PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 25045, 11 December 1943, Page 10

PICTURE THEATRES

ST. JAMES. It was in 1937, when Dountia Durbin was only 1* years of age (she is now married), that a, picture which firmly established her tame, not only as an accomplished actress but also as a iirst-rate singer, was shown in Duuedin. This musical film was ' One Hundred Men and a Girl.' and it has returned after that lengthy absence with all its original freshness to the St. James, where it began a season, yesterday. It will bring back to many Ounedin people who enjoyed it so immensely many captivating musical moments, for Deanua, who sines so exquisitely such pieces de resistance iis Mozart's ' Alleluia ' and the celebrated

'Drinking Sting,' from 'La Traviata, is not the" only firm reason why this picture should be 6een again. Another explanation for its claim to fame is that Leopold Stokowski conducts the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. This celebrated ensemble perforins the introduction to the third act of 'Lohengrin' (Wagner), a portion of the Tschaikowsky Fifth Symphony, a Liszt Hungarian rhapsody, and the ' Rakoczy March,' by Berlioz. The supporting pvoirraimne has not been shown here before.

GRAND. Tense, exciting drama at its best is furnished ill RKU Radio's ' Journey Into Fear.' a fast-moving story of intrigue, e>pionnge, and terror along the fringes ol war-torn iMirope, now showing at the Grand, together with ' Ladies' Day.' Tho action deals with the efforts of Gestapo agents to kill an American ordnance expert to prevent him from completing vital military installations for a neutral country. How he' escapes their net and succeeds in accomplishing their deaths provides one of the most gripping screen productions seen in recent months. Orson Welles, the producer and co-author of the film, also plays a powerful role in the picture, while Joseph Cotton and Dolores del Rio arc starred. Presenting a timely and mirthful tale of the women behind the men behind the baseball bats, RKO Radio's ' Ladies' Day ' features Lupe Velez, Eddie Albert, Patsy Kelly, Max Baer, and Jerome Cowan. Revolving 'around the woes of a temperamental pitcher whose romances get in the way of his accuracy, the picture is said to he the first out-and-out comedy of baseball and baseball wives ever filmed, and as such offers plenty of novelty to screen fans. REGENT. X powerfully-told and . sensitively-acted st-orv is the Associated British picture, 'The Nig hi Has Lyes,' the new attraction at the Regent. Us theme deals with the adventures of a holiday-making school teacher on the Yorkshire moors and an unbalanced,-.war-shattered composer whose nocturnal wanderings' always result in murder being committed. Adapted to the screen from the popular story by Alan Kennington, a Brighton schoolmaster, this gripping story should meet with success. James- Mason, author and stage'and screen star; Wilfrid Lawson, renowned for his character roles'; Mary Clare and Joyce Howard are the stars, While other parts are played by Tucker McrGuire, comedienne, John Feroakl, Amy Dalby, and Dorothy'Black. L Teature of this believable mystery story is its entirely unexpected climax. There are many hair-raising thrills and plenty of good dramatic suspense. It is the type of picture for which there is always a big and appreciative audience. EMPIRE. John Wayne, John Carroll, Anna Lee. and an impressive cast of supporting players are featured in the dramatic story, ' Flying Tigers,' the current attraction at the Empire. With its action set against tho stark suspense of the Burmese war front, the (ilm grippingly depicts the exploits of the famed American Volunteer Group, or ' flying Tigers,' whose courage against incredible odds has written an ( immortal chapter in the history of American valour. The story presents Wayne as a squadronleader who,- distressed by the overwhelming odds pitted against his" command, drafts into the group a young flier of indisputable personal courage, but of doubtful motives. Woody Jason—played by John Carroll —is interested chiefly in the' five hundred dollars bonus he will receive for every plane he bags, rather than in the cause" for which be fights. , Wayne .never loses faith in his friend, however, and this-faith is ultimately rewarded by an act of spectacular bravery on Carroll's part, which, once and for all establishes him in the good graces and high esteem of' the other Plying Tigers. STATE. ■ The story of how a hot-headed, haughty son of wealth plunges himself' and his family into poverty and social oblivion, and almost loses his own life in the doing, is dramatically told in RKO-Radio's '' The Magnificent , Ambersons,'. a, film produced and directed by Orson Welles and now showing at the ■State." Based on the Booth Tarkington novel of the same name, the screen play follows the book minutely,-even creating the ■■ characters as close to the author's description as is physically possible. Outstanding settings the ornate styles of the 1885-1913. era in the mid-west, ' a parade of early cars beginning with a two-cylinder steamer of the 1892 vintage, and a fashion review of the styles of the period, furnish an interesting background for .the', emotional action.

, Principal roles are played by such capable actors and'actresses as Joseph'Colt en, Dolores Costollo, Anne Baxter, Tim Holt, Richard Bennett, Agnes Moorehead, l?nv Collins, and ■■Krskiue .S'auford. OCTAGON.

• A. riotous romance against the grim background of ar world at war. is the tlieme of Leo McCaroy's ' Once Upon a. , Honey'moon,' . Thus film, now at. tlie Octagon, brings Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers together for the first Lime in one of the season's most unusual ■offerings. Ginger is cast as an American dancer who marries a German baron on the eve of the Nazi march into Austria', and Cary portrays a. broadcasting reporter in teres ted-'.iii " Unpolitical game i the baron is playing. He follows the newlyweds into Poland, which promptly falls, confirming Gary's belief 1-hftt the baron is. Hitler's principal advance agent. Ginger realises she has made a mistake, and with Gary's help sets about, escaping, from her titled husband. Their dramatic and hilarious-, adventures as they make their way into Holland and .France onejump ahead of the Nazis lead up to an unexpected climax. STRAND. . :' Among the Living,' the principal attraction on the hew programme at the Strand, is something new in shudder films. Albert Pekker has a weird double role, thai, of John Raden, <t handsome young millionaire, and of" Paul, John's twin brother, who is a homicidal maniac. Paul, escapes and throws a whole community imo panic when he •commils two brutal 'murders. 1 'Among the Living..' is a sphie-tingliiig thriller that depends un realism and tine acting for its shattering effect. The cast includes Susan Hayward, Marry. Carey, Trances [farmer, and' Jean Phillips. The supporting film is the musical ' The Yanks are Coming,' starring Jlaxie Rosenbloom. MAY FAIR. A musical film teeming with originulily and bright entertainment, commenced today at the Mayfair, when Irving Berlin's "Holiday Inn ' was screened. Ling Crosby, Fred Astairc, Marjorie Reynolds, and Vii% ginia Dale have the leading roles. The production shows IJing Crosby as a night club singer who breaks away from his partners because he is tired of t)ie type of life he is leading. He buys a- farm and later has the idea of turning it into an inn to be open only on America's national holidays. ' Holiday Inn ' sparkles with 11 new Berlin, tunes and two old songs. The supporting feature is 'Tough As They Come,' starring the Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys.