PICTURE THEATRES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24699, 30 August 1941, Page 15

PICTURE THEATRES

NEW PROGRAMMES ST. JAMES THEATRE " SUCCESSORS TO RIN-TIN-TIN Memories of Rin-Tin-Tin end Strongheart, . who thrilled audiences with their portrayals in' the old' " silent" days, are revived with " Sign 'of the Wolf." Jack London's story of Canadian fox camp owners, which heads the new programme at the St. James Theatre. In "Sign of the Wolf" the two great Alsatian shepherds, Smoky and Shadow, are let loose in the Canadian wilds as the result of an aeroplane • crash, in which Grace Bradley and her faithful negro■ dog-trainer, Ben, played by Mautau Moreland, are injured. One of the animals takes to the woods and becomes a renegade, but the other, in spite of an: injured front \ leg. struggles off to find help for his injured master and mistress. Miss Bradley is too badly hurt to be moved far for.some time, and so she. Ben and Shadow are; taken to the home of a neighbouring fox camp owner. In the meantime Smoky ;has been discovered by two highjackers of fox. furs, and is taught how to "steal the foxes from the surrounding camps. Shadow is accused of being the culprit, and several thrilling scenes are witnessed before the real criminals are brought to justice. Michael Whalen has the role opposite Miss Bradley, and other leading parts are played, by Darryl Hickman, Louise Beaves. Wade Crosby and Tony Paton. Mautau Moreland is responsible for all the comeay interludes. . i. ■; .. ■■■■■ i' "Mr District Attorney,' which tis the associate feature on the programme, deals with the problems of a young law graduate who takes up a position in the office of a "hard-boiled district attorney. After an initial failure in his. new job. he finally covers himself with glory by capturing and convicting one of the city's .worst racketeers. Dennis O'Keefe is 4he young graduate, and attractive Flor erice Rice provides the romantic interest. Peter Lorre,'famous for his roles as "Mr Moto." adds another success to his distinguished career in the role of Mr Hyde, a sinister figure, who creates a sensation when he vanishes into thin air with several hundred thousand dollars in public funds...: Box plans ,are at the theatre, the D.1.C., and Jacobs's. OCTAGON THEATRE IRENE DUNNE STARRED Those who remember Irene Dunne in such brilliant successes as "Show Boat." / "Theodora Goes Wild," " Roberta," and " The. Awful Truth," will welcome another opportunity of seeing her on the screen, and they will not be disappointed with her performance in "Penny Serenade," which, is now being shown at the Octagon Theatre. This time Director George Stevens has teamed -her with Cary Grant, and the combination has proved a tremendous success. Grant is seen as t a newspaper reporter, who is sent to Japan by his, paper as. correspondent in the Orient. Ten minutes before his train leaves he marries Miss Dunne, and they spend their honeymoon months later when she is able to join him. Grant then resigns from his position, and they return to America where he buys a country, newspaper business. .This does not prove;to.be a success, but they find new life and interest in a little girl whom they have adopted. A tragedy occurs when the child dies after a sudden .; illness, and* Grant breaks down completely* .The eventual solution to the: couple's romantic difficulties lends a final; sincere and happy note to a film >of varied emotions. The. supporting programme includes an interesting FoX newsreel which depicts the "V for Victory "campaign in: Australia, and introduces a new song-hit, "Victory V," sung by a band of Australian airmen, a.film showing H.M.S. Leahd§r oh active service in the Middle East,.and also the Ministry •of Information's: 1 production,- "From the Four Corners:" Another particularly interesting supporting'feature, is "The Jungle Archer," which shows the stalking and killing of wild animals by means of the ancient weapons, the bow and arrow- Graphic incidents have been filmed, as can be seen when close-up pictures of, the. killing of a mountain lion and an American wild boar are shown on the screen. ':■■ Box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. REGENT THEATRE " NORTH-WEST MOUNTED POLICE" There is ample justification for das-" sifying "North-West Mounted'Police," the Paramount feature which began itsDunedin season at the Regent Theatre yesterday, as one of the finest pictures of its type ever made.. It is a Cecil B. DeMille production, handled with all the lavishness for which this producer is renowned. His theme is a classic one—the tradition of 'the "Mounties," guardians of law and order and a good deal more than that in the wild country of Canada.. The story has been written round a rising by the French-Canadian half breeds, and there is much in it of fighting and killings. But there is also much in it of beauty and a leavening of excellent humour. Opening with a magnificent technicolor sequence of the grand scenery of Canada, it offers a consistent illustration of the natural brilliance that can be captured by modern photography. In addition, there is a cast that is outstanding. The type demanded is that of strong, determined men, and the action certainly gives ample scope for demonstrating the life of the Mounties and the bravery apd devotion to duty that was required of them. The leading players are Gary Cooper and Madeleine Carroll, the former as a Texas ranger, who finds his way north.and into a mass of trouble in search of a murderer, and the latter as a nurse whose brother is a Red-Coat constable. Gary Cooper is in his best form, while Madeleine Carroll not only looks charming, but fits into her role beautifully. One of the outstanding performances, however, is that of Paulette Goddard as the half breed girl, whose love is fatal to the young constable. ■ She exudes fire and spirit. As a spectacle and as a story, "North-West Mounted Police " is a grand attraction. The recent round-up of the German spy ring in America is one of the features of the supporting programme, which includes also "From the Four Corners," and a short featuring Phil Spitalny and his all-girl orchestra. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. GRAND THEATRE "Remedy for Riches," which heads the. current programme at the Grand Theatre, has Jean Hersholt in the leading role, with ' Edgar Kennedy and Walter Catlett also in the cast. The associate picture is "Along the Rio Grande," featuring the popular Western player Tim Holt. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. MAYFAIR THEATRE

