PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23834, 14 March 1941, Page 10

PICTURE THEATRES

ST. JAMES

The St. James preseuts ‘ Dust Be My Destiny,’ with John Garfield and ITiscdla Lane, the two outstanding star discoveries of the past season. Based on the novel by Jerome Odium, the new film probes deeply and' poignantly into the problem of the young “ nobodies ” of this generation, who wander about seeking jobs. Garfield and Miss' Lane meet and fall in love when ho is sentenced to a short term on a work farm for vagrancy. Her stepfather, one of the foremen of the farm, makes it so tough for them that they are forced to run away. He chases them, but drops dead of a heart attack. Unaware ot tins, they go on, and are married. When they hear, over a radio news broadcast, that Garfield is wanted fer tile murder of the foreman, she wants him to go back and prove his innocence. He has had enough of the law, and they flee until all is solved for them in a gripping trial. Constance Moore, pretty screen singer, models 17 smartly-styled new costumes in her romantic role opposite Tom Brown for Universal’s musical film, ‘ Ma! He’s Making Eyes at Me, 1 the associate feature.

GRAND

Peter Lorre’s portrayal of a half-demented maniac who rules a little world of his own with, an iron hand provides unusual entertainment at the Grand in ‘ Island of Doomed Men.’ In tills picture Lorre portrays the role of Stephen Danel, a sadistic tyrant who recruits paroled convicts to work a diamond mine on his tiny island empire in the South Pacific. One of the prisoners' is Robert Wilcox, undercover operative, who has purposely _ contrived to get to the island. He is immediately repelled by Danel’s cruelty, both to the mine workers and to Rochelle Hudson, Danel’s young and pretty wife. The excesses committed by the crazed fiend eventually prove his undoing, for the convicts revolt against his harsh treatment. Featuring Ann Dvorak, Helen Mack, and Lola Lane, ‘ Girls of the Koad,’ the associate film, depicts the hazardous conditions faced by the thousands, of girls who daily roam the highways and byways of the United States.

STATE

. Based on the real-life story -of one of the boldest and most dashing adventurers in American history, Edward Small’s latest production, ‘ Kit Carson,’ with Jon Hall playing the title role, has commenced a season at the State. The cast features, in addition to Hall,; Lynn Bari, Dana Andrews,’ Ward Bond, Harold Huber, and Clayton Moore. Depicting the adventurefilled episodes of Carson’s life when he joiped John G. Fremont of the United States army to survey and map the shortest overland route to California. Small’s film of ‘Kit Carson’ abounds in spectacular scenes involving bitter fighting with the Indians, dangerous treks in wagon trains, plots and counterplots engineered by sly and cunning Mexican schemers. Most of the sweeping outdoors scenes for ‘ Kit Carsou ’ were photographer! on location at Kayenta, Arizona, next door to the Navajo Indian reservation, and hundreds of the Navajos participated in filming. This picturesque section was chosen for the major location site because of its natural magnificence and complete isolation. The ‘ Kit Carson ’ cameras operated on a milehigh plateau flanked by eroded butts, tablelands,, and pinnacles cut out of a strata that was once 16,000 ft high. The weird formations combine the eroded fantasies of wind and rain. It is a fabled region witli a history too old to be discoverer).

OCTAGON

. “ To those, intrepid ones who went across the seas to be the eyes and cars of America to those forthright ones who early saw the clouds of war while many of us at home were seeing rainbows—to those clearheaded ones who now stand like recording angels among the dead ’ and dying—to the foreign correspondents, this motion picture is dedicated.” This is the dedication which introduces the film ‘ Foreign Correspondent,’ which opened to-day at the Octagon. ‘Foreign Correspondent’ has in its principal roles Joel M’Crea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, George Sanders, Robert Benchley, Albert Basserman, Edmund Gwenn, Harry Davenport, and Eduardo Cianelli. Following the completion of his sensational hit, ‘ Rebecca,' Alfred Hitchcock, known throughout the world as the master of screen thrillers, went to work On the script of ‘ Foreign Correspondent.’ Some of the most elaborate and extensive settings constructed in Hollywood in several years are those provided as backgrounds for ‘ Foreign Correspondent.’

