SCREEN GOSSIP

Hutt News, Volume 13, Issue 23, 15 November 1939, Page 7

SCREEN GOSSIP

KINO GEORGE Now Showing: "Beg, Borrow, or Steal" *(Frank Morgan) and "Society Lawyer" (Walter Pidgeon. Coming Friday: "Lambeth Walk" (Lupino Lane). Coming Attractions: "South Riding" (Edna Best, Ralph Richardson), "Union Pacific" (Joel McCrea) with "Alladin and his Wonderful Lamp" (2-reel Popeye Cartoon in colour). PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE: Now Showing: "Espionage" (Edmund Lowe, Madge Evans, Paul Lukas). "Hey! iieyl U.S.A." (Will Hay). Coming Attractions: Thursday and Friday: "The Law West of Tombstone" and "Racket Busters." Saturday and Monday*: "The Boy from Barnardos." DELUXE Now Showing: "I Stole a Million"" (George Raft) and "The Hit Parade" (Frances Langford, Phil Regan). Commencing Saturday: "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man" (Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen) with "The Terror" (Wilfrid Lawson). Coming Attractions: "Invitation to Happiness" (Irene Dunne), "Rose of Washington Square" (Alice Faye, Tyrone Power), "My Bill" (Kay Frances). "I STOLE A MILLION." Something quite akin to the role that won Frederick March his Academy award—his "Jekyll-Hyde" portrayal—is that enacted by George Raft in his co-starring Uni versal picture with Claire Trevor, commencing to-night at the Dc Luxe Theatre. At the peak of their careers, Raf + . and Trevor both were said to be intense in their desires to give to this picture their very "all" in performance. They, said they believed in it because they foresaw a mass understanding of its theme. "I Stole a Million" is based upon the fact that there is a little bit of Jekyll-Hyde in all of us and that it is possible for destiny to tangle the skeins sufficiently to give the Hyde influence a shade too much power. As the man who stole the million —Joe Lourik—George Raft has the outstanding role of his career. There were really two Joe Louriks. Just one man, but two characters. One was warped by fate. The other tried to hide him and live straight—that he might enjoy life, and love. The compound interest that usually follows a debt we owe society, however, mounted in Joe Lurik's case to such huge proportions that he found the wrong side of him far outstanding his Jekyll nature. The crash that was inevitable is the basic story of "I Stole a Million," directed by Frank Tuttle under the associate producership of Burt Kelly. Dick Foran, as the romantic third party, Henry Armetta as the comedy relief, and Victor Jory as the menace, head the superlative case which Universal provided for this unique theme of a man's fight for love against society the wrong way. It reaches its great heights, according to the critics, because of its simplicity of understanding and naturalness. "YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN." It's a good thing for Charlie McCarthy that he has a blush-proofed complexion. Otherwies the little rascal's face would have resembled a ripe tomato about the time he started work with W. C. Melds in Universal's "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man," coming to the De Luxe Theatre. Fields, Edgar Bergen, and McCarthy were discussing the script and Charlie was expounding at great length when Fields interrupted. "Quiet, Fields," Charlie roared. "Who do you think is the star of this pictutre anyway?" "Now, now, Charlie," admonished Bergen, "you shouldn't " "Oh, I shouldn't," replied Charlie. "Well, I'd like to know who's the star of this picture. You tell him, Bergen." "Why, Mr. Fields is, Charlie." "Yes, yes, to be sure, Mr. Fields is . . . WHAT??? I've been tricked, Bergen, I've been tricked." "SOUTH RIDING." Another young* actor who has probably earned your praise for the excellent way in which he has played small part roles in various films ies John Clements. As a result of these brilliant performances it is no surprise to find that he has an important role in Alexander Korda's production "South Riding," which comes to the King George Theatre shortly. This screen version of the Winifred Holtby best-seller stars Ralph Richardson, Edna Best, Edmund Gwenn and Ann Todd Clements is seen as an enthusiastic, conscientious social reformer determined to rebuild the local slums. Clements is a versatile young man. As well as acting on stage and screen, he writes and produces

plays,'and for a spare time diversion runs his own theatre. He went into films in 1933, but it was not until "Things to Come" that he made any noticeable impression. You may remember him as the airman whom Raymond Massey shot down in the early part of the film. Then, he was glad to earn £5 or £6 a day, but now he commands a large salary as one of the screen's most promising actors. Despite all these activities and just to prove that he is really fond of the entertainment business, Clements' ambition is to be the proprietor of a large theatre circuit. "BREAK THE NEWS" "Break the News," produced and directed by Rene Clair and starring Jack Buchanan and Maurice Chevalier, is coming to the Prince Edward Theatre. A Jack Buchanan Productions' picture, "Break the News" presents these two famous stars of stage and screen in a story which affords them exceptional scope for their' combined brilliant talent, as well as providing excellent material for the well-known genius of Rene Clair. This eminent director says that this story is the only one he has found in the past two years. Jack Buchanan and Maurice Chevalier appear as two chorus boys who are suddenly given a chance to do a double act in a spectacular snow produced by a woman actor-manager— portrayed by June Knight. At the last moment, however, their act is cut out and, in desperation, they decide that they only way they can reach the top is to do something sensational to break into the news. How they set out to do this is the point of the story. The ensuing complications range from conviction for a non-existent murder to the bullet-ridden throes of a Ruritanian revolution, while the intensely draiatic climax shows how the two stars attain the very heights of their ambition in the most unexpected manner. The supporting cast includes such well-known film personalities as Marta Labaar, Gertrude Musgrave, Garry Marsh, Wallace Douglas and Felix Aylmer. "THEY MADE HER A SPY" The inside workings of a foreign ring of spies and saboteurs, and the method by which counter-spies attempt to frustrate their secret activities, are threaded into a timely screen offering, "They Made Her a Spy," featuring Sally Eilers and Allan Lane. One of the most revealing films to come to the screen in many years, the sensational picture revolves around the determined efforts of a courageous girl to avenge her brother's death in a sabotage plot by becoming a volunteer army intelligence operative. The various steps in her clever campaign to learn the identity of the spy ring leader by actually joining the ruthless organisation, provide a series of breath-taking episodes, coupled with a unique romance between the girl and another member of the ring. How the young lady ultimately succeeds in exposing the leader of the espionage group at great risk to her life, brings the story to a smash climax. Directed by Jack Hively, the RKO Radio picture includes in its supporting cast Fritz Leiber, Frank M. Thomas, Theodore Van Eltz and Addison Richards. COMPETITION. Winners of last week's Competition were:— Pam Beard, 176 Waiwhetu Road. Mrs. H. Alexander, 3 High Street. A. Millar, 20 Central Terrace. F. Duley, 2 Moa Street. Melva Parker, 86 Hautana Street. C. J. Tustin, 31 Lincoln Avenue. The solution was: — "South Riding." THIS WEEK'S COMPETITION: N — Fill in the blanks and complete the title of the splendid supporting feature coming shortly -to the De Luxe Theatre with "Invitation to Happiness." Remember, all entries to be addressed to — "COMPETITION EDITOR," "HUTT NEWS." Closing Friday Mid-day.