PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 23864, 19 April 1941, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

BREEZY ENTERTAINMENT THE ARLEN-DEVINE TEAM Alive with thrills, laughter, and romance, Universal’s new prize-light drama, , ‘ The Leather Pushers,’ which opened yesterday at the Strand, should be rated one of the outstanding action dims of the season. Literally carrying a punch in every scene, the production provides co-stars Richard Avion and Andy Devine with what is probably their top co-starring effort to date. Set against the colourful background of the prize ring, the tiira zips through a series of exciting sequences climaxed by a spectacular battle between Arlen and an opponent for the right to battle the champion. Expertly interwoven are humorous and romantic sequences. Arlen, in the role of a boxer, handles his assignment in excellent fashion, and Andy Devine furnishes many laughs. Astrid Allwyn, appearing in • her first romantic portrayal, ably acquits herself. Supporting roles of Horace MaeMahon, Shemp Howard, Douglas Eowley, Eddie Gribbon, and others are also well done. Much credit goes to John Rawlins for his swiftly-paced direction, while Stanley Cortez is also deserving of praise for' his fine camera work. What happens when a public enemy goes romantic and turns to writing love ballads is told in Universal’s musical film, ‘ I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby,’ the support. Offering novelty in story treatment and in the characters presented, the picture gets off to a fast start when the gangster, Broderick Crawford, kidnaps a young composer, Johnny Downs, and sets him to work writing music for his own song lyrics. Peggy Moran, talented screen newcomer, has the romantic role opposite Downs, and Gertrude Michael is seen as a temperamental actress.

‘THE GREAT DICTATOR’

THE NEW PROGRAMMES

OCTAGON’S POPULAR ATTRACTION Charles Spencer Chaplin, whose name has been translated into almost every language there is, and whose cane and derby and over-sized shoes have become the most familiar symbols of laughter the world has ever known, was born in London on April 16, 1889, less than a hundred hours before the birth, across the Channel in Austria, of one Adolph Hitler. It is somehow significant that it was on the fiftieth anniversary of this coincidence that Chaplin began production of ‘ The Great Dictator,’ his most ambitions comedy to date, and the first all-talking motion picture he has ever made. After producing ‘ A Dog’s Life ’ in 1918, Chaplin, along with Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, made his historic tour of the United States, in which he made public speeches for war funds, called the third liberty loan drive. He followed this trip with the production of ‘ Shoulder Arms,’ his hilarious war comedy which, contrary to all established notions, was a tremendous hit in a country still at war. By this time Chaplin was producing his own pictures, as well as doing the directing, writing, and most of the acting. This policy he has followed ever since, and, with the advent of sound, has added to his chores that of composing the musical score. In 1921 Chaplin topped all previous sucessea .with his production of ‘ The Kid,’ which introduced Jackie' Coogan to the world. After making ‘ The Idle Class,’ in which he played a dual role (as he does in ‘The Great Dictator’), Chaplin made a triumphal grand tour of Europe, where he was received with wild enthusiasm and adulation. When he returned to America in 1919 he formed United Artists together with Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and D. W. Griffith, and it has been under that banner that he has since released his motion pictures. ‘ A Woman of Paris,’, starring Adolphe Menjou, was the last of his productions in which he himself did not appear; it was an experimental film, and one of the most popular and influential of its time.- Charlie’s later hits —‘ The Gold Rush,’ ‘ The Circus,’ ‘ City Lights,’ and ‘ Modern Times ’—are all classics of cinematic comedy, the’ acknowledged masterpieces of the man whom George Bernard Shaw called “ the only genius in motion pictures.” But Charlie Chaplin is more than a genius. He is an institution, the idol of millions of all races and creeds, the champion of the pathetic and oppressed. And, at a time when the world is sore and sick at heart, the little man with the funny moustache is something of a saviour, bringing with him at a time we need it .most the invaluable, therapy of laughter.

