PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23352, 23 August 1939, Page 17

PICTURE THEATRES

STATE Now being screened at the State, ‘ Keep Smiling 1 emphasises the neverending pluck of the trouper in a racy tale in which Grade Fields leads a jolly party. When a theatre manager tries to get away with the proceeds of a charity performance Grade makes him disgorge, but that puts them on the road again. They find shelter on Grade’s, grandfather's farm, and have just outstayed their welcome then? when salvation appears in the shape oi a dog belonging to a famous pianist. Some of the scenes, including one in whiah thousands of people take all sorts of dogs to a London address to claim a reward,' are most humorous. After many complications the troupe tours from success to. success, interrupted only by the dirty work of their former manager. The final scenes, where the pianist joins the party and helps them to put on a convincing show to qualify for the two-year lease of a big pavilion, are exciting. EMPIRE Hilarious comedy sequences deftly woven into a powerful story stamp Universal’s 1 You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man,’ now screening at the Empire, as one of the year’s best screen offerings. Heading the cast of the picture are W. C. Fields, Edgar Bergen, and Charlie M'Carthy. They are rated as Hollywood’s top comedy combination. Highlighting the film is the ■ bitter feud between Fields and , his wooden nemesis M'Carthy. Their battle reaches new heights of potency and comedy in ‘ You Can’t Cheat _ an Honest Man.’ Charlie appears with a black eye given by Fields, and has to do one of his acts in blackface so that the discoloured orb wtm’t be noticed. Constance Moore plays her first major role, and Mortimer Snerd is back again. A face seen on the screen for the first time is that of Princess Baba. Another newcomer is Blacaman, Hindu animal hypnotist, who performs some Amazing feats with lions and crocodiles. THREE LEADING COMEDIANS. ‘ Little Tough Guys in Society,’ to begin, screening at the Empire on Friday, has'provided the opportunity_for three of Hollywood’s leading comedians to play together for the first time. The atan are Mischa'Auer, Edward Everett Horton, and Mary Boland. The lastnamed is cast as an American society hostess, with a most objectionable young . sou whom she worships. This s*n refuses to get out of bed, and the doting mother, thinking he is suffering from some unusual malady, calls every famous doctor to his bedside. The last is Mischa Auer, who dabbles in hypnotism and.-the-, curing 1 of-the soul. He Vies to put his spell on the* son as ie lies in bed, but it is the mother who 'A|llfl under the doctor’s influence. The doctor recommends low-class playmates for the aristocratic son, and that is where the “ little tough guys ” make their society debut and with extraordinary results. From the moment they put their bare feet on Park Avenue things move with a will. As the butler, adviser, and general pest, Edward Everett Horton has many opportunities for tussling with the tenement kids, who, unknown to society, are wanted by the police. The pictureraces forward without a dull moment to an hilarious climax. The supporting programme is said to the excellent. ST. JAMES ■s Containing all requisites that make memorable entertainment, Monogram’s ‘ The Scrapper,’ which is now at the St. James, has a cast studded with outstanding sefeen names headed by the talented and popular Mickey (Rooney. ‘ The Scrapper ’ is a rustic drama of a shell-shocked veteran, decorated in the war, for valour, but a nobody in the town of Greenfield, and his young spirited son, Shockey, considered an outcast by his school mates because he “ lives on the other side of the tracks.” The war veteran is capably played by Edward Pawley, an experienced stage star who is seen in his initial dramatic role. Frank Shields, as Jack Matthews, jun., a wealthy playboy, is also one of Hollywood’s coming screen actors, Anne Nagel enacts the part of the young school teacher. The warm response with which the picture-going public welcomed Wayne Morris and Priscilla Lade as a new romantic team has resulted in another co-starfing picture. ‘Men Are Such Fools,’ which is also FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW COMEDY. The problem of shooting almost half a motion picture production in a trailer, which was the case with ‘ Listen, Darling,’ new comedy featuring Freddie Bartholomew and Judy Garland, coming to the St. James on Friday, offered Hollywood technicians An interesting challenge. It resulted ill two of the smallest and most ingenious “ sets ” on record. They measured 14ft by sft 6in, and were 6ft high at the tallest point. Practical in every sense of the word, and mounted (gi wheels, the “ sets ” were made in breakaway fashion witli every side and roof removable to allow for lighting by the giant studio sun-arcs and spotlights and still allow; room for the cameras and sound equipment to be operated without interfering with the action. Although George Barbief has played more than 750 roles in his 30 odd years of stage and screen acting, he has an entirely different part in Republic’s * SOS—Tidal Wave,’ the second film. In 1 SOS—Tidal Wave,’ which co-stars Ralph Byrd and Kay Sutton, Barbier is shown as a radio ventriloquist who is actively engaged in rounding up a corrupt political gang. In addition to Barbier a popular supparting cast includes Marc Lawrence, Frank Jonks, and Dorothy Leo. Armand Scheeffor was associate producer for Republic, screening. REGENT Brimful of . sheer light comedy, ‘ Four’s a Crowd ’ is keeping big audiences at the Regent _ rocking with laughter at every showing. The story is of the romantic and business complications that arise when the editor of a large newspaper, in order to boost his sales, makes violent attacks through his paper on the irascible millionaire grandfather of a girl with whom he is in lore, Errol Flynn is at liis best as the editor, and Olivia de Havilland, well remembered for her stellar performances in * It’s Love I’m After,’ is just as good as the_ object of his affections. The other two involved in the romantic tangle are Patrio Knowles, as the owner of the newspaper, and Rosalind Russell, as a witty and beautiful reporter. The grandfather is delightfully

portrayed by Walter Connolly, who gives one ot the best comedy performances of his career, and the cast also includes Hugh Herbert and Melville Cooper

