PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23208, 6 March 1939, Page 14

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON Blending mystery, comedy, and romance, UKO Radio's ‘ The Mod Miss Manton,’ the feature at the Octagon, stars Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda in a sparkling story that oilers the two favourites, some of their finest opportunities. Miss Stanwyck has the role of an irresponsible, thrill-seeking society girl whose escapades arouse tho ire of a serious-minded young newspaper editor. He attacks her through the columns of his paper. Because of the reputation she and Her debutante friends have gained for their pranks, Miss Stanwyck is not believed by the police when she reports finding a body in a deserted house. Enraged at the attitude of both the police and of Fonda, she decides to solve the mystery by herself, and, with the loyal aid of her group of feminine companions, she sets to work. The discovery of a second body, attempts to kill Miss Stanwyck for her curiosity, the growth of a hectic romance, and the final exciting moments when the harassed police employ the frightened heroine as the “ bait ” in a trap for the murderer, make for plenty of thrills as the story unfolds. Miss Stanwyck is delightful as the wilful heroine, and Fonda gives a brilliant characterisation as the newspaperman. Sam Leveue plays the police lieutenant in grand fashion, and Miss Stanwyck’s “ gang” provide good support. HITCHCOCK TRIUMPH. Alfred Hitchcock, one of Britain’s foremost directors, has welded the silent to the talking screen for the opening shot of his latest picture, Gainsborough’s ‘The Lady Vanishes,’ which will be shown at the Octagon on Friday. The credit titles are superimposed on a-snow-clad mountain view. When the titles come to an end the view remains, and the camera swoops down on to. a railway line blocked by snow, the streets of a Continental village, and into an hotel lobby, where the passengers from the train are all seated in glum silence. There is no sound, not even when one of the characters goes to the hotel desk, for the hotel manager, engaged in listening on the telephone, merely nods to her and receives a nod in reply. Then two luggage porters enter, and immediately the story switches from silent technique to'talkie—extremely talkative, in fact, for both the men are arguing in a foreign language; the hotel manager, having done his share of listening, commences his share of talking: an extremely loud clock starts to chime; and the story gets under way. EMPIRE Everyone who knows ‘ More Than Somewhat.’ which swept all London into its engaging net a year nr so ago, and ' Furthermore,’ which followed it, will appreciate the fact that when Damon Rimyon writes a story it is not like other stories. Warner Bros.First National have had the happy idea of letting him take the gangsters and “ dolls ” and “ citizens ” of whom he has made such successful use and put them into a movie. The result is ‘ A Slight Case of Murder,’ which is at the Empire. The title itself is evidence of his system of under-statement, for the slight case of murder involves four bodies in one room. But tho point is that they are found by a onetime racketeer who has grown respectable since Prohibition (with disastrous effects to his business), but whose record is still not what it might be. The facts that the bank is threatening to take over his brewery, that his daughter is engaged to a young man who has just become a policeman, that there is the loot of a big jobbery hidden in the house and a gunman lurking about in the effort to- escape with it, are woven into an ingenious story, full of surprises, replete with laughs. 1 A Slight Case of Murder ’ is one of those films which produces laughter horns after it has been screened, the sheer force of its humour is so great. It is played by a cast which is equal to its demands' in every way. Edward G.

Robinson, tho “ Little Ciesar ” of the screen, has the role of the reformed racketeer who has become “ legitimate.”

