PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23324, 21 July 1939, Page 14

PICTURE THEATRES

ST. JAMES Although it starts in a western locale, ‘cowboy irom Brooklyn,’ the Warner Brothers musical farce which is at the St. James, witli Bat. O’Brien, Dick Bowell, and Briscilla Lane in. the mam roles, is delinitely not a Western picture, for it takes nothing in the Western scene seriously. It is an hilarious tale of the complications which ensue when a New York theatrical producer, played by O’Brien, comes to a Wyoming “dude ” ranch and assumes that a trio of stranded musicians who dress up in cowboy duds while they entertain the guests are authentic cowboys, 'faking the leader of the trio, played by Dick Powell, back to New York and launching him on a highly successful radio career as a cowboy crooner, he discovers that his cowboy is really a Brooklyn youth who has never ridden a horse. Music is plentifully interspersed with the action. Virile drama comes to the screen in ‘ Street of Missing Men,’ the associate feature. A good cast enacts the story of a gangster released from prison, seeking revenge on the editor of a newspaper which was responsible for sending him to goal. The casting of Charles Bickford' as the hero of this Republic production is a wise one. Bickford is a capable actor and justifies the choice. Harry Carey, Tommy Ryan, Guin Williams, and Ralph Graves (a former silent star) are in supporting roles. The film has action and excitement galore when Bickford decides to accept the position of circulation manager on a newspaper. Chapter 5 of the ‘ Lone Ranger ’ serial, which has been transferred from the Empire, will also be shown. REGENT ‘ Sweethearts,’ the latest motion picture vehicle for Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald, which is screening at the Regent, is not a film production of Victor Herbert’s famous operetta, but rather a utilisation of the musical feast as the background for a modern story of Broadway. Admittedly, the Herbert operetta is thus made incidental to the screen story, but the music of the mas-f ter of the lyric stage dominates the melodic undercurrent of the film. In these circumstances, the story becomes that of two musical comedy stars—portrayed by Eddy and Miss MacDonald—who in private life are loving husband and wife. They are stars in the operetta 1 Sweethearts,’ which, fortunately for the promoters, but unfortunately for the stars, runs successfully for six years. By that time they become thoroughly tired of the monotony of pleasing theatre-goers every day, not to mention radio engagements and social I functions, and they decide that the I day has come for a‘change in routine. A bright idea on the part of their librettist shows them, however, unwittingly, the way to such a change. The tuneful music of the Herbert operetta is worked ingeniously into the development of the screen story. Added to this is the glory of realistic colour—and, incidentally, the reproduction of Miss MacDonald’s gorgeous titian hair will proi;e a revelation to her admirers. The associate feature, ‘ City of Little Men.’ is a warm-hearted story of a community of boys founded by a priest who believed that there is no such thing as a bad boy. STRANS One of the most famous fiction characters in recent years is featured at the Strand, introducing ‘ The Mystery of Mr Wong,’ starring Boris Karloff. Hugh Wiley, author of the James Lee Wong series, created a fascinating character in the clever Oriental supersleuth, who uses a new method of crime detection. Monogram Pictures became interested in the stories, signed Karlolf for the role after-exhaustive tests of practically every character actor in Hollywood, and produced ‘ Mr Wong, Detective.’ ‘ The Mystery of Mr Wong ’ is tho second in the series, and, in addition to Karloff in the title role, Grant Withers and Dorothy Tree appear in supporting roles. A dramatic story about the people who go to make up small-town America is told in Paramount’s new Bob Burns-Fay Baiuter comedy-drama, 1 The Arkansas Traveller,’ the associate film on the programme. Burns, playing a picturesque itinerant printer, turns from a vagabond’s life to run a local newspaper, owned by widowed Fay Bainter, and captivates the entire community with his home-spun wit and philosophy. When dishonest politicians attempt to wreck his paper, Burns turns the tables on them by starting a local political revolution. GRAND Jane Withers’s latest Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox escapade, appropriately titled 1 Always in Trouble,’ is at the Grand. The mischievous miss is shipwrecked, marooned on a desert island, and threatened by a gang of smugglers in the new comedy. She is a poor little rich girl who decides it is about time her family came down from their “ high horse,” since it was not so long ago that their income was of church-mouse size. But when she sets about humanising her folks the trouble begins. The screen play was written by Karen De Wolf and Robert Chaplin, based on the original story by Albert Trcynor and Jeff Moffitt. Jean Rogers, Arthur Treacher, Robert Kellard, Eddie Collins. Andrew Tombes. Nana Bryant, and Joan Woodbury are included in the east of the film. John Stone was associate producer. Michael Whalen and Chick Chandler continue their hectic adventures as a pair of “ news hounds ” with a strong streak of sleuth in ‘ While New York Sleeps,’ the second film in Twentieth Century-Fox’s Roving Reporter series, which is also on the programme. This time the pair get involved in a murder so mystifying that it has to be solved twice. Jean Rogers plays tho feminine lead. STATE Constance Bennett, who proved herself a first-rate comedienne in last year’s ‘ Topper ’ and ‘ Merrily We Live,’ returns to the screen in Hal Roach’s latest comedy production, ‘ Topper Takes a Trip,’ screening at the State, through United Artists release. Roland Young, who scored so brilliantly in ‘ Topper ’ last year and in ‘ The Young in Heart ’ this .year, portrays Cosmo Topper, the banker who manages to slide into marital and fiscal difficulties when Miss Bennett “ philanthropioally ” takes a hand in his affairs. Billie Burke, one of the screen’s most popular comediennes, is again guillible Mrs Topper, who gets

