PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 24919, 17 July 1943, Page 8

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT. ■ 'Mr Davis,' a sensational spy drama, now showing at the Regent, was made with the co-operation of the Army, and the commando scenes are a masterpiece of screen craft. The film incidentally carries a message for the man in the street who is prone to talk .when invariably there is a '' Mr Davis " in the offing to convey by subterranean methods, each piece of news to . the . enemy. The fi'lm,- however, is a modern, up-to-the-minute espionage drama that tells with realism, the power of dope (drugs), the cunning of "Mr Davis," that smooth little man' with the Heart of a rattle snake, who smiles and lies his way through London, killing with reckless abandon to hide his tracks as he keeps a jump aliead of Britain's counter-espionage system.' The part of Mr Davis, the enemy agent, is played by Flight-lieutenant Mervyn Jones, Miss Leemans, the beautiful refugee, by Nova Pilbeam, and Miss Clare, the dancer, by Phyllis Slanley. The supporting programme includes another release in the ' March of Time ' series, a comedy of Americans in London entitled ' London | Kcrapbbok,' and a feature, ' Soviet School ! Child.' j ' STATE. | One of the most powerful stories of love and- sacrifice ever filmed comes to the screen in RKO Radio's ' The Big Street,' an adaptation of the Damon Bunyon story, 'Little Pinks,' produced by the author, and now showing at the State. All the pathos, laughter, drama, and character delineation for which Runyon is famous is packed into the appealing story of the humble bus boy who turns thief to provide jewels ami luxury for the crippled night r.lub -.irger whom he loves. Convincing characters from New York's Broadway are portrayed by an butstanding cast of 50 players, with Henry Fonda and Lucille. Ball starred. The set's include famous night spots on the Groat White Way and luxurious resort spots in' Florida. Ozzie Nelson and his orchestra are featured in some of the scenes, notably the closing sequences where Mi* Ball dances to her death in the arms of Henry Ponda, whose great love she has at last come to appreciate. ST. JAMES. Shedding light on' a litllc-known phase of police work, ' Kid Glove Killer,' which opened at St. James last night, takes place in a police laboratory. There Van Heflin and Marsha Hunt portray the work of a police chemist and his assistant in the unravelling of two slayings. The story is built around the election of a mayor and a district attorney on their promise to clean up the city. Those responsible for their election, headed by Lee Bowman, discover they meant their promises. First, the district attorney is taken care of, his body being discovered in a lake. ■ Heflin and Marsha Hunt, through clues found on the body, run the slayer to earth. The mayor then discovers Bowman's connections with the underworld, and Bowman, afraid of exposure, plants a bomb in the mayor's automobile. . - Bowman works closely with Heflin and .Marsha Hunt in search .of..the slayer. Tricked by Heflin, a test of Bowman's hair definitely links him to the crime. Bowman is unwittingly tipped off by Miss Hunt that Heflin knows the murderer, and attempts to kill his one-time friend. Blocked he is taken to gaol as Heflin and Marsha wind up in each other's arms. The supporting film is the comedy, ' Bridal Suite.' GRAND. i As a pre-Pearl Harbour radio reporter warning America against sabotage and possible enemy action, John Beal is playing at the Grand with lovely Florence Rice in Columbia's aQtion-tense new. drama, ' Stanu By All Networks,' one of. the year's most hair-raising round-ups of spies and thrills. Beal is seen as one of radio's most famous on-the-spot commentators, who reports the news while it happens. Reporting a waterfront blaze, he uncovers a suspicion of sabotage, and promptly broadcasts the fact. A private detective, working with him, finds the direct evidence. But Beal's broadcasts are regarded by officials a<s "dangerous"; he eventually is forced off the air-waves. Miss Rice appears as secretary to Margaret Hayes, eeen as an amateur flyer attached to" the radio station.' Jinx Falkenburg, Columbia's long-legged lovely who once was America's number one magazine cover girl and to-day is one of nlmdom's most