PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 24278, 20 August 1942, Page 8

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND ' Cadets on Parade,’ which opened yesterday at the Grand with Freddie Bartholomew and Jimmy Lydon as the stars, is an exciting story alive with action, filmed against the background of life at a modern military college. The story opens with Bartholomew completely out of |\lace, in the first-year class at Rexford Academy. The son of wealthy parents, the youngster is unfitted for tlie rigorous life demanded of the students, and.be runs away from school rather than, bear the, taunts of his dassmatos. ' Hitching his way into town, ho is immediately befriended by Jimmy Lydon, in (he, role of a typically American newsboy. Unable to understand how any boy in his right, mind would run away from a military school, Jimmy agrees to let Freddie live with him. Clouds suddenly appear on the horizon, though, when Jimmy’s father, perfectly portrayed by Raymond Hattan, learns Freddie's identity and secretly plans to collect the reward offered for his return. After an actionfilled climax caused by police interference in the case, both hoys prove, that they have the stuff of heroes in them, and win the respect of the entire academy. Among the supporting players whose work stands out we must include the names of Joseph Crehan, as Freddie’s dad; Minna Gombell, as his mother; and Robert Warwick, as colonel of the school. The supporting film is ‘ Clondio Goes to College.’ MAYFAIR Playing together for the first time, Irene Dunne and Robert Montgomery portray the leading roles in ‘ .Unfinished Business,’ which is the main feature on the new programme at the Mayfair. The story opens on an effective romance sequence, in which a small-town girl bound for New York meets a wealthy man of the world bn a train. The girl falls'in love, but the man does not return her affections. Later, in a spirit of adventure, she marries his younger brother, the latter played by Montgomery. The hectic life which follows is interrupted when Montgomery falls in love with his wife. The associate feature is tho Edgar Wallace thriller, the.‘Flying Squad.’ TO-MORROW'S PROGRAMMES REGENT Three popular stars—Dorothy Lamour, William -Holden, and Eddie Bracken—head the cast in the tuneful and hilarious comedy ‘ Tho Fleet’s In,’ which will be released at the Regent to-morrow, and they, assisted by a host of top-line performers, make a combination of talent that heralds plenty of romance, laughs, and melody. Featured in the new comedy arc such popular performers as Betty Hutton, Betty Jane Rhodes, Leif Erickson, and Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra. Dorothy Lamour appears as tho star, entertainer in a cafe popular with sailors. ‘ The Fleet’s In ’ introduces nine hit songs, including ‘Tangerine,’ ‘ I Remember You,’ ‘ When You Hear the Time Signal,’ ‘ Arthur Murray Taught Mo Dancing in a Hurry,’ ‘lf You Builda Better Mousetrap,’ ‘ Not Mine,’ and ‘ The Fleet’s In.’ EMPIRE Hailed as the most elaborate as well as tho funniest of the Abbott and , Costello starring comedies, Universal’s ‘ Ride ’em, -Cowboy,’ comes to the Empire to-morrow. The large supporting cast is headed by Dick Foran, Anne Gwynne, Johnnv Mac Brown, Samuel S. Hinds, the Merry” Macs, and Ella Fitzgerald. Featured musical and dancing aggregations include the Hi-hat-ters, the Bnckaroq Band, and the Ranger Chorus of 40. ‘Ride ’em, Cowboy’-is said to contain everything necessary in the way of parade grounds for the antics of tho two stellar performers, including Indians, rodeo aces, bucking broncos, and wild steers. Among tho players arc a bevy of bathing beauties and seven beautiful cowgirls. Ella Fitzgerald, America’s queen of swing vocalising, makes her screen debut. A strong supporting programme includes a ‘ March of Time ’ (America’s New Army), ‘Annapolis Salutes the Navy,’ ‘Candy ' Kid ’ (Stranger than Fiction), and episode 4 of ‘The Jungle Girl.’ STRAND A now double-feature programme will he screened at the Strand tu-morrow, the first offering being a Damon Runyan comedy, ‘ Butch Minds the Baby,’ starring Virginia Bruce, Brod Crawford, and Dick Foran. The second big feature, ‘ Mandrake, the Magician,’ is a serial film of 12 chapters of magic and illusion, showing how Mandrake makes war on crime with novo! weapons. The story revolves around a radium-energy machine invented by Professon Houston. Warren Hull plays the ■ part of the master magician, and lovely Doris Weston has the feminine lead opposite him. A 1 Kikume portrays Lotliar, constant companion and bodyguard to the magician. Among a host of supporting players are Kenneth McDonald, Eddie Laughton, Eddie Earl, John Tyrrell, John Beddoo, Forbes Murray, and many others. OCTAGON The success of ‘ 49th Parallel,’ which opened a week's season at the Octagon last Friday, ha.s been so marked that the management has decided to extend the season for another week. So great was the demand hi the north that in one centre alone the picture ran for six weeks. The four big stars, Leslie Howard, Laurence Olivier, Anton VValbrook, and Raymond Massey, gave their services free in the making of the film. The bright light of popularity that boats down upon the principals is inclined to leave Eric Portman in the shadow, but those who have seen the film give full praise to tills actor for his amazing portrayal of the relentless, fanatical Nazi U-boat commander, who is hunted across Canada and must reach the American border to gain the safety of a neutral country (as the United States was then). ST. JAMES A film of 1941 American youth, played by a cast of young people, picturing American life to-day, emphasising the national desire to carry on with democratic ways, comes to the St. James to-morrow in 1 Down in San Diego.’ The story concerns a group of youngsters who run down a gang of spies when one of their number becomes involved- through no wrongdoing of his own. Ray McDonald plays this boy, who tries to enlist in the marines. Bonita Granville is the girl kidnapped by the spies, and Dan Dailscy plays the role of her marine brother. The story is plausible and the acting realistic. * STATE Sir Cedric Hardwieke has given many fine performances on the screen, and his portrait of Dr Arnold, the great reformer of Rugby School in ‘ Tom Schooldays,’ which heads the new hill to he shown at the Slate to-morrow, will rank highest <>f all. Willi him a I the head of the east, Thomas Hughes’s classic has been modelled into a splendid film which should appeal to old and young alike. The sufferings of Tom Brown (Jimmy Lydon) at the hands of the school bully (Billy Halop), the final thrashing he gives him, and his suffering at the hands of his friends, who believe he Id’s tales, are true to life so far as many schoolboys are concerned. Freddie Bartholomew is the rno-'t English of all the Rugby pupils, and though himanners may irritate, there can be no doubting their authenticity.