STRAND

Beginning a new Warner Bros, series based upon the exploits of the heroine of the popular Nancy Drew books by Carolyn Keene, ‘ Nancy Drew—Detective ’ is ndw at the Strand, with Bonita Granville in the title role and Frankie Thomas as Ted Nickerson, her favourite boy friend. Nancy’s first exploit as a motion picture heroine is the rescue from the hands of kidnappers of a'wealthy old spinster who has disappeared the day after she announced a gift of 250,000 dollars to Nancy’s school. In solving the mysterious disappearance young Miss Drew has the courageous and clever assistance of Ted. The associate film is

‘ Sandy Gets Her Man,’ featuring Baby Sandy, Stuart Erwin, and Una Merkel in a gay comedy.

REGENT

In 1 Edison the Man,’ which has conic to the Regent, Spencer Tracy has portrayed the great inventor as a most lovable character —a young man, tired with the ambition of youth; a decade later, a family man, filled with affection for his wife and

two cliildi'en; finally, an old man, kindly, gentle in manner, and filled with great tolerance towards Ids fellow men. Not sc much the wizardry of Thomas Edison’s inventive genius and the glowing products of his fertile brain as the human interest side of his life goes to the making of the picture’s attractiveness, ft is the story ot struggles and heartbreaks, of genius against conservatism, which is presented will) attention to the romance of Edison’s domestic life as well as his troubles, and there is a good and welcome leavening of comedy in the .presentations of the characters ami characteristic of people of the time. ’The outstanding genius of Spencer Tracy brings Thomas Alva Edison to life before one’s eyes. Rita Johnson is the lovely girl with whom Edison fell in love as Mary Stilwell in the office of Western Union, and manned so many years ago to continue for so long as his constant aid and comfort in all circumstances. Gene Lockhart, Gene Reynolds, Henry Travers, and Charles Coburn play the supporting character roles with an ability to match the ‘genius of Spencer Tracy.

EMPIRE

Seven new musical numbers are heard in ‘ Rhythm on the River,’ the musical romance which opened to-day at the Empire. The loading role is taken by Bing Crosby, the popular radio entertainer and actor, and throughout the production he is capably supported by Mary Martin. Two versatile actors who are prominent in supporting the roles are Basil Rathbone and Oscar Levant. Both tho stars are famous on the radio, and in this attractive new musical they are given plenty of opportunity to show their talents. They singseveral popular songs, and the whole picture is brimful of comedy, A strong story keeps the many spectacular sequences well woven together. 1 Rhythm on the River ’ provides entertainment to suit all tastes, and Crosby Inings his radio maestro to the •screen with the appearance of John Scott Trotter and his band. Mary Martin, of Broadway fame, who was introduced to films in (lie frills of the gay ’nineties for ‘ The Great Victor Herbert,’ plays a modern role in ‘ Rhythm on the River.’

HIS MAJESTY’S

The main feature of the new programme at His Majesty’s, which commences this evening, will be ‘ Hotel Imperial,’ as thrilling a drama of espionage and intrigue as one could desire. Isa Miranda, the beautiful Continental actress, and Ray Milland together head a sterling cast. Gracie Allen is featured in the supporting’ film, ‘ The Gracie Allen Murder Case.’ With a good deal of action and just the right amount of melodrama Miss Allen’s unusual detective methods should keep audiences in a continual state of excitement and mirth.

MAYFAIR

Treading the paths of yesteryear is (lie Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers film, ‘ The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle,’ at the Mayfair. The film deals with those gracious years immediately preceding the World War, when the Castles set the whole world dancing. Authentic revelations gathered by J. Edgar Hoover, director of tbe Federal Bureau of Investigation, in his years of crime-detection work, serves as the basis for ‘ The .Parole Fixer,’ which is the supporting feature. The picture is based on his well-known book, ‘ Persons In Hiding-’ i

MUNICIPAL, GREEN ISLAND

America’s boy and girl stars, present and future, have their day on the screen in

’ Babes in Arms,’ the screen version of the Broadway musical success, which will bo shown to-morrow evening at the Municipal, Green Island, Headed by the incomparable Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, who are starred, more than 200 of Hollywood’s most talented youngsters combine to present what is said to be one of the most exciting and entertaining films of the year. ‘ Babes in Arms' is set in the period that saw the passing of vaudeville, and concerns those happy-go-lucky headliners and their children who saw that world totter and crumble about them when motion pictures shoved their “ two-a-day ” into discard.