SPENCER TRACY’S BEST ROLE. Many films have tome to Dunedin from Hollywood preceded by extensive publicity campaigns. If ever there was a picture, however, which lived up to tiie apt slogan, “ a great emotional thrill.” M.G.M.’s ‘ Boys’ Town,’ which is to open on Friday at the Regent, is that film. Keen theatregoers liavc bad many opportunities of appreciating the fine acting of Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney in films in which they starred separately, but here they have produced their crowning masterpiece. Not. since Tracy was being acclaimed For his fine work in ‘ Captains Courageous ’ has he been seen to such advantage. Here, in ‘ Boys’ Town,’ in the part of a priest, rather reminiscent of the role he played in 1 San Francisco.’ yet many times more appealing, lie lives the part of Father Flanagan, actual American citizen, who founded the famous institution for homeless boys—Boys’ Town. Mickey Rooney is seen as Whiter Marsh, who is placed under Father Flanagan’s care and who fancies himself as a “ tough.” character. The drama reaches its peak in the subjugation of Whitey’s unruly characteristics by the forceful personality of the priest, and the obligations imposed by the communal life of Boys’ Town. Henry. Hull, little Bobs Watson, who will be remembered as “ Pee Wee,” Leslie Fenton, Gene Reynolds, Edward. Norris, and Minor Watson have important parts in the big cast. STRAND

Varied entertainment is provided by the double-feature programme at the Strand this week._ The principal attraction is a thrilling air film entitled ‘ Pirates of the Skies,’ which tells of the clashes between modern aerial bandits and efficient police. Kent Taylor and Rochelle Hudson are the featured players. ‘ His Exciting Night ’ is the associate feature in which Charles Ruggles and Maxie Rosenbloom are in prominent roles. It is a gay comedy adapted from Katherine Kavanagh’s play, ‘ Adam’s Evening.’ COMEDY AND POIGNANT DRAMA. An hilarious page from legal history is spotlighted in the newest entrant for comedy films, ‘ The Chaser,’ which will be commenced at the Strand on Friday. Dennis O’Keefe, one-time deputy marshal in ‘ Bad Alan of Brimstone,’ and the leading player in ‘ Hold That Kiss,’ again proves his ability to handle light comedy in the role of the ambu-lance-chasing lawyer whose fast-moving activities haunt the 'sleep of big corporation lawyers. Ann Morriss appears in her first picture, but she is said to handle her part with the ease and assurance of a veteran. With . Warren William and Gail Patrick in the leading roles, Uniyersai’s ‘ Wives Under Suspicion,’ depicting the soul regeneration of a merciless district attorney, will be the second film, This picture, in which tragedy, despair, and poignant romance alternate in rapid succession, was adapted for the screen by Myles Connolly from an original story idea by Ladislas Fodor. Directed by Janies Whale, and featuring Constance Moore and William Lundigan, it bares tho amazing ' mental I changes that take place when a public prosecutor forsakes humanitarian instincts in his feverish desire for convictions. GRAND

(Real entertainment is provided by the Dionne Quintuplets in their new picture, ' Five of a Kind,’ now at the Grand, in which they sing, dance, make music, and troupe like veterans in a story that whirls in and out of New York’s Broadway. They graduate from the roles of their previous productions and emerge as real little troupers. One of the highlights of the picture and the big thrill for movie-goers is to see these famous youngsters actually performing a vital part in a high-speed big-city action romance. In addition to the rendering of their vocal and dance numbers, they broadcast on the radio and are transported to New York for a personal appearance in a Broadway auditorium through nothing less than television. The cast surrounding the quintuplets is headed by Jean Hersholt, Claire Trevor, and Cesar Romero, with Slim Summerville, Henry Wilcoxon, Inez Courtney, John Qualen, Jane Harwell, and Pauline Moore also featured. Executive producer Sol. M. Wurtzel was in charge of the production, with Herbert L. Leeds director. Lynn Bari and June Lang are two young ladies out to see the world, and have excitement in Twentieth CenturyFox’s ‘ Meet the Girls,’ their first screen escapade together. The film, which is the second attraction, is the first of what is to be described as the new Big Town Girls series. MAYFAIR

Comedy dominates the double bill which commenced a season at the Mayfair to-day. Will Fyfe, the famous Scottish comedian, stars in ‘ Owd Bob,’ a touching yet humorous tale of the grey dog of Keumuir, which sets an unusually high standard for a film of this nature, a standard which has been appreciated by audiences and critics the world over. ‘ Cowboy From Brooklyn,’ the associate feature, stars Dick Powell, Pat O’Brien, and Priscilla Lane. Blended with an amusing story are melodic interludes in which Powell, Miss Lane, and several other members of the cast sing the five new songs written for this production, as well as some old-time cowboy ballads. At the outset Powell is seen as an indigent musician from Brooklyn, beating his way to the west coast of the United States with two pals. They all get stranded at a Wyoming “ dude ” ranch, where they get jobs entertaining the guests. A Broadway theatrical producer, played by Pat O’Brien, thinks ho has discovered in Powell a “ natural ” cowboy crooner, and rushes him back cast, where ho wins huge success. His deep, dark secret, however, is that he is scared to death of a horse. When Powell has become famous on the radio as “ Wyoming Steve Gibson,” a rival, played by Dick Foran. proclaims that “ Gibson ” is a fake. What happens after that provides exceptionally good entertainment.