‘ ON YOUR TOES’

ZORINA IN "JAZZ BALLET” The new Warner picture, ‘ On Your Toes,’ now at the St. James, is an adaptation of the highly successful musical comedy of the same name which was written by Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, apd George Abbott, and the screen version called upon the talents of four able scenarists, Jerry Wald, Richard Macaulay, Sig Herzig, and

LaVrence Riley. It still tells essentially the same story of the bewildered American youth who, through a comic series of accidents, finds himself the male star of a mad Russian ballet troupe which—also bewildered by what is happening—finds itself trying to present a jazz ballet. While there cannot help being moments of splendour as Zorina and an assisting chorus of ballet artists demonstrate their artistry, the emphasis 'throughout the picture is on comedy, and even the two ballets which are performed in the course of the production are directed at the spectator’s funny bone. Tile first number, ‘ Princess Zenobia,’ starts off in the traditional manner, but ends in a riotous burlesque, and the other number, 1 Slaughter on Tenth Avenue,’ is in the jitterbug tradition. In support of Zorina and Eddie Albert, Warner Bros, assembled a group of expert comedians, who do much to make the film a laughing success. These are, notably, Alan Halo, Frank M’Hugh, Erik Rhodes, Leonid Kinskcy, James Gleason, and Qucenie Smith. Other featured numbers of the cast whose duties are not primarily comic include Gloria Dickson and Bovton Churchill, both of whom serve as victims for some of the comedy, and two charming youngsters, Donald O’Connor and Sarita Wooten, who portray Eddie Albert and Zorina as children.

‘ The Midas Touch ’ supplies strong support for the main feature. It tells the story of a Welshman who outgrows’the superstitions of his native country and escapes the monotony of his mountain village to - become one of London’s most powerful financiers and business gamblers. Through sheer ruthlessness he succeeds, in converting everything he touches into money—just as the mythical King Midas turned everything to glittering gold at a touch.

‘ THE SEA HAWK'

ELIZABETHAN EPIC ' Ail the flaming adventure of the Spanish Main lives again in Warner Bros.’ magnificent new production of ‘The Sea Hawk,’ now at the Empire, starring Errol Flynn as the Robin Hood of the seas. Here is the reckless story of the most dangerous buccaneer who ever plundered the high seas—for the greater glory of his Queen. Thrills, excitement, spellbinding adventure, tender romance, are blended in generous proportion to make ‘ The Sea Hawk ’ the year’s best in screen entertainment. Errol Flynn has seldom had a role that shows to better advantage his magnificent' talents and compelling screen personality. He is completely at home in his portrayal of Sir Geoffrey Thorpe, daring privateer, who engages in piratical pursuits against Britain’s enemies. In this he has the unofficial approval of Queen Elizabeth. Flora Robson portrays Good Queen Bess in the film, and seldom has the redoubtable monarch received better treatment in the hands of an actress. Thorpe’s plundering activities, directed against the armada of "Philip of Spain, one day delivers into his hands Dona Maria (Brenda Marshall), the lovely niece of Philip’s ambassador to England, played by Claude Rains. The captive is not proof against her captor’s charms, and she comes over on his side as soon as she learn from him the truth about Philip’s insidious plotting against England. Back in England, Thorpe makes plans for a daring coup by which he will divert Spanish gold from the New World into the Queen’s treasury, thereby giving Elizabeth the wherewithal to fight Spain. He sails secretly for Panama before Maria is able to give him the warning that the Spanish have learned of his plan through the traitorous British Chancellor (Henry Daniell). As a result Thorpe and his men walk right into the Spanish trap, are captured, and impressed as galley slaves, and taken back to Spain to face the Inquisition. But Thorpe is resourceful enough to ease out of even so tight a situation as this. He frees himself and his men, and they capture another ship, on which Thorpe knows there are papers proving that Philip’s Armada is going to attack England, v This information safely placed in Elizabeth’s" hands, Thorpe receives his just reward—a knighthood and the hand of the lovely Maria. Dramatising the efforts of . G-men to round up secret agents whose activities endanger America’s military strength, the first episode of Universal’s 12-chaptcr serial film, ‘Junior G-men,’ is also being shown. The picture stars the Dead End Kids, Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Bernard Punsly, the Little Tough Guys, and has Julie Duncan (girl daredevil) in a featured role.

