PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 25068, 8 January 1944, Page 8

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND, Exciting fist fights and gun battles, daring riding,- and expert roping, are the principal ingredients of ' Red River Robin Hood,' which is at the Grand, with the popular cowboy star, Tim Holt, and his singing pal, " Ukulele Ike," in the starring roles. Arriving in tied River to join their partner, diet Andrews, in the ownership of a cattle ranch, Jim Carey (Tim Holt) and his pal, fke, discover that Chet has been sent to gaol for resisting the efforts of a swindler, Scott Yager, to evict him from his ranch. Yager, through a Spanish land grant and the help of a crooked judge, has proved ownership to all the land in the Red River territory. He and his henchmen have been evicting all the ranchers who will not pay rent for their own ranches. There are many exciting moments before Yager and his gang are finally brought to justice. The indefatigable fun-makers, Lupe Vclez l and Leon Errol, are featured in the associated film, ' Mexican Spitfire's. Blessed Event.* OCTAGON. A full measure of romance and adventure is provided ,in the thrilling drama ' Commandos Strike at Dawn, which is now at the Octagon. The title role is ably portrayed by Paul Muni, and the strong supporting cast is headed by Anna Lee, Lillian Gish, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, and Robert Coote. The film is based on a magazine story, by C. S. Forester, of a Norwegian patriot, played by Muni, who is forced to flee when his underground activities are exposed, and reaches England with vital military information concerning an enemy airport in Norw»«y. As a result, he is chosen to guide,a commando raid on the airport. During the raid he rescues a number of his friends from the Nazis. Sir Cedric Hardwicke is cast as an English admiral in charge of the commando raid, and Robert Coote is seen as a commando captain. ST. JAMES. An engrossing story of three gallant brothers who join the French Foreign Legion to demonstrate their loyalty to each other in the face of being accused of .the theft ot a valuable sapphire forms the basis of Pararnount's oig production, ' Beau Geste.' now at the St. James. Co-starring Gary Cooper, Ray •Millaud, and Robert Prestcn as the Geste brothers. Beau, John, and Dig-by respectively, this is ,an exciting tale which finds the love of brother for brother constant in the face of hardship and steadfast in the face cf the efforts of a mad and brutal sergeant to wrest the gem from them. Brian Donlevy, Susan Hayward, J. Carrol Naish, Donald O'Connor, and James Stephenson head a powerful supporting cast. STATE. ' Flight for Freedom,' an aviation romance revealing an inside story of naval strategy, is the principal attraction at the State. Rosalind Russell and Fred MacMurray share the main honours in this outstanding film, which deals with the navy's triumphant task force attacks on the Mar-s-halls and the Gilberts and the other fortified areas in the South Pacific, closely following the outbreak of war with Japan. Many experts .have wondered how the navy knew which of the thousands of islands to strike at. The picture answers that question in thrilling fashion with its story of a great woman fiver's last flight. The popular Miss Russell has what is perhaps tier most powerful role to date as Tome Carter, with Mac Murray in a dramatic portrayal of the dashing Randy Britton. Herbert Marshall, featured as Paul Tamer, heads a strong supporting cast. EMPIRE. 'Let the- People Sing' provides entertainment of a high order at the Empire. The film is adapted from J. B. Priestley's heart-warming story, and the cast includes such popular screen artists as Fred Emnev, Alastair Sim. Edward Rigby, Patricia Roc, and'Oliver Wakefield. Tom Tiverton (Edward Rigby), an old music hall comedian, and the professor (Alastair Sim), a visitor from Czechoslovakia, are, "through no fault of their own, wanted by the police. They team up, and after facing a few hazards on the road, become friendly with Hassock, a travelling showman, and his niece (Patricia Roc). During a stay in e small town they find that some- aristocratic busybodies are out to rob the people of their local hall. The culminating arbitration sequences reveal Priestley at his satirical best, and Uiere is not one dull moment during the screening. STRAND. ' Sign of the Wolf,' Monogram's screen version of Jack London's tale of the dog that was blamed for the killing instructs of its companion, which has pride of place in the new programme now at the Strand, lias been given a modern version to make it different from the many others thai have used " That Spot" for a story basis. But. after a fashionable canine show and an_ aeroplane episode something like the original setting is reached, and the audience is shown how near the good dog comes to paying for the misdeeds of a kennel mate. The second feature is a lively action-comedy, ' Get Going,' with Robert Paige, Grace McDonald, Vera Vague, and Walter Oatlett in the leading roles. An added attraction is the' first instalment .of a thrilling new serial, ' Perils of Nyoka.* REGENT. Often the first half of a picture programme is for many almost as entertaining as the principal film. This is the case at the Regent, where the new change opened yesterday, the session last night drawing a large audience. , 'Films dealing with the war in various theatres have a particular interest at present, because of the fact that many New Zealand soldiers are engaged in the countries where shots of actual combat are filmed. This week at this theatre the scenes of action are graphically portrayed; in the case of the Italian campaign the difficulties and particular hazards of village fighting give a very clear idea of what the troops have to contend with in the bitter mountain guerrilla warware. The accuracy of the United States bombing on Wake Island is given' full point in some excellent and vivid scenes, taken on a mission that resulted in havoc to the Japanese installations. Other films of an unusually selective array of entertaining short pictures are ' A Day is Born,' a scenic production in techiiicolour; an instructive feature about the progress of television in the past year; and a Minisirv of Information film entitled 'Men Without Uniform.' The principal production this week is ' No Time for Love,' which is a brilliantly-acted comedy. The dialogue is witty and subtle, and provides full scope for the mature acting ability of Claudettp Colbert and Fred Mao Murray. The former is cast as a news photographer, who obtains scenes of the progress of a tunnel bains: constructed under a river. Hero she meets one of the husky workers, Fred MacMurrav. and the complications that ensuf when she falls in love with this " rough diamond " allow generous opportunities for wittv scenes. Also in the cast are Ilka Chase and Richard Haydn. MAYFAIR. ' Thunder Birds,' a stirring action romance in techm'Colour, which supplies exciteinoii't and thrills in full measure, will be shown to-night at the Mayfair. ' Thunder Birds ' is , a timely motion picture ri'i'onnaissance over a famous training ground, where sprouting wings almost daily are hundreds of democracy's avenging eagles from the far corners of the earth, daring lads with flying in their blood and romance in their hearts. Gene Tierney and Preston Foster have the starring roles. The second feature is ' Fly By Night,' with Nancy Kelly- and Riohard Carlson in the leading roles, and the first instalment of the now serial, 'Perils of Nyoka,' will also be shown. GREEN ISLAND. At the Green Island Cinema to-night there will be screened a stark .drama entitled " Atlantic Convoy,' in which Virginia Field and Bruce Bennett, have the leading roles. There will be shown also a firstraie list of sliori films