attractive young starlets, appears in the supporting film, a gay, new ntusical comedy, 'Lucky Legs.'' EMPIRE. ■'■ A Paramount murder mystery thriller,,' 'The Glass Key,' which formed the principal attraction in the new programme released at the Empire yesterday, provided the audience with excitement ; in full measure. In the stellar roles are Brian Donleyy, l Veronica Lake, and Alan Ladd, with Bonita Granville, Joseph Calleia, Richard Denning, and William Bendix giving strong assistance. Paul Madvig (Brian Donlevy) is a big political boss who is very much smitten with Janet Henry (Veronica Lake). Her father is of the opposite political party. Paul, however, makes a deal with Henry to run his ticket at the coming election. Opal Henry, his sister, is in love with Taylor Henry, the good-for-nothing scion of the Henry home. When Taylor is found killed outside bis father's home on the night of Madring's visit, suspicion points towards the political boss. His henchman, Ed. Beau- 1 mont, then comes into the picture. He'is interested in Janet Henry, but he will, have nothing to do with her because of Madvig's interest, and also because she does not belong to his set. When finally Ed. is instrumental' in disclosing the murderer, Paul is cleared, and the story ends to the entire satisfaction of" Ed. and Janet. OCTAGON. ' The brilliant film version of Somerset Maugham's, famous book, ' Th'e Moon and Sixpence,' attracted another full house to the Octagon yesterday, when a season extending over another week was commenced. Not one line of this hardy classic has been deleted or softened to spare the feelings of screen audiences. The story deals with the ■ adventures of a London stockbroker, Charles Strickland, who abandons his wife

and family for a fling at Paris and the Latin quarter. His wanderings take him also to the raucous waterfront dives of Marseilles, and he finally winds up amid the magic beauty of a coral isle in the South Seas. Strickland is unquestionably one of the most fascinating,, if reprehensible, characters in literature-. His character is vividly and unforgettably portrayed on the screen by George Sanders, the hero of the piece. Other stirring and dramatic performances are handled superbly by Herbert Marshall, who portrays a stuffed-shirt novel: ist, Doris Dudley, who is mesmerised .by Strickland, Albert Basserman, : Eric Blore, Robert Grieg, Mollie Lamont,' and Elena Verdugo. STRAND. A programme of outstanding merit, comprising three features, was ' fully ■ appreciated by the largo audiences at yesterday's sessions at the Strand. The -first film, ' Hi, Neighbour,' provided a feast ( of music and merriment, put patrons in high good humour, and this was followed by a popular western, 'Sons of the Pioneers,' with Roy Rogers in the title role. Roy plays the part of a yoiing easterner who is called to the western town of Rogers City to lead the citizens in a fight against a gang of desperadoes who have instituted a reign of terror in the area. Roy, while investigating, pretends to be a docile, timid fellow, too easy going to be willing to fightLovely Maris Wrixoii appears to advantage in the feminine role. The third feature is the first episode of a new serial, ' The. Adventures ot Smilin Jack,' with Tom Brown, the popular ' screen star, in the leading role, supported by Marjorie Lord, Rose Hobart, Edgar Barrier, Turhan Bey, Keye Luke, and Sidney Toler. MAYFAIR. Gedrge Formby, who is starred in ' South American George,' Columbia's latest comedy, which is being shown at the Mayfair,' displays liis versatility by playing no fewer than three roles. He is first seen as George Butters, a lad with operatic ambitions, but with no ability; nest he is 'cast as the impersonator of an opera star; and then as the opera star himself. In one scene of this comedy he has to appear on tho stage in ' Rigoletto.' Of course, he has neither ■the Italian language nor the- right tenor voice for the performance, but one- of the characters comes to his rescue with a solution which is as ingenious as it is. uproariously funny. Although there is little attempt at a serious plot ' in the film George Formby makes it a really diverting comedy. The supporting feature is a crime film ,"' 'lnvitation to Murder,' with Jeffery Lynn. Thomas Mitchell, and Geraldine Fitzgerald in the leading roles.