BRITAIN'S'SONS OF THE SEA

Evening Star, Issue 23651, 10 August 1940, Page 5

BRITAIN'S'SONS OF THE SEA

What could be more timely or provide more stirring entertainment today, than a film dealing with the British Navy, the “ silent, senior service upon whom the brunt of the war has thus far fallen? The heroic deeds of the sailor men of England—Britain’s Sons of the Sea, who daily writing another glorious chapter in our naval history, have sent thrills of pride surging through the blood of every Britisher. Men of the Ajax, the Achilles, the Sydney, and other ships of HiS Majesty’s Fleet that have fought unforgettable battles in the North Sea, Norwegian, and Mediterranean waters.

The thrilling all-colour production, ‘ Sons of the Sea,’ is dedicated to these heroes in blue. The- film was _ made with the full co-operation of Admiralty, a fact that guarantees the authenticity of the backgrounds of this amazing story, of enemy spy menace and naval counter espionage. As timely as the moment —‘ Sons of the Sea ’is really thrilling entertainment. The specially selected cast is headed by Leslie Banks, Kay'Walsh, Simon Lack, and Mackenzie Ward.

Billy Halop and Huntz Hall are putting in their time between scenes of ‘You’re Not So Tough ’ learning to drive big caterpillar tractors. The Dead End Kids will operate the complicated machines during a sequence of the picture, in which they use them as tanks and charge a line of motor trucks.

School Days ’ at RKO Radio, a role in which her superb comedy sense and fine dramatic talent will be utilised to the utmost.

Polly’s real name is Pauline Therese Moran. The daughter of Tom Moran, a contractor, and Mildred Frances Kelly Moran, she was born in Chicago and educated in the public schools there.

An agent saw the irrepressible Polly clowning in school, saw her also as a hit vaudeville monologist. She accepted his suggestion and became the most travelled vaudeville star in the world, crossing the Atlantic 14 times.

She made her screen debut in 1913 as Charlie Murray’s wife in the Mack Sennett comedy, ‘ The Janitor.’ Her success in this was so great that Sennett then starred her as “ Sheriff Nell ” in a. long series of comedies which proved immensely popular.

Indications that Hollywood is moving (still farther towards realistic themes for its new films may he found in the' announcement that Charles Laughton will star with Carole Lombard in ‘ They Knew What They Wanted,’ from the Sydney Howard play for RKO Radio. Story is of a waitress who answers a marriage advertisement of a San Joaquin Valley farmer. He sends her a photograph of his good-looking foreman as one of himself. Tragedy ensues when the girl arrives at the farm, marries the degenerate farmer, but falls in love with his foreman.