STRAND THEATRE HOPALONG CASSIDY AGAJN For a"long time now William Boyd has been playing the role of Hopalong Cassidy," Clarence E., Mulford's hero of western novels, and it seems as though the resources of even that prolific writer must be getting low. The fact remains, however; that each film, as it comes slong provides the very best of outdoor entertainment, and "Pirates on Horseback," which heads the new programme at the Strand Theatre, -is no exception. As has.been the case » in earlier pictures of the. the scenic backgrounds are particularly pleasing and this aspect of the film « : enhanced by the very fine photography. ..... The story is based on a hunt for a dead man's mine. This valuable property is left to an old prospector by one.of his ilk who dies without revealing the location of the mine. When Andy : Clyde, William Boyd and Russell Hayden take up the search and /■■•* find that there is also ah heiress, they ,; are confronted with a problem. There is plenty of action.arid all the thrills of the Hopalong stories., , The' other picture is from the pen . of Booth Tarkihgtpri. -It is "Little . Orvie" arid it serves once again to ' prove Tarkington's remarkable' insight ' into the juvenile mind. 'John Sheffield, a newcomer, plays the title role , arid is supported by an excellent cast The box plans are at the theatre arid the D.I.C. ; u..K.,;,V.i;:.;;': STATE THEATRE I DRArvIA IN WAR SETTING War-time London with its air raids, shelters, black-out and wardens and policemen in white uniforms consti- „ tutes a tiriiely background for an, in- . triguing .drama entitled, \": Scotland ■ Yard," which is now showing .at the State Theatre. Edmund Gwenn in a..: typical role as a London detective. With: v his inevitable bowler and brolly, gives -\ a top-rank performance, assisted.by the, handsome John ' Lddef. the; winsome Nancy Kelly and Henry Wilcoxpn; The story tells of a bank robber, hunted by the police,' whose face is •. seriously smashed,at Dunkirk. ', On return to. England he- for a = notable bank manager, arid a plastic (surgeon, with the aid pi a/locket .picture, transforms his likeness to that of ~: / < the latter;':,.. He' falls in love-with the . .pretty wife of the'man for-whprn he. ■ is mistaken, and... all ruins well.' until he falls into a trap laid for him by v .Nazi spies. iThe story rims through the . rnidst of bomb-racked London, and the \ war-time;life of the people is/shrewdly woven, into this entertaining film, -i Chief among the supporting films is the well-heralded\ "From the' Four ; Corners," reviewed elsewhere. Another firie picture: is' "The New. Britain," which depicts a cross-section ■; of the ~-';■ life arid freedom; of the people of land before the war. A good laugh,is ; provided by. the lisping Lew Lehr.de-; scribing a "collection of hectic, wrestling , incidents.; A cartoon .and a couple of riewsreels, one of which shows a recent air, blitz on London, complete the programme. Box plans are at Begg's and the theatre. O - J: \^' EMPIRE THEATRE; /. . NEW ANDY HARDY FILM More: of the-infectious hUrrioUr for; which, Mickey Rodney has been re- ; ; sponsible for introducing to the screen . in the popular Hardy series is to J» found im "Andy. Hardy's Private Secretary,'* tohich opened a seasdriyester- , day at the Empire Theatre. : All the Hardy family are present again—Lewis, Stone as Judge Hardy. Fay Hblden as Ma, Sara Haden as Aunt Milly. and . Ann Rutherford as . Polly Benedict. , Kathryri Graysdri, a 17-year-old coloratura soprano, who plays: the role, of Mickey's secretary, sings three attractive numljers.; . •, The picture is another of those enjoyable human documents that one: has come .to.; .associate, .with .the Hardy ■ series. This ' time one finds Mickey Rodney conscientiously ensconced in the > -duties .of chairman of many campus committees. On the side he plays the Good Samaritan to a couple of boys less fortunate than himself,, but unwittingly embroils; his family .in a near tragedy. Then he, fails, an English examination., but laughs pile up as the show ends with Mickey ; in the front row as the ■ diplorhas are being pre- ■'•'-} sented. " . - .