‘HUDSON’S BAY’

PAUL MUNI STARRED Pierre Radisson, traitor, renegade, rogue, and yet a revered man to miljions. Paul Muni, famed character actor, makes hi slatest film appearance as Radisson, the “ First Canadian," in the Twentieth Cen-tury-I'ox production, 1 Hudson’s Bay,’ showing for a second week at the State. Starred in a role unlike any he has overbad, Muni interprets the adventurous and daring trapper who saved a new world for the ruler who ordered him hanged. Movie-goers at last have an opportunity to see Muni in the kind of role they have always wanted him to play, in ‘ Hudson’s Bay.’ Muni turns in a superb performance which is sure to put him in the running for another Academy Award. Muni’s latest role is distinctly different from the austere types of roles he made famous in recent years, taking him away from the sombre backgrounds with which he has been associated —into an atmosphere of romantic adventure. Beautifully filmed, enacted, and directed, ‘ Hudson’s Bay ’ depicts a turbulent story of roaring action in the north’s frozen wilderness. Although it is essentially the dramatic story of the founding of a great commercial empire' in Canada, the film is also a powerful and eloquent story of courage. Woven into the story is a gripping romance between John Sutton and lovely Gene Tierney. It is one of the motivating elements of the picture. Virginia Field and Nigel Bruce are also seen in the brilliant featured cast. ‘ Hudson’s Bay ’ ■ opens in England with the banishment of Lord Crewe, ably portrayed by John Sutton, for his drunken pranks. King Charles 11., played by Vin cent Price, who scored in ‘ Brigham Young—Frontiersman,’ exiles the nobleman to primitive, savage Canada. There he meets Paul Muni and Laird Cregar. A tremendous figure of a man, Cregar portrays Radisson’s fur-trapper companion, " Lord Gooseberry.” The trio journeys to Hudson Bay ami returns the following year with a fortune in pelts. They go to England and organise a fur-trading company. They return to America, bringing wilb them Morton Lowry, brother of Gene Tierney, Sutton's fiance. Lowry incites massacre when he gives whisky to the Indians. In order to prevent a war Muni has him shot in a dramatic episode. On their next trip to England the company is presented a charter at a regal ceremony.

COMEDY AND THRILLS

* LONE WOLF ' ADVENTURE Fiction’s most snave scoundrel is back in the most hair-raising adventure of his life—tho Lone Wolf, more debonair, more daring, more dangerous than ever; wanted by tho police and every woman lie meets. The safe-cracking lady-killer traps a jewelsnatching man-killer, to help a beauty beat a murder charge. Warren William again portrays the Lone Wolf, tho fascinating rogue of fiction, in Columbia’s ‘ The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady,’ at the Grand. Jean Muir is tho lady in the case, who appeals to the light-hearted knave for help when a diamond necklace is stolen. Two murders occur, and tho Lone Wolf is blamed for them until he finally unmasks the real culprit and finds tho stolen jewels. Eric Blore, Roger Pryor, Warren Hull, and Victor Jovy head the supporting cast, and the production was directed by Sidney Salkow.

Columbia’s 4 Five Little Peppers in Trouble,’ wbicli is in support, brings the famous family of Margaret Sidney's imagination to the screen in the third of this popular series. Fdith Fellows is starred, and the large cast includes Dorothy Peterson, Pierre Watkin, and Ronald- Sinclair, the Dunedin boy.

