ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 11 May 1939, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS MAJESTIC: "ST. MARTIN’S LANE* What contrasts London presents ia the daily life of its teeming millions. Wealth and luxury rub shoulders with poverty and starvation, gaiety and glitter offset sadness and drabness and in no section of the city is this more apparent than in the theatre areas around St. Martin's Lane. There the people of wealth and position arrive in luxurious cars clad in their sables and expensive evening clothes, while the lesser folk wait in queues for the cheaper seats, and the poor down and out “buskers” entertain them with song, story, jest or dance in the hope that they may perhaps some day qualify for the stage within while scratching a meagre existence without. This in effect is the story of "St. Martin’s Lane” which opens a three day season at the Majestic to-morrow starling Charles Laughton with Vivien Leigh, Rex Harrison and Larry Adler. Laghton is cast as a street performer who, while entertaining a queue has his takings stolen from his cap by a little cockney urchin girl. Later Laughton finds her in a coffee stall amusing some well dressed young men with a burlesque of Charles’ rendering of the “Green Eye of the Little Yellow God.” She steals a cigarette case but is caught by Laughton who takes her under his care and she joins him in the entertaining venture. From there on the story moves apace to a surprising and touching but quite satisfactory termination.

REGENT. FINALLY TO-NIGHT, GUEST NIGHT. "SATAN MET A LADY” AND “HOT MONEY”

Bette Davis and Warren William* are scheduled for their final screening to-night in their costarring Warner Bros, production, “Satan Met a Lady." Warren William plays opposite Miss Davis, while others in the cast include Alison Skipworth, Porter Hall. Arthur Treacher, Marie Wilson. Winifred Shaw and Olin Howland. The picture is based on a novel by the famous writer of fiction, Dashiell Hammett, which is one of the best the author has turned out. It it written in his usual style, with mystery and thrills combined with sophisticated humour, love and intrigue. The story is woven about the search by a band of crooks for a legendary ivory trumpet, supposed to contain a fabulous* fortune in jewels. Murder follows on murder as the crooks double cross each other in their battle to cheat other out of the fortune. Bette Davis again plays the part of a "bad girl.” in this instance using her lovers to help her in obtaining the jewels, and polishing them off in one way or another when they cease to be of further use to her. William, also, is an unscrupulous character, a private detective without morals and few principles, but a man with a sense of humour. The associate attraction. "Hot Money” is a rollicking comedy drama with more delightful nonsense than has been packed into a screen play in many a month. There is a talented cast, whi h includes Ross Alexander, Beverly Roberts, Joseph Cawthorn. Graetz. Andrew Tombes, Harry Burns, Ed Conrad and Anne Nagel. William McGann directed ft from the screen play by William Jacobs.

STATE, FINALLY TO-NIGHT: "FOLLOW YOUR STAR” AND "MR MOTO TAKES A CHANCE.” TOMORROW: HILARIOUS COMEDY "THE MAD MISS MANTON”

The final screening takes place tonight of the double feature entertainment which has been delighting good audiences. The two pictures are "Follow Your Star” with Arthur Tracy, the “Street Singer” and a thrilling mystery of Peter Lorre in “Mr Moto Takes a Chance.”

Blending mystery, comedy and romance, RKO Radio's “The Mad Miss Manton” stars Barbara Stanwyck and ; Henry Fonda in a sparkling story that offers the two favourites some of their finest opportunities. Miss Stanwyck has the role of an irresponsible, thrill-

seeking society girl whose escapade* arouse the ire of a serious-minded young newspaper editor. He attack* her through the columns of his paper. Because of the reputation she and her debutante pals have gained for their , pranks, Miss Stanwyck is disbelieved by police when she reports finding a body in a deserted house. Enraged at the attitude of both the police and of Fonda, she decides to solve the mystery by herself, and with the loyal aid of her group of feminine companions, she sets to work. The discovery of a second body, atyuripts to kill Miss Stanwyck for her curiosity, the growth of a hectic romance and the final exciting moments when the harassed police employ the frightened heroine at the “bait” in a trap for the murderer, makes for plenty iof thrills as the story unfolds. The result is a really noteworthy piece of j screen entertainment. Miss Stanwyck is delightful as the wilful heroine, and Fonda gives a brilliant characterisation as the newspaperman. Sam Levene plays the police lieutenant in grand fashion, and Miss Stanwyck’s "gang” —Frances Mercer, Vicki Lester, Eleanor Hanson. Whitney Bourne. Catherine O’Quinn, Ann Evens and Linda Terry provide splendid support along with Stanley Ridges, Leona Maricle, James Burke, Paul Guilfoyle and Penny Singleton. PICTURES AT RICHMOND Screening at Richmond Saturday afternoon and evening, "My Man Godfrey” is a gay, modern comedy from the humorous novel by Eric Hatch. Charming Carole Lombard is co-starr-ed with William Powell in this story of a butler who does his best to escape the dizziest debutante in society.