PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23525, 14 March 1940, Page 8

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT Errol Flynn, and Bette Davis are partnered for the first time in ‘ the Sisters,’ which is to finish to-night at the Regent. The story concerns the fortunes of three beautiful sisters who start their lives in a small Montana mining town, with most of the interest centered on the eldest sister, played by Bette Davis, who marries a wandering newspaperman, portrayed by Errol Flynn. COMEDY IN THE ALPS. Striking a blend of gaiety and humour, ‘ Bridal Suite,’ the Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer film co-starring Annabella and Robert Young, will be the principal attraction at the Regent tomorrow. ‘ Bridal Suite ’ is said to have an infectiously cheery impudence; a comic resourcefulness, a brisk pace, a prodigal cleverness in the acting, which betoken Hollywood's best style. Without Robert Young, Annabella, Walter Connolly, and Billie Burke in the cast, the theme might have seemed a shade brittle, but these players carry all before them. Robert Young is cast as a gay young heir averse to marrying his mother’s choice, and anxious to elude any semblance of work. EMPIRE ‘ San Francisco,’ the romantic drama which is to finish to-night at the Empire, has proved worthy pf honour of another session in Dunedin. First shown here in 1936, it is a great film of its kind. Palling bricks and mortar, the panib-strickeu people in the streets, deeds of heroism, and the ravages of fire are given prominence. Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, and Spencer Tracy are starred. NOVEL DRAMA. An entirely novel twist to the theme of mistaken identity is said to raise ‘ Dead Man’s Shoes,’ to open to-mor-row at the Empire, into a class of its own. The chief protagonists are Leslie Banks and Wilfrid Lawson, both of them players from the top flight. The film is described as a reminder that it is still possible to dramatise new situations in a blase twentieth century. Banks, amnesia victim of the war, has been reconstructed by friends who recognise him from news photos. He is a successful, respected, happily married citizen when members of the Paris uhderworld claim him as an old confederate. The blacked-out memory of his former life begins to stir, and ho is assailed by the most horrible doubts as to his real identity. He knojvs who he is only because he has

been’told. Wilfrid Lawson, latest British pilgrim to Hollywood, is the smooth blackmailer who brings Banks’s doubts to the all-important crisis. The story resolves itself in a logical but still surprising manner. Judy Kelly and Joan Marion do excellent work as women from _ two very different strata of society with one thing in common —loyalty to the man they love, THRILLS WITH COAST GUARDS GRIPPING OUTDOORS DRAMA

The principal film on the bill that opened yesterday at the Grand, ‘ Coast Guard,’ is a novel di’ama dealing with the fast-moving adventures of those men who guard American shores from poachers or smugglers. Randolph Scott fills the leading role well, while Frances Dee supplies the romantic element. A film that breaks away from the usual run of motion picture plots is shown in support under • the title of ‘ Konga, the Wild Stallion.’ Horse lovers will get a real thrill from this unique drama, which tells of the trials and tribulations of a veteran horse dealer and his favourite stallion well back in the wilds. Love and hate are leavened well throughout the action. Fred. Stone is starred.

The bravery of men who give their lives that others may live is brought to the screen in Columbia’s ‘ Coast Guard.’ hailed by Hollywood as one of the most thrilling and dramatic records ever to be screened. A story of the coast guard, the new film features Randolph Scott, Frances Dee, Ralph Bellamy, and Walter Connolly. Authentic and spectacular scenes provide the background against which the coast guard carries on its multiplicity of duties. The picture reveals the saga of the coast guard. The activities of the service are clearly shown; the cutters patrolling the iceberg lanes of the North Atlantic or guarding seals from depredations of poachers; aircraft wing over little-frequented shore lines and great ambulance planes take seriouslyinjured men from ships at sea. Storms, shipwrecks, floods, disaster at sea, hurricanes—these are the elements from which ‘ Coast Guard ’ is taken. The thunder of flving hooves is heard in ‘ Konga, the Wild Stallion,’ Columbia’s new outdoor drama, which is the associate attraction. Fred. Stone. Rochelle Hudsbn, and Richard Fiske are featured in a tale of action and romance featuring the love of a veteran horse breeder for his favourite steed, Konga., a sleek thoroughbred stallion. Fredi Stone, star for over half a centurv on both- stage and screen, plays the' role of the old horse breeder whose heart is captured by a magnificent stallion. Paralleling the love of the rancher for his horse is the development of a romance between his son, Richard

Fiske, and the daughter of his wealthy enemy, Rochelle Hudson. As is always the case on the range where passions ilame high and the restraining influences of civilisation are not too close at hand, the tangled skeins of love and hate breed gunplay and tragedy.

