ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23166, 6 April 1937, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE “THE ROAD TO GLORY” n Starring Fredric March, Warner Baxter, Lionel Barrymore and June e Lang, the spectacular drama, “Road to -j Glory” concludes a season at the State Theatre today. As this picture unfolds a it takes the audience first into a rest camp, then into the front line trenches e where the tattered remnants of a • glorious French regiment has lived and >’ died for two years. It travels a realisj tically grim road to glory, telling its story in a forceful way, but also in a r manner that is impressively human and heart touching. There have been many j war films, but few approach the realism s of “The Road to Glory,” which is one t of the important films of the year. * BEGINNING TOMORROW s “WHITE FANG” , Replete with the romance of the Far i North and filled with the drama of the lawless frontier, “White Fang,” , Jack London’s great sequel to “Call ' of the Wild,” will open at the State 3 Theatre tomorrow, with Michael j Whalen and Jean Muir heading an exceptional cast. “White Fang” weaves j a thrilling story of gold and greed, love and danger. Intermingled with the narrative is the biography of Lightning, ’ the mighty son of Buck, the dog-star of ; “Call of the Wild,” and a she-wolf. [ Whalen, an adventurer down on his ; luck, is persuaded by Thomas Beck, a ' newcomer to the north, to guide him on a long trek into the interior in search . of a gold mine bequeathed to Beck and j. his sister. The long, nerve-wracking [ trip over the ice and snow is too much for Beck. He eventually goes mad, and jumps over a precipice, while Whalen ’ falls unconscious.' A pack of wolves has been trailing the pair for miles, and, when the man drops, the beasts close in. The leader is a magnificent creature, and the unfamiliar manscent stirs some odd emotion in his brain. He viciously chases the remainder of the pack, and assumes guard over the man. Slim Summerville, Charles Winninger and Jane Darwell are included in the brilliant cast. MAJESTIC THEATRE “THE DEVIL IS A SISSY” Starring that popular little English actor Freddie Bartholomew, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, “The Devil is a Sissy,” which is now showing at the Majestic Theatre, comes as a worthy successor to the previous production, “David Copperfield,” wjf.ch first brought this versatile young player before the approving eyes of the public. In prominent supporting roles are Jackie Cooper and Mickey Rooney, both of whom fill their roles with great credit. The three young players are accorded plenty of support by lan Hunter and Peggy Conklin. The latter player gained the approval of many film-goers when she appeared opposite Edward Everett Horton in the bright comedy “Her Master’s Voice.” There can be little doubt that “The Devil Is a Sissy” will appeal to practically all classes of audiences. Its attraction will not be for children alone; many people will remember how popular the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn series proved when shown a few years ago. This latest effort is very much of the same type. “THE MINE WITH THE IRON DOOR” Coming tomorrow is the adventure film “The Mine with the Iron Door” featuring Richard Arlen, Cecilia Parker and Henry B. Walthall. Adapted from Harold Bell Wright’