his famous dummy, Charlie M'Cartliy, for the first time in ‘ Golclwyn Follies,’ arc sure to welcome the

reappearance of the ventriloquial team in a stellar part in ■‘Letter of Introduction,’ which is at tho Regent. In this, his second big film, Charlie lias a rival, one Mortimer Snerd, a typical raw country boy, who gets Charlie’s goat from the stairt. The passages between the two are among the highlights of the filin. Andrea Leeds and Adolphe Menjou, also in ‘ Goldwyn Follies,’ share the top billing' with George Murphy (and, of course, Charlie M'Cartliy), while important supporting roles are filled by Ann Sheridan; Rita ; Johnson, and Eve Arden. The story tells of an ageing actor (Menjou), who, through a letter of introduction, learns' that he is the father of a- grown daughter (Miss Leeds). How he keeps her relationship to him a secret, thereby causing a series of dramatic, tragic, and hilarious-events, is told in highly entertaining fashion. - DRAMA OF ‘MANNEQUIN.’ Joan Crawford, who has romanced, on the screen with Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, Robert Montgomery, Gary Cooper, and other famous film heroes, adds rugged, two-fisted Spencer Tracy to her long list in ‘ Mannequin,’ coming on Friday to tho Regent. Miss Crawford ns Jessie Cassidy has the role of a shopgirl who seeks escape from poverty by marrying Eddie Miller,- a cheap criminal. Eddie is .played by Alan Curtis, Hollywood’s newest leading man discovery. When Eddie fails her, Jessie decides to live her own life. .John L. Hennessey, a role which gives i Tracy a powerful characterisation as a I man who worked his way up from the j docks to become a wealthy steamship I owner, refuses to let her. Jessie mari ries Hennessey. She learns to love I him when Eddie attempts to blackmail ] them. His plan fails because Heniies- | soy goes broke. This gives Jessie a, I chance to prove her love in a surprisl ing and dramatic climax. Never more beautifully gowned. Miss Crawford has 28 costume changes designed by Adrian as an advance fashion preview of feminine styles for 1938. GRAND .The first of a series of films based on the exploits of a newspaper reporter and his photographer, ‘ Time Out for Murder,’ is proving deservedly popular at the Grand, where it is being screened in conjunction with

‘Sweet Devil” In the main film Michael Whalen and Chick Chandler are seen. ' ' - DRAMA OF MOUNTAIN. ‘ The . Challenge,’ a .film depiction of the first historic climbing of the Matterhorn, will come to the Grand' tomorrow with an, advance reputation as one of the most thrilling dramas of the year. Containing,’an interesting plot, superbly photographed background scenes (actually taken, in Switzerland) and a talented cast headed by Luis Trenker, Robert: Douglas, Joan Gardner, and Mary Clare, this London, film is really unusual. Trenker was once an .Alpine guide himself; and> owes. his screen ■ career. to the fact that he ; . once acted in that;capacity to,a film location unit. The ’ leading, man fell ill and Trenker was'aslved to take his place. That ivas 12’years ' ago, Npw, at 42. bo is 'still turning down Hollywood offers.' The far tropic North witnessed a strange mingling of the ancient and the modern during tbc shooting of ‘ Typhoon Treasure,’ the second film. An entire film unit, including the principal players, was transported to . Green Island, a small atoll off the Queensland coast. The locality there was considered to. bo similar to New. Guinea, where the plot of the picture is laid. It was necessary to enlist the services of a tribe of natives for several scenes —island' boys whose two- outstanding talents are a profound knowledge of the sea and an inimitable mastery of the dance. STRAND How an American “ small-time racketeer ” reacts to the refining influence of British Army discipline provides the comedy highlights in ‘ Sally of the Regiment,’ which is featured on the programme at the Strand. Briefly, the story, tells of how Jimmy Tracy, in order to escape pending trouble, flees to England under a dead man’s alias. He is accepted as the dead man, and with that identity enters the British Army. His education into English Army ways is one of the most laughable episodes in the picture. Ho falls in love with Sally, played by Miss Anna Lee. Lance-corporal'Bert (John Mills) is also in love with Sally, aiuFcqmpetition grows extremely keen. Jimmy develops into a good soldier in time. The Final scene is cast in China,; where the

regiment, in charge of Sally’s father, enters on active service. Here the two friendly , rivals for the girl’s hand are embroiled in a battle against Chinese pirates, and . come out of it with honour, though Jimmy is forced to ' pay the ••‘highest price. ‘The Old Corral ’ stars Gene Autry in support. . STATE Orchids, yachts, mansions—after all, what do'they mean?—if it is only orchids, yachts, and mansions the girls are after! So a debonair millionaire forgets his millions and goes looking for a girl who is looking only for love. In this vein ‘ I’ll Give a Million,’ which is showing at the State,_ becomes one' of the gayest, most hilarious romances to come from 1 Hollywood. Romantic Warner Baxter, glararous Marjorie Weaver, Peter Lorre (the erstwhile menace Mr Mote) in a riotously funny characterisation, beloved Jean Hcrsholt, that master of facial facility John Carradine, exciting Lynn : Bari, Fritz Feld in the best tiling he has done since the. Pied Piper m Rheinharclt’s ‘ Tho J Miracle.’ That is some of the cast which adds u.) to hundreds —and introduces Shorty, a clever scenestealing- simian. Only the keen mind of smart writers could logically tie up the glamour of high society, and the idea of a whole town in Southern France suddenly inaugurating kindness to tramps—just because Warner Baxter, seeking refuge from fair-weather pals, says he will give a million francs for a real friend. JANE WITHERS STARRED. Fresh from her triumphs in many recent pictures, Jane Withers is once more in.her element in ‘Rascals,’ her ■latest film, which is to open on Friday at the State. Jane has firmly established, herself in the top flight of stardom, and is now ranked fifth on the list of the 10 most popular players in America. She brings a breezy, goodfellowship idea of young America to a story about a beautiful heiress. Rochelle Hudson, who has stumbled into a gipsy camp after an automobile accident. A young college man who is seeing the world. Robert Wilcox, is in the camp, and their romance develops under Jane’s impish guidance. How she unravels the complications caused by Rochelle’s unwanted suitor and a jealous admirer of Wilcox develops into

a gay and merry story of life'on the open road. The amazing Miss Wither* skips gaily through the picture with Bormh Minevitch, one of the kings of novelty and comedy, as her principal accomplice in the fun riot; She sings delightfully, while Minevitch’s harmonica band makes music, and she tops off her performance with dances. MAYFAIR The most successful colour film that has yet reached the screen is the first technicolour sea story, ‘ Ebb Tide,* which is to conclude to-night at the Mayfair. There has been no setting so far which shows itself so perfectly adapted to technicolour photography, a* the South Seas locale of this story by Robert Louis Stevenson. The second film is ‘Alcatraz Island.’