PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 26031, 20 February 1947, Page 4

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND. The Twentieth Century-Fox production, 1 The Itains Came,’ based on the ■successful novel of the same name by Louis Bromfield, was screened at the Grand Theatre yesterday, with Myrna Loy, Tyrone Power, and George Brent sharing stellar honours. A powerful story of human emotions and human lives while the untamed forces of Nature ravaged the earth, has been faithfully retold in this film, in which all of Bromfield’s characters are vividly brought to life. Myrna Loy is seen as the amorous Lady Esketh, Tyrone Power has his most romantic role as Major Rama Safti, and George Brent , plays the world-weary Tom ltansome. Others featured in ’the great cast are Nigel Bruce, Maria Ouspenskaya, Joseph _ Schildkraut, Jane Darwell, Marjorie Rambeau, Henry Travers, and H. B. 'Warner. MAYFAIR.

A Gert and Daisy comedy, * Cleaning Up,’ which holds pride of iplace in the Mayfair Theatre’s new programme, kept the audience convulsed at yesterday’s opening session. Equally humorous is the associate film, ‘ Practically Yours,’ co-starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurr'ay. The supporting cast includes Robert Bencliley, Gil Lamb, Cecil Kellaway, and Mikhail Rasumny. Benchley, Rasumny, and Kellaway are very much to the fore throughout the picture, and their displays of _ suave and sophisticated humour delight all sections of picturegoers. OCTAGON.

That brilliant film of Shakespeare’s, ‘ Henry V.,’ with Laurence Olivier as the gallant hero of Agineourt, which has been attracting capacity business to the Octagon Theatre, will commence a second week’s screening tomorrow. The picture has a great story—there is a grand air of chivlary m the period; a storm of action in the Battle of Agineourt sequences (said to be the finest war “shot” in technicolour); and there is an intriguing swash-buckling atmosphere in the romance. Laurence Olivier not only plays the role of Henry V., but also directed and produced the picture. To dress an army of 700 strong for the famous Battle of Agineourt was, in itself, a remarkable feat, and the greatest problem which faced the costume designers for a film of this magnitude was to collect the hundreds of suits of armour required for the battle. The beautv and pageantry of ‘Henry V. lends ‘itself to colour, and nothing has been overlooked in this respect. A distinguished cast of playefs includes Robert Newton, Leslie Banks, Renee Asherson, Esmund Knight, Leo Gepn, Felix Aylmer, and many others, ST. JAMES.

One of the funniest pictures ever shown at the.St.. James Theatre, Gas--light Follies,’ will commence, a second week’s screening, to-morrow. The picture is divided into several parts, much like the old-time vaudeville show. First is seen ‘ The Stars of Yesteryear, which provides ,a treat for old and young devotees of the, screen, and presents stars now almost forgotten. Then comes' ‘ Time Marches Back, which is claimed to be an educational treat, and in which patrons are taken back a long time in the newsreel field. “ Teddy, ” Roosevelt is shown chopping wood, and also the Jim Jeffries-Bob Fitzsimmons fight and Edward, (Duke of Windsor) becoming the Prince of Wales. Next is screened, ‘The Drunkard,’ a film version of Bliss the Villain,’ and 1 Cheer the Hero ’ show, and last, but by no means least, ‘ East, Lynne,’ the film version of 1 which is said to be the last word as a laughproducer. Afl excellent supporting programme includes * Our Mr Shakespeare.” TO-MORROW’S PROGRAMMES REGENT. A 1 highly sensitive man’s infatuation for a cheap, self-loving and vicious woman is the dramatic theme of, ‘ Of. Human Bondage,’ which opens tomorrow’ at the Regent Theatre. Adapted from the classic novel of the same name by the English author, W. Somerset Maugham* the story is translated on to the screen as a moving account of unrequited. ’ love. • Philip Carey, while studying art ; in ' Paris, decides to change and take a course iu medicine. Philip meets Mildred Rogers (Eleanor Parker), who impresses him as being cheap and rude. But she is a girl of strange magnetism, and she fascinates Philip so that his work suffers, but when she marries another man he plunges back into his studies, and his progress is brilliant. Theii one night he returns to his flat to find the crumpled* defeated figure of the girl he thought had ■ gone from his life forever. The resulting conflict culminates in a highly dramatic climax. Sharing co-starring honours is Alexis Smith, and featured in the supporting cast are Janis Paige and Patric Knowles. EMPIRE. ‘ Tars and Spars, the Coast Guard show which toured successfully as a stage musical, will be brought to the Empire Theatre screen., to-morrow under the same title; but with a fresh-ening-up .of story material and an addition .of Hollywood and starring Alfred Drake, Janet Blair, and Marc Platt, with Sid Caesar, seaman, first class, and' Jeff Donnell featured. Alfred Drake in his bow before the cameras is, said to be not only an exciting new personality, but a morethan welcome addition to the film world. . As Howie Young, the coastgaurdsman who is always trying to get active service, and always gets his same old desk job, he is human and comic. Janet Blair, in her most captivating role to date, is his love interest, and not only has a chance to perform with her usual charm and forthright delivery, but sings and dances as well. The picture has the ex-ballet performer, Mare Platt, who created a sensation in ‘ To-night and Every Night,’ and before that in Oaklahoma.’ Platt has Anita Alverez as his partner. The comedy is taken care of by another screen newcomer, Sid Caesar, and Jeff Donnell as Chuck, and Pennv. STATE. A gay and sparkling story about the fabulous north, ‘ Belle of the Yukon ’ in ’ which Gypsy Rose Lee, Randolph Scott, Dinah Shore, and Bob Burns are starred, will head the new bill at tbe State Theatre to-morrow. A frank travesty on all gold-rush sagas, the picture adds colour and music to a hilarious plot, which concerns one Belle De-Valle, who, with her group of “Yukon belles,’’ arrives in the boisterous town of Malemute ,to make entertairfment for the lads. Honest John Calhoun, leading citizen, is none other than the man who absconded with Belle’s heart and bankroll in other and more romantic days. And Belle, a woman with directness of purpose, decides to avenge herself and marry the scoundrel. This romance, which becomes entangled with the love affair between Dinah Shore and William Marshall, is interrupted only by Honest John’s plans to cheat his fellow citizens out of their gold dust, and his associates’ plans to double-cross him and thereby get the gold. How the two love affairs are straightened

out leads to the gay climax of. this entertaining musical. STRAND. ‘Make Your .Own Bed ’ will be screened at the Strand Theatre to-mor-. row, with Jack Carson,. Jane Wyman,, and Irene Manning Jri the starring roles. The film is of the. mad and, merry variety, and is concerned with the efforts of the Whirtle household to find < a pair of domestics for 'their suburban home. What they find instead is an energetic, if not quite capable, detective who takes-employ-ment with them on behalf of himself and his fiancee. What follows is general chaos, plus the accidental capture of some sinister Nazi agents. The supporting picture, is A. -J. Cronin’s : ‘ Shining Victory,’ ' bringing to the, screen the mysteries of psychiatry, and, starring James Stephenson and. Geraldine Fitzgerald. Episode Two of the thrilling' new serial, 1 Tiger ; Woman,’ will also be screened.