TO-MORROW'S PROGRAMMES

Evening Star, Issue 26001, 16 January 1947, Page 8

TO-MORROW'S PROGRAMMES

REGENT. . One of the most amusing comedy films of. marital crosses and doublecrosses which has reached the screen in years, ‘ Easy to Wed,’ will open a season*at the Regent to-morrow. Van Johnson, Esther Williams, Lucille Ball, and Keenan Wynn are the quartet around whom have been evolved an uproarious tangle of wedded errors, with each of the principals forced to marry the wrong party in order eventually to capture the right one. It all starts when Miss. Williams, as Connie, lovely daughter of a millionaire, finds herself libelled in a news story by reporter Warren Haggerty (Wynn), in which lie lias called her a “ husband stealer. When Connie’s father promptly sues for 2,000,000d01, Haggerty hires ladies-man Bill Chandler. (Van Johnson) to enter into what is to be a purely temporary marriage with his own fiancee, dancer Gladys Benton (Miss Ball). The idea is that Chandler will now get Connie to fall for him, whereupon .she can be truly accused ‘'of .being a husbandstealer, and will have to drop her libel suit. As events turn oiit, Connie falls for Chandler all right, hut unfortunately, he also falls for her, and, believing a previous divorce of Gladys to liavo been illegal, he marries Connie. EMPIRE. A story of romance and adventure is .graphically depicted in ‘ The Overlanders,’ which will be shown at the Emipre to-morrow,... with “Chips” Rafferty, Daphne Campbell, - John * Nugent Hayward, and Peter Pagan in the starring roles. ’The story relates to an epic chapter in the history of North-western Australia.- Don McAlpine, a cattleman who has just returned from a droving trip, is instructed to destroy all the cattle in the . ’ vicinity of Wyndham, as serious danger is approaching, and the- personnel is being evacuated. McAlpine refuses, and decides to drive the cattle 2,000 miles overland through much of the toughest country in the world. Difficulty is experienced in obtaining helpers, and finally the members of the Parsons family agree to assist, and two more volunteers come forward in Corky, a well-known character in the district, and a* young'Scottish sailor named Sinbad. How McAlpine’s task is successfully accomplished after monumental difficulties and dangers have been overcome, keeps the audience in a high state of suspense from start to finish. ' ST, JAMES. A dramatic and moving story of now ’ a Texas cattleman found a way into the hearts of wayward boys will be . unfolded oh the Screen at the St. James to-morrow in ‘ Boys’ Ranch,? featuring Jackie “Butch” Jenkins, James Craig, and Skippy Homeier. The picture reunites young Jenkins and ■ Craig, last seen together in ‘ Our Vines Have Tender Grapes.’ Little “ Butch ” enacts an orphan -brought up by a grandfather without playmates of his own age, and consequently acting like a little “ old man.” Craig has the part of Dan Walker, the cattleman whose goal is to found a home _ for underprivileged youngsters. Skippy Homeier has a despicable role as a juvenile delinquent, who is against ‘ Boys’ Ranch,’ and all it stands for. Dorothy Patrick makes her screen debut in the new drama as Craig’s wife, and the cast also features Ray Collins, Darryl Hickman, Sharon McManus,, and Minor Watson. STATE. An, exciting . mystery story in unfolded in ‘ The Dark Corner,’ starring Lucille Ball, Clifton" Webb, William Bendix, and Mark Stevens, which commences a season at the State tomorrow.’ Stevens is seen in the role of a private detective who is marked as the victim of a strange obsession, and Miss Ball appeal’s as his glamorous, wise-cracking, but very helpful secretary. Clifton Webb is a debonnaire and sophisticated art dealer. In an entirely different role for him—a straight dramatic role —William Bendix scores heavily as the sinister and stubborn gunman. Special praise must be given to a newcomer to the screen, Mark Stevens, who is seen in the role of the hard-boiled, hard-pressed private detective. He handles the part with extraordinary skill and understanding? Coupling his outstanding acting talent . with an outstanding screen personality, ’ Stevens give an impressive performance. OCTAGON. A highly dramatic and romantic picture, ‘ Spellbound,' with Ingrid Bergman and Gregory, Peck in the title roles, will commence a second week s screening at the. Octagon to-morrow.. A strong supporting cast includes John Emery, Leo G.'Carroll. Rhonda. Flem- • ing, Wallace; Ford, Michael Chekkov, and/many; others. The story concerns a mysterious young .man . known only as J. B. (Gregory Peck) j who is suffering from amnesia. He is suspected of murder, and, with no memory of the past, believes that he may be guilty. Ingrid Bergman, as a psychiatrist, who falls .in love with him, desperately tries to save him from punishment for a crime she is sure he has not committed. How - she . jganAges- io bring

forth the baffling secret which his temporary loss of memory has hidden from the police forms the basis of a fascinating mystery story. STRAND An exciting thriller, ‘ Hot Cargo,’ is the main attraction in to-morrow’s new double-feature programme at the Strand. The picture, with William Gargan, Jean ltogers, and Philip Reed in the principal roles, tells the story of two. ex-servicemen (Gargan and Reed) who, before going their separate ways, delay long enough to carry out some promises made to a dying “ buddy.” This involves them in a battle with a bunch of highway pirates wlio .have been sabotaging the lumberhauling business of their pal’s family. Using guns, fists, and army tanlj corps tactics, the two veterans succeed in bringing the criminals to justice, and saving the family’s business. The unravelling of an unusual murder is related in ‘ Girl oil the Spot,’ starring Lois Collier and .Jess Barker, and others in the interesting cast are Fuzzy Knight, Ludwig Stossel and Edward S. Brophy.