AMUSEMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 79, 15 March 1934, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

LIONEL BARRYMORE AT MUNICIPAL ‘•SWEEPINGS”: REALISTIC SAGA. A realistic saga of multi-millionaire lathers who ruin their children by too much indulgence and luxury is made in KKO-Iladio Pictures' “Sweepings/* starring Lionel Barrymore, which screens at the Municipal Theatre tonight. The film is a screen version of Lester Cohen’s famous novel of the same title, and pictures the futility of a man’s terrific effort to give his children everything In the title role, Barrymore builds a great merchant structure from an humble beginning in a livery-stable, gives his children every advantage his millions can buy, only to have them laugh at his ambitions for them in the end. The production is lavishly staged, depicting with the powerful story, the parallel rise of Chicago from its ashes. Barrymore is supported by a notable cast, including Alan Binehart, Nmetta Sunderland, Gregory Ratoff, William Gargan, Gloria Stuart, Georg© Meeker, Eric Linden, Lucien Littlefield and many others. John Cromwell directed. The production presents a parade of

.avish settings, including many famous play-places of Europe and America, the interior of gay gambling palaces of the nineties, and one mammoth setting depicting the ruins of Chicago after the great fire of 1871. With regard to Lionel Barrymore, who heads the cast, it is interesting to note that few film players bold a record as remarkable as that of his. The eldest of the royal stage and screen family, in addition to his long stage career, has been acting for films 23 years, ever since 1909. Other players have equalled his service in point of time, but none have duplicated his unprecedented achievement of not only remaining 1 star all that time, but continuing to advance in popularity. TWO FEATURES AT ARCADIA ‘‘MIDSHIPMAN JACK” AND “GIRL MISSING.” Two features will be screened at the Arcadia this change, each being a firstclass production. Marriage may be a lottery, but when it threatens’to become a tragedy within twenty-four hours after Hie honeymoon has begun, us tt does in “Girl Missing,” the lover of mystery tales can be certain of exciting entertainment before tlie finale is reached. Palm Beach, the playground of wealth and benuty, and the hunting ground for opportunists of both sexes, is the locale of the story, and for the central figure, the authors,

Carl Erickson and Don Mullaly employ a quick-witted chorus-girl, whose nimble mind solves a murder mystery that is still baffling the police of the Florida winter resort. Ben Lyon has the leading masculine role and Mary Brian the ingenue part. A lively, intriguing picture, with an entertaining tale of love, youth and adventure is “Midshipman Jack,” a story of romance and dramatic action against the background of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis where it was filmed. It presents an able, talented array of youthful players in Bruce Cabot, Betty Furness, Frank Albertson, John Darrow and Arthur and Florence Lake. Cabot is outstanding in the title role of “Midshipman Jack.” He cannot quite bend to the discipline of the Academy and gets into trouble sneaking out after Taps to propose to the commandant’s daughter. Rigid probation is his punishment, under which a single violation will mean both dismissal and the loss of his girl. When a mate Inadvertently causes the spectacularly thrilling crash of a seaplane and ship during training practice, Cabot assumes the blame and tosses regulation to the high heavens, exposing himself to discharge. Cabot is best known for having taken the leading role in “King Kong.”

COMEDY AT THE COSY “BY CANDLELIGHT” Sophisticated comedy at its best is presented in “By Candlelight,’’ Universal’s gay tale of Vienna and Monte Carlo, screening at the Cosy Theatre to-night. This sparkling screen play features Elissa Landi, Paul Lukas, Nils Asther and Esther Ralston in leading roles, and tells of the complications which ensue when a maid and a butler, servants of a nobility, pretend to each other that they themselves are of royal blood. The philandering habits of Count Von Rommer, employer of the butler, bring about a series of ludicrous situations which keep the servant in continual hot water, though this very fact serves to make matters easier lor the trifling master. James Whale directed “By Candlelight” immediately following his completion of "The Invisible Man,” which screened in Hastings last week. Whale, a native Englishman with Ins knowledge of Continental manners and customs, is ideally fitted to transfer this Siegfried Geyer romance, which played for months at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, to the screen. There are many scenes aboard a train travelling from Vienna to Monte Carlo, with the quaint short cars and distinctive equipment which is part of European railroads. It is on this train that the butler and maid masquerading as members of the nobility strike up an acquaintance which brings about hilarious complications when the two carry on their romance in the apartment of the butler’s titled master. Much of the action of the story takes place in the Prince's luxurious apartments in Vienna and Monte Carlo, and there are scenes at the famous gambling casino of the latter city, where jealous husbands increase the intensity of decidedly awkward situations. As a distinct change from the atmosphere of royality, there are sequences at an Austrian country fair where the romance of the masquerading servants proceeds apace under the influence of sparkling wine.