into a whole scries of strange scrapes when she is followed to the Riviera by Mr Topper. Alan Mowbray is cast as valet to Mr Young, and he manages to infuse his duties with a dash of hilarity and to complicate his actions witli his usual unique logic. As' the gentleman who is attracted by Mrs Topper’s goodly fortune, Alexander D’Arcy contributes a portrayal of a penniless man-abont-town with a line flair for love-making. Also importantly cast are Franklin Pangboni, Verrce Tcasdale, and Paul Hurst. Several of the largest and most lavish sets Hollywood has seen in recent years were constructed for ‘ Topper Takes a Trip,’ the most outstanding among these being an exact replica of one of the famous gambling casinos which add to the glitter and gaiety of the French Riviera. EMPIRE One of the more daring films produced, ‘ Confessions of a Nazi Spy,’ which is still at the Empire, was directly inspired by what was revealed at the recent New York trials of Nazi spies who were seeking the secrets of tho United States in order to betray to a foreign Power. A former Federal agentj who was primarily responsible for tho disclosures made on that sensational occasion, Leon G. Turrou, was at the head of the advisory staff which supervised the production, so that, though the story itself is fictional, the actual methods revealed have the soundest foundation on fact. New a naturalised American citizen, Turrou was born near Warsaw, Poland, in 1885. He is of French-Polish descent. Orphaned at birth, ho travelled the world with foster parents and became an American citizen in 1921 by virtue of 18 months’ service with the U.S. Marine corps. He was invalided from the marines because of the World War wounds ho received as a member of the Russian Imperial Expeditionary force on the eastern frout of. France. Edward G. Robinson, playing the role of an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who leads the spy ring smashing activity, carries off acting honours, though it may be said that the supporting cast does inspired work. Francis Lederer, a former resident of Czeoho-Slovakia, and one of the leaders in peace activities in Hollywood, takes a-leading role, the first unsympathetic one in his career. Lya Lys, Paul Lukas, Dorothy Tree, Henry O’Neill, and George Sanders have strong roles. MAYFAIR At the head of the attractive programme which is to conclude to-night at the Mayfair is an unusual drama, 1 Always Good-bye,’ which boasts four top-rank stars at the head of its cast in Barbara Stanwyck, Herbert MarjshaTl, lan Hunter, and Binnie Barnes. | It has been hailed as a screen masterpiece by all critics, and has proved to be a screen play with an unusual basis of true drama. In association with ‘ Always Good-bye ’ is seen a neatlydevised “ thriller,” entitled ‘ Trapped By G-men,’ which features the husky veteran, Jack Holt. EPIC WESTERN. Action provides the doniinating note of the double bill which will be screened at the Mayfair to-morrow. Heading the programme is a story of the “West,” ‘The Texans,’ a film which graphically depicts the triumphs and adversities of the settlers in a new land. Randolph Scott and Joan Bennett are entrusted with the leading roles, and an impressive cast adds to the merit of the film. The_ story of the rise to fame of a champion boxer is unfolded in 1 The Crowd Roars.’ the associate feature. Robert Taylor takes Ids first role in this class in this picture, which also stars Maureen O’Sullivan and Frank Morgan. GREEN ISLAND America’s most widely publicised penitentiary, that “ Big Rock ” situated in tile chill waters of San Francisco Bay, is brought to the motion picture screen for the first time in ‘ AJ-, -oatraz Island,’ a thrilling Cosmopolitan melodrama which Warner Brothers will present at the Green Island Theatre to-morrow. Grim but fascinating is this story of men who live outside the law and of the men whose duty it is to apprehend and convict them, moment is loaded with thrills as this drama moves swiftly to an unexpected and exciting climax. John Litel is featured as a racketeer who is, despite his business, rather likeable. Income tax evasion catches up with Litel just as it did with A 1 Capone and other real-life racketeers. Gordon Oliver, a Government attorney, procures his conviction. He is sent first to Leavenworth prison. There, in a fight with a lesser gangster, which is forced upon him, he is pronounced incorrigible. and transferred to Alcatraz.