* SUSAN AND GOD ’

REGENT'S UNIQUE OFFERING The film ‘Susan and God,’ which opened at the Recent yesterday, and which was adapted very closely from the stage play, is the story of a skittish American society woman who goes to England and is swept off her feet by a movement, and returns to find that the task of filling the lives of sophisticated playboys and playgirls with sunshine isn’t as easy as it should be. Busan (Joan Crawford) has had her life changed almost as deeply as it had been the previous season by a thrilling new card game; but the effect is slightly more dangerous in that Susan is imbued with an ardent missionary spirit. Having confessed about the great change that has come over her, she sets about changing other people. She flits from couple to couple at a swanky house party, distributing pamphlets and airy aphorisms. But Susan has apparently forgotten that she has a husband (Frederic March), and a growing daughter (Rita Quigley). And the husband, who has drowned his loneliness for many months, isn’t easily persuaded to change his ways of living. And it isn’t easy to be bright and loving and full of sunshine when you have a drunken husband in the background. But trapped in a hard bargain, Susan does go back to husband and daughter. ‘Susan and God ’ is quite obviously a stage show, and quite obviously the director, George Cukor, found entrances so right and situations so tight, that he didn’t fool around with them. 'Just to show that this is a movie and that George Cukor is up to all the tricks, however, he trots out_ some good lines. But it isn’t the direction and it isn’t only Joan Crawford or Frederic March that will bring women along to see ‘ Susan and God.’ It’s what Miss Crawford wears. A life is being remade) but you can be sure that when the new life is poured out, it will emerge in a breath-taking gown. INCENDIARY BOMBS. At last the powers that be have turned to the screen in an effort to smash the public apathy shown towards the ever-pre-sent menace of death from the skies. We have read of the chaos caused by the indiscriminate showering of bombs upon English cities, but it is the screen that has been chosen to put before the public some wholesome facts concerning the incendiary bomb. “Forewarned is forearmed,’’ and never has a proverb been better applied than to the short feature which the Regent is showing. The production has been released by the National Emergency Service of New South Wales, and the message it conveys to the people of Australia is no less applicable to New Zealanders. In a concise manner the bomb is shown to the audience, and there follows a descriptive discourse on its action, which leaves no doubt in the mind as to its destructiveness. But how to deal with it is the primary consideration, and the instructions on this point are as simple as they are effective. This is a film (it lasts only a few minutes), which it is the duty of every person to see. It is no ‘ March of Time ’ production, neither has it the slightest touch of melodrama or sensationalism. In short, it presents the commonsense facts.

SOPHISTICATED COMEDY

‘ BLUEBEARD'S EIGHTH WIFE ' Claudette Colbert and Gary Cooper are featured, in ‘Bluebeard’s 'Eighth Wife,’ one of the two outstanding comedies at His Majesty’s at present. It is a gay, sophisticated comedy, rich in sparkling dialogue and amusing situations. The supporting film, ‘ Man About Town,’ stars Jack Benny and Rochester in a film that is full of wisecracks and clever satire. The picture is also notable for its bright musical numbers and spectacular settings.

DRAMA AND MELODRAMA

MAYFAIR'S ENTERTAINING BILL The popular trio of the Dr Kildare series —Lew Ayres, Lionel • Barrymore, and Laraine Day, lead the cast in ‘ Dr Kildare’s Strange Case,’ which is the main attraction on the programme at the Mayfair.

This is the story of a girl whose case puzzles psychologists and doctors alike. Leslie Charteris’s hero, the suave, elegant, Saint, is successfully portrayed by George Sanders in the support, ‘ The Saint Takes Over. Wendy Barrio appears in the leading feminine role.

iICRDBALANCES

INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY ADDRESS Mr T. A. Thomson presided at the first meeting for 1941 of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry on Wednesday evening. Mr Thomson, in his address, discussed the various types of microbalanccs, some of which could detect differences in weight of one thousand-mil-lionth of a gramme. With some of these balances, weighings could be carried out with surprising quickness, their use in carrying out analyses growing rapidly. The speaker devoted the latter part of his address to a description of one of these balances which he himself had made.