PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23744, 27 November 1940, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

STATE

1 The Doctor Takes a Wife,’ with Ray Millaml and .Loretta Young, heads tho bill at tho Slate. As is usual in crazy comedies, the story is not entirely credible, but it is certainly diverting and substantial enough to hang a scries of gay adventures and embarrassing situations to it. It concerns a pretty young writer of best-sellers about spinsters, and the way she is trapped into the.affair of a marriage with a lecturer in a medical college. SANDY POWELL SETS SAIL. ‘ All at Sea,’ the next attraction for tho State, is a G.B.D. picture directed by Herbert Smith, and introduces Sandy Powell in his funniest screen role, that of A.B. Skipton, who wages a lone fight against a pair of enemy agents who are trying to steal a secret new high explosive. Sandy takes the explosive away with him when he is discharged from a chemical factory where ho is employed as a messenger, joins the Navy, and is sent to the Mediterranean. The crooks chase after him, and (ben ensues a scries of hilarious thrills, in which first Sandy and then the crooks obtain possession of the explosive. Sandy Powell was born at Rotherham, and was a boy vocalist at" the ago of seven and a comedian in a pantomime at the a"e of 16. After a tour abroad he started nis road show and gramophone recordings with tremendous success. His recent films include ‘ Can Yon Hear Me, Mother?’ ‘ It’s a Grand Old World,’ ‘ Leavo It To Me,’ ‘ I’ve Got a Horse,’ and now ‘ All at Sea.’

OCTAGON

Tho comedy genius of Thorne Smith, Rabelais of the Twentieth Century, lasted many years in fiction, and when his ‘ Topper ’ and ‘ Topper Takes a Trip ’ came to tho screen his name became immortal in another sphere of entertainment. Just how perfect his works are for screen treatment —oven though they were not written for it —is shown in ‘Turnabout,’ film version of one of his greatest successes. This film is attracting capacity crowds to its' sessions at the Octagon. Taking the leading roles in tho show are Carole Landis, Adolphe Mcnjon, and John Hubbard. Tho story deals with a young couple who quarrel one evening, and in a mutual fit of anger they express the wish that they might exchange places and sexes. Thorne Smith’s wicked little genii takes a hand, and in the morning they find that the change has taken place.

mm Two exceptionally good thrillers comprise the bill at the Strand. The principal feature is ‘ International Crime,’ which stai'3 Rod La Rocque and Astrid Allwyn. The second film is much similar in type, although the majority of the action takes place in the air. It is ‘ Love Takes a Flight,’ in which Bruce Cabot has the leading role.CRIME DOES NOT PAY. On the basis of crime docs not pay, with the interest and _ excitement kept going from the start till the eminently satisfactory finish, ‘ Gambling on the High Seas ’ will provide fine entertainment on Friday at the Strand. Gilbert Roland runs a gambling ship just outside the threemile limit.. Wayne Morris is a newspaper reporter, and, together with Jane Wyman, they finally give aid to the United Slates Federal men who are out to get Roland and his brood. Jane Wyman is secretary to Roland When Roland’s manager cheats him, he rubs him out. Roger Fryor is one of the gang, and, nabbed by G-men, is fenced to sign a confession detailing Roland’s infringements of the law, or it will mean curtains for him, but the confession is stolen from the records by a spy in the office of the district attorney, and the would-be prosecutors are left without evidence against Roland. The

picture finalises in thrilling incidents. Also screening will be ‘ King of the Sierras,’ a western feature.

REGENT

Best-selling novel, Pulitzer Prize play, now brilliant film success. That is the remarkable record of ‘ The Old Maid,’ by Edith Wharton, which is now being shown at the Regent. The film owes most of its success to the acting of the academy award winner Bette Davis, whose portrayal of the title part is a triumph for her. No little part in its making, however, was played by the talented Edmund Goulding, who directed. Miriam Hopkins heads the supporting cast, which includes such wellknown names as George Brent, Donald Crisp, Jane Bryan, Louise Fazenda, James Stephenson, and Jerome Cowan. LATEST MUSICAL ROMANCE. Hollywood lias had tho wisdom to team three of the industry’s greatest modern dancers in the one show in the production * Broadway Melody of 1940,’ which begins its Dunedin season on Friday at the Regent. They are Fred. Astaire, Eleanor Powell, and George Murphy, and the three of them are seen in some of the fastest and most entertaining dance sequences ever to be flashed on a screen. This is due in the main, of course, to their respective talents, but they have had the advantage of the ability in production of' Jack Cummings, whose previous notable musical successes include ‘ Broadway Melody 1 of 1938,’ * Born To Dance,’ and ‘ Honolulu.’ Playing supporting parts with distinction are Frank Morga°u, Florence Rice, Lynne Carver, and lan Hunter. This .is by far the best of the ‘ Broadway Melody ’ series, which has kept its continued popularity by sheer brilliance all round. ,

EMPIRE

•The Boys From Syracuse,’ the deligbfulburlesque which has been^ running, on the American stage for a considerable time, is now being shown in its film version at the Empire. The hilarious plot revolves around the adventures of two sets of twins in Ephesus. NEW SOUTH SEA SONGS. Bing Crosby and Victor Schertzinger, a couple of fellows whe should know, agree that haunting South Sea Island melodies will remain in public favour long after iivo has gone its way. Star and director of ‘ Road to Singapore,’ respectively, the picture, which will be shewn on Friday at the Empire, they contend that the purity and simplicity of native songs is the key to their magnetic hold on the public. Several songs deriving from South Sea Island tunes are hoard in the picture, among them being ‘ Kaigoon.’ Co-starred with Bing in the picture are Boh Hope and Dorothy Lamour. Companion of Bing Crosby on the golf course, Bob Hope, head man of the Pepsodent air show, joins Bing in this film with his appearance as the other member of a pair of woman-hating seafarers.

ST. JAMES

Paul Robeson has never had such a brilliant role for his undoubted talents as in ‘ The Proud Valley,’ which heads the bill at the St. James after popular sessions wherever it has been shown. This is a stirring story of the Welsh mining districts, and is remarkable for its true human emotion and drama. Apart from its artistic' merits, which are great, it has a certain amount of educational value. Robeson surpasses his previous performances in this

gripping document of life in the coal country. The supporting attraction is another of the Bumstead family series, entitled ‘ Blondie Has Servant Trouble.’ It i» hilarious comedy. LONG-AWAITED DRAMA. When Edmund Lowe was cast for a featured role in * Our Neighbours the Carters, ’■ new drama of family life which Paramount will present on Friday at the St, James* he learned with more or less mingled emotions that be would have to learn to play • Swanee River ’ on the mouth organ for the role. In his career Lowe has ridden ' horses, elephants, and camels, fired machine 'guns and howitzers, operated automatic riveters and roulette wheels, and hai been involved in making love to many a lovely lady. “ But never,” sighed Lowe as he prepared on the set to blow the organ, “ never have I had to play the mouth organ until now.” Also featured ini . the picture are Fay Baintev, Frank Craven, and Genevieve Tobin. The story of how a crooked boxing racket is smashed is told iu Paramount’s * Golden Gloves,* which will lie the associate film. J. Carrol Naish appears in the role of a boxing promoter who exploits the talents of young, up-and-com-ing fighters to his own advantage and to the youngsters’ detriment.

GRAND

Bruce Cabot as the erring son, Harry. Carey as the father, Jacqueline Wells a* Julia Allen,. and Wynne Gibson as the gangster queen all snare the top acting honours in ‘ My Son is Guilty,’ which head* the programme at the Grand to-day. For, when Fate steps in and scrambles tlia lives of the quartet, events happen in such kaleidoscopic succession that each portrayal is subordinated to presenting a blended and enthralling series of sequences of dramatic intensity. Suspense is built from the very start of the breath-taking action through a daring payroll robbery and culminates in a white-hot climax whenl father and son face each other with drawn guns. Ann Dvorak and Preston Foster are featured in an absorbing drama, ‘ Cafe Hostess,’ which is the associate film. The story deals with the modern dance hostesses and their existence in smoky and jazz-riddea surroundings. It shows how these girls, unable to secure any other kind of employment, are forced to take on positions where they are called upon to sit and drink with the customers, dance with them, chat and laugh with them, and continually urge them to buy drinks. The more pretty and presentable the girl is the greater her chance*, to make money.

MAYFAIR

‘ Blackmail,’ the main film in to-day’* programme at the Mayfair, provides fin* entertainment for all who enjoy drama, action, an'd romance. The film stars Edward G. Robinson as a wrongly-convicted criminal seeking revenge. Others in the cast ar* Ruth Hussey and Gene Lockhart. To offset this drama, ‘ Old Bones of the River,* the associate feature, provides the fine humour. Starring Will Hay and Moor* Marriott it presents a burlesque on ‘ Sander* of the River.’