STATE The lawless days of early Australia provide the theme for the exciting drama of a modern Robin Hood in ‘ Captain Fury,’ to finish to-night at the State. Filmed against an authentic scenic background, the picture tells of a political prisoner who sets out to defeat the efforts of unscrupulous men who are stealing the lands of the struggling pioneer settlers. Brian Aherne is outstanding. NOTABLE PRODUCTION. Described as a notable event hi motion pictures, David 0. Selzn’ick’s latest production, ‘ Intermezzo, a Love Story,’ will be shown to-morrow at the State. Directed by Gregory Ilatoff and starring such top-notchcrs as Leslie Howard and Edna Best, the production also introduces a new Continental star, Ingrid Bergman. Miss Bergman is a young and beautiful actress who can act. ‘ Intermezzo ’ introduces her as “ the other woman ” in a vehicle which demands real ability and talent, and the new star proves that she has both. New Zealand audiences are assured that a bright new personality has been discovered for the screen. Miss Bergman is a Swedish girl who possesses captivating loveliness, tempting youth, and charming naturalness. Ann Todd, aged sis ; and Douglas Scott, aged 13, aro the juvenile actors who portray the children of Leslie Howard and Edna Best in the picture. Gregory Ratoff’s direction is marked by smoothness, dramatic punch, fine comedy touches, and swift action. ‘ Intermezzo ’ is a dramatic love story, and recounts the adventures of a world-famous man who_ deserts his family when he falls madly in love with a young and beautiful nianist. Their travels in Continental Europe provide the film with fine background scenes. How they finally solve their problems provides ‘ Intermezzo ’ with a poignant

climax. ST. JAMES 1 Tell No Tales,’ which is to finish to-ilight at tho St, James, is a remarkable production. Drama predominates, but it is all-embracing entertainment running the gamut of emotion-stirring situations and defying routine formula. Melvyn Douglas is a newspaper reporter into whose hands falls a 100dollar bill that is part of a sum of money paid for a ransom and murder. He goes to work tracing tho bill. ‘ I Was a Convict ’ is the second feature. “ DAD AND DAVE ” AGAIN. Two of the greatest favourites in Australia to-day are “ Dad and Dave,” of the famous Rudd family, and when ‘ Dad and Dave Come to Town ’ in CinCsound’s merry modern coniedy, starring Bert Bailey, tho grand old man of the Australian stage and screen, there are laughs for everyone. The film will be presented at the St.

James to-morrow. “Dad,” straight from the bush, inherits a city dress salon. With “ Dave ” (Fred. MacDonald) and “ Jill ” (Shirley Ann Richards), his eldest daughter, tlje old man sets odt to show the city folk how a modern frock shop should be run. As the “ farmer dressmaker,” he remodels the salon, and very soon is drawn into a skirmish with his opposition, “ Pierre,” played by Sidney Wheeler. The action is fast as “ Dave ” makes love to the mannequins. The focus of attention in ‘ Black Eyes ’ will rest on Mary Maguire and Otto Kruger.

OCTAGON

The troubles which beset a beautiful sales girl who finds an abandoned baby and instantly incurs’ the world’s suspicions are gaily treated in ‘ Bachelor Mother,’ which is attracting capacity houses to the Octagon this week. Ginger Rogers and David Niven have the leading roles. David' Niven, as the girl’s handsome employer, falls in love with her, in spite of her embarrassing position, and the progress of their romance, coupled with thejr hectic battles concerning the proper rearing of the baby, provides delightful comedy. This, however, is only a prelude to the uproarious climax where the employer’s father is falsely led to believe that his son is the baby’s father and consequently himself his grandfather. Ginger Rogers forsakes her dancing shoes in this film, confining herself to one routine with Frank Albertson. The supporting programme is a highly entertaining one.

STRAND Heading the bill to finish to-night at the Strand is ‘Captain Calamity,’ a fast-moving and capably-acted film set against the glamorous background of the South Seas. George Houston and Marion Nixon are the leading players, and the story is told in a manner that keeps the audience in suspense from the opening sequence until the final fade-out. The associate feature is 1 Wolf Call,’ a screen version of Jack London's famous novel. WESTERN AND MYSTERY DRAMAS. Charles Bickford, Doris Nolan, John Litcl, and Samuel S. Hinds have the featured roles in ‘ One Hour to Live,’ Universal mystery film due at the Strand to-morrow. Turning the spotlight upon underworld leaders who try to buy immunity from their crimes through corrupting public officials, the story blends its blunt action with the romance between a detective and a Broadway beauty, Filmed from an original screen play by Roy Chanslor, the picture is also said to reveal for the first time on the screen many insidie details of Government identification bureaux. The startling consequences when a cowboy, accustomed to riding wild horses, makes his first acquaintance with an automobile forms the basis for Universal’s exciting and hilariously funny ‘ Ride ’Em Cowboy!’ which will support. MAYFAIR The attractive now double-feature programme at the Mayfair includes ‘ Jane Steps Out,’ a witty and well-pre-sented comedy, which should find ready approval and an absorbing drama, 1 The Amazing Dr films there are the ingredients of a well-balanced and pleasing evening’s entertainment. ‘ The Amazing Dr Glitterhouse.’ .starring Edward G. Robinson, is adapted from the Barry Lyndon stage play which scored a great hit both in New York and London. The bizarre and amusing story centres on Dr Clittcrhouse, one of Robinson’s greatest screen roles, in which he is seen as a son of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. ‘ Jane Steps Out,’ the second feature, may be mentioned as another British success. The recent successes of the Elstree Studios have been repeated in this story of the woman who is forced into the position of an unpaid housekeeper to the rest of her family. Diana Churchill has the principal role, and she handles it with vigour.