An excellent, array - of supporting ; pictures is headed by-the Ministry of Information filrii. "From- the Four Corners," reviewed Are- . view of the activities of the New Zealand cruiser H.M.S. ; Leander iri the Middle East is of special interest, as are also fragmerits of various phases of - the war. presented in the newsreels. . A "Passing Parade" film deals with the indomitable spirit of the Belgian people in the last war. A further chapter of the, serial; "The- Green Hornet," is also , screened. Box plans are open at the D.I.C. and the theatre. ' BONDS OF EMPIRE " FROM THE FOUR CORNERS" A British Ministry of Information film, "Frorir the Four Corners," is, an attraction of much more than passing interest which was included in the programme of four Dunedin theatre yesterday. The theme is an exposition of what constitutes the sinews of the British Commonwealth of Nations and the spirit which has rallied all parts of it in the struggle, of, freedom against ruthlessness. and the manner of its treatment lifts the film far beyond ordinary standards. - Conceived, written and played by Leslie Howard, " From the Four Corners" depicts a simple episode of 1941. Howard and three Empire sol- * diers—a Canadian, an Australian and a New Zealarider—-are taken out of an experience that one can imagine happening daily in London. ' Coming casually into contact with one another in search of a " pint," the three troopers are just as casually acquainted with Mr Howard, who leads them to their wish of the moment, finds out' why they have come to be part of the war, and then shows, them why their reactions to the. threat of Hitler-are so inevitable. It is all conversational and simple, and it is given the required touch of brilliance by Mr Howard's own performance. The New Zealander concerned is Corporal 'R. G. Gilbert, of Dunedin, and the Second N.Z.E.F., and the others are W. Atkinson, of the A.1.F., and J. Johnston, of the Black Watch of Canada. The film lasts barely 20 minutes, and it will be appreciated by all.who see it. It is showing at the Octagon. Regent, State and Empire Theatres. WAR STRATEGY CHANGING

"In a nutshell, the war, strategy- as I see it, is as follows," said Lieutenantcolonel J.. R. J. Macnamara, MJ»., speaking in the House of Commons. "At the beginning of the war we had large possessions and we had small forces to hold those possessions, whereas Germany was able to put down at any one point a larger army than we could bring there to meet them. Gradually that war strategy, is changing entirely in our favour.. We now see tha contrary developing. Germany has great possessions, and soon; she will find, the more she stretches herself out, that she will have inadequate forces to hold them, and ultimately we shall be able to put down at any one spot, at our own choosing, and when we have command of the air and sea; an army which will defeat her at that particular spot.. 'War strategy, as it has existed, is changing into the exact opposite,and is goirig in our favour*"