ST. JAMES • Oh Mr Porter,’ the now slap-stiek comedy at the St. James, is the best picture Will Hay has made to date, and he forms an excellent comedy team with Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt. Tile action takes place at an almost derelict station on the Southern Railway of Northern Ireland, whore William Porter, through the influence of relations, has boon made station master. Jeremiah Harbottlo and Albert are his assistants, and ho discovers from them that all his predecessors have mysteriously 7 departed, in fact, the place is haunted by Oneeyed Joe, a ghost who in the end, turns out to be a very material gunrunner. whom Porter has the honour to run to bis hide-out on an old Victorian engine. The highlights in the picture include Porter's efforts to refurbish liis derelict station, his encounters with the villagers whom his assistants had been consistently robbing, and his wild and diilarious ride on the old engine which is conveying the gunrunners to jostic. Starring two goodloofeing young newcomers Ronald Reagan and Mary Maguire—a melodrama of army life called ‘ Sergeant Murphy ’ is the associate feature. It was made by 'Warner Brothers, and concerns a cavalry horse that failed to pass an inspection for fitness of an army post, yet, under the training of his cavalryman master was developed into a groat steeplechaser that was good enough to win the famed Grand National jumping race in England. REGENT ‘ The Count of Monte Cristo,’ the United Artist; release which is at the Regent, has been awaited by Dunedin picturegocrs with great anticipation, and it is safe to say they share tho pleasure of audiences everywhere in this film version of a world-famous classic. For those to whom the story is not familiar a short resume is given. The hero, Edmond Dantes, is the victim of political persecution in the intrigue following Napoleon’s banishment to Elba. After years of unjust imprisonment in the Chateau d'lf, an island fortress, during which time his only consolation is the friendship of a follow-prisoner, the Abbe Faria, he makes a sensational escape, recovers untold treasure bequeathed to him by the Abbe, and sets out to track down his three great enemies. One by one he despatches them, and the onlooker experiences exultation of seeing three tremendous scoundrels brought to justice. The concluding scene in which Dantes, as the Count of Monte Cristo, dramatically turns the tables on his third and greatest enemy, will hold the audience spellbound. In this, as in countless other scenes, Robert Donat is the commanding figure. The range and variety of his characterisation is astounding. Comparatively limited in scope. 0 P. Reggie's performance as the aged Abbe, Dantes’s one friend in the Chateau d’lf, is nevertheless an equally memorable characterisation of great subtlety. The three villains of the play provide colour and are competently played by Louis Calhern, Sydney Blackmer, and Raymond Walhurn. Elissa Landi supplies the romantic interest in the story. GRAND Two entertaining comedies, ‘ The Affairs of Annabel ’ and 1 Mr Doodle Kicks Off,’ are at present being shown at the Grand. Jn the former Hollywood points an amused finger at itself and its publicity methods. Jack Oakie gives a hilarious interpretation of a crazy Press agent whose attempts to reinstate a waning star in the popular favour have results that are little short of disastrous. Lucille Ball, as Annabel, is the actress who allows herself to be cajoled for the sake of pub licity into a series of extraordinary situations. These include a three months’ term in the laundry of a penitentiary, although all she expected at the outset was a cozy three days in gaol to gain practical experience for a screen part. The second attraction. ‘ Mr Doodle Kicks Off,’ is a farcical production with Joe Peuner in the leading role. - SABU’S ‘ THE DRUM.’ When the motion picture delves into the past to extract an entertainment it must be cautious that all details must be accurate. Backgrounds and costumes must suit the era. No liberties may be taken with history. In producing Walter Wanger’s ‘ 62nd Street,’ coming on Wednesday to the Grand, which features lan Hunter. Leo Carrillo, Pat Paterson, and Zasu Pitts, Hollywood exercised painstaking care that this cavalcade of New York’s night clubs that begins in 1912 and continues through the years to the present day, be authentic in every minute particular. The Wangor research staff finecombed data for information. In addition. the advisory services of A 1 Shean. surviving member of tho famous Gallagher and Shean headline combination. Jack White and Sid Silvers, all of whom have lived in the mid-town section of New York the greater part of their lives, were obtained. On the same programme will be shown Alexander Korda’s masterpiece. ‘The Drum,’ based on a story by A. E. W. Mason. Satin, the star of ‘ Elephant Boy,’ is in the leading role. STRAND ‘ Romance of the Limberlost,’ starring Jean Parker ( is being screened at the Strand. A simple story in a familiar setting, it emerges on the screen as a powerful drama of the nobility that lurks in even the most lowly of human beings. The story suggested by Gene Stratton-Porter’s ‘ Girl of the Limberlost ’ is of Laurie, a swamp waif who brought beauty into the desolate lives of her people, and whose efforts to better herself and defeat her environment also brought them disaster. It _ is Laurie’s aunt. Nora, hating the girl, who again and again blocks her path out of the swamp, w’ho destroys her ambition completely bv forcing Laurie into a marriage with wealthy, drunken Corson. the town bully. But the night of the wedding Corson is killed, and Chris, his bound boy whom Laurie has befriended, is accused of the murder. How Laurie’s great love for Wayne, a young lawyer, induced him to throw away his wealthv clientele to defend the boy Forms the climax. Eric Linden as Wavne has his best chance since ‘ Ah, Wilderness.’ The second feature is a ' musical film which should be popular. ‘ Minstrel Bov.’ The cast includes Chili BouchicV, Fred. Conynglinm. and Lucille Lisle, and there is a wide variety of songs and dance numbers. STATE With the medical profession in (lie news as a result of the Government’s clash with the Medical Association, the publicity spotlight has suddenly been turned on doctors and their activities. Hollywood has crystallised this interest

into a dramatic, human document entitled 1 A Alan to Remember,’ which features Anne Shirley, Edward Ellis, Lee Bowman, and William Henry, and is at the State. Widespread publicity has been given the repoi’t issued by the United, States Technical Committee on Aledical Care, the essence of which was that 200,000 deaths a year could be prevented if medical science was fully applied. In addition, the current controversy over group medicine and hospitalisation has further fired the interest of the average man and woman to whom doctors’ fees and hospital bills frequently are a matter of life or death. ‘ A Man to Remember ’ primarily deals with the career of an old country doctor who uncomplainingly does his duty as lie sees it, and who at his death leaves little but a pile of old bills and- the memory of his devotion to humanity. In striking contrast is his ambitious son, who has graduated from the Sorbonne in Paris, and who docs not share his father’s old-fashioned ideals regarding the practice of medicine. Edward Ellis, a ranking screen favourite, has one of the finest roles of his career ns the doctor-hero. In his current picture Ellis is ideally suited. Anne Shirley and Lee Bowman have the romantic leads. MAYFAIR Less than two years ago Deanna was an unknown Los Angeles schoolgirl, not even dreaming of a screen career. Her first .picture established her as a child of promise; her second confirmed that promise. Her third, ‘ Alad About Music,’ now at the Alavfair. proves beyond a "doubt that little Aliss Durbin is a genuine star. Honalong Cassidy and bis friends, Lucky and Windy, join the army in Paramount’s new Hopalong picture, ‘ Texas Trail,’ which is also screening.