PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23831, 11 March 1941, Page 10

PICTURE THEATRES

STRAND

An excellent comedy team consisting of Mischa Auer, Nan Grey, Eddie Quitlan, Edgar and Allen Jenkins appears in ‘ Margie.’ which is now being shown at the Strand. In this lively production Nan Grey has the role of a young actress who writes for the radio. When she is helped to get a job by Auer as a banana king, her somewhat ineffectual husband, played by Tom Brown, feels highly insulted and leaves home The second picture is ‘ The Indian Nation,’ in which Richard Dix plays the part of a frontier marshal.

REGENT

A story of unusual dramatic depth and emotional intensity is told in ‘ The House, of the Seven Gables,’ which U being screened at the Regent. It is a talc of the conflict between two brothers, one to whom the family traditioh is a religion and the other, who is able to see the flaws in the fabric of that tradition. The principal players are George Sanders as Jaffray Pyncheon, Vincent Price as his brother, Clifford Pyncheon, and Margaret Lindsay as the distant cousin, Hepzibah .Pyncheon. As the elder brother, actuated by 1 greed under the cloak of tradition, George Sanders plays the part of the scoundrel. , ' ■ EDISON THE MAN.’ A fresh triumph for Spencer Tracy is scored in his interpretation of the name role in ‘Edison the Man,’ a further portrayal of the life of the famous inventor, which, opens a season at the Regent on Friday. In ‘Young Tom Edison,’ just'recently so successfully screened here, Mickey Rooney showed the American national hero as he was during his boyhood struggles. In that picture’s successor Tracy has taken the portrayal a step further.-and, with convincing sincerity, follows Edsion's life during his prime.

EMPIRE

Old-fashioned melodrama and -western thrills furnish much of the humour and excitement of ‘Twenty Mule Team,’ which is tlie current attraction at the Empire. Its chief appeal is the portraiture submitted by Wallace Beery as a tough, sponging, and vituperative old mule skinner, who collects and transports borax in the blistering heat of Death Valley. When the company employing him temporarily ceases paying wages, Bill Bragg is prevented from dehydrating at the saloon kept by elderly Josie Johnston, but just as he is about to make known his feelings on the matter, he finds himself dragged into a melodramatic sequence of eyents of much greater moment. NEW MUSICAL ROMANCE. Two stars of radio and screen, one of long standing, Bing Crosby, and the other, Mary Martin, still on her -way up the steps of fame, have tho leading roles in ‘ Rhythm on the River,’ which will be shown at the Empire on Friday.

ST. JAMES

A bright' 'comedy and a murder mystery make a well-balanced programme at the St. James this week. ‘ Brother Rat and a Bab}',’ the main attraction, is a sequel to that very successful comedy, ‘ Brother Eat,’ and . the three college trouble-makers — Wayne Morris, Ronald Reagan, and Eddie Albert—are together again, creating havoc and mischief wherever they go. Jane Bryan, Priscilla Lane, Jane Wyman, Arthur Treacher, and a troublesome baby, Peter B. Oood, all add to the fun. ‘ The Patient in Room 18 ’ is the second attraction.

GRAND

* Passport to Alcatraz,’ which heads the current programme at the Grand, is a stirring story of the adventures of a detective assigned to the dangerous task of discovering the ringleaders of an organisation dealing in faked passports. Jack Holt is ideally cast as the detective. Buck Jones has an excellent role in * Headin’ East,’ a film in which the hero goes East instead of West to the big Eastern cities and endeavours to smash a gang of racketeers. LATEST PETER LORRE THRILLER. Peter Lorre will come to the .Grand tomorrow in Columbia’s ‘ Island of Doomed Men.’ Rochelle Hudson, Robert Wilcox, and George E. Stone are also featured in the new thriller, which tells the story of a half-demented diamond mine owner whose warped mentality expresses itself in ruthless brutality. Ann Dvorak, Helen Hack, Lola Lane head the cast of Columbia’s * Girls of the Road,’ which will support, with its dramatic story revealing the true facts of one of the most pressing social problems.

STATE

* The Great Profile,’ an entertaining burlesque in which John Barrymore indulges in a lot of highly .amusing foolery, is now being shown at the State. What with his contempt for his lines, and his artistic sense, plus his hectic domestic troubles, the great Evans Garrick (Barrymore) turns a society woman’s boring play into a roaring burlesque by exaggerated acting, imbecilic gesture, and insulting remarks about the leading lady, who is also his wife in private

life and the chief cause of his hysterical outbursts JON HALL AS KIT CARSON. Based on the real-life story of one oS the boldest and most dashing adventurer* in American history, Edward Small’s latest production, ‘ Kit Carson,’ with Jon Hall playing the title role, will have its local premiere at the State on Friday. The cast in ‘ Kit Carson ’ features, in addition to Hall, Lynn Bari, Dana Andrews. Ward Bond, Harold Huber, and Clayton Moor**

OCTAGON

Among the new genueration of film star* two who stand out highest in the publia favour are Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, and it is these young people who ar* cast in ‘ Twenty-one Days Together,’ which is enjoying an extended season at the Octagon. Based on a Galsworthy theme, th* film contains the mixed elements of excitement, humour, suspense, and above all romance that triumphs over difficulties. ■ FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT.* Recognition of the intrepid group of American newspapermen who are serving as the nation’s eyes and ears during th* European debacle as the unsung heroes who risk their lives daily in order to keep their own people informed of the rapidly shifting panorama of war, is given b3 T Waite*; Wanger in his dedication of * Foreign Correspondent,* which will have its local pro-, miere on Friday at the Octagon. Whil* ‘ Foreign Correspondent * is in no sense * war picture, Wanger feels that it offers ail opportunity to pay tribute to a group t* whom the whole world owes an overwhelm* ing debt of gratitude.

MAYFAIR

An intriguing and human story is told Mi ■ The Shop Around the Corner,’ which t» now being shown at the Mayfair. This production tells of the lives of the assistants in a small Bavarian shop and traces th® development of a romance in their midst. James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, t rank Morgan, Joseph Schildkraut, and Felix Bressaxt have the principal roles.' The second picture is ’ The Marines Fly High,’ a vigorous and fast-moving story in which Hi chard Dix and Chester Morris play the principal parts.

HiS MAJESTY'S

The life of Johann Strauss is brought to the screen in ‘ The Great Waltz,’ which i* now being shown at His Majesty’s. His romantic life was full of excitement, triumphs, suspense, drama, and its story make- excellent entertainment. Fernand Grave* gives a really great performance as Strauss, but the feature of the film is tho singing and acting of Militza Korins. Onset the world’s foremost sopranos, she prove* herself a r-markable actress of striking beauty. The film traces Strauss’s career from the'time of his first composition to his happy old age, when he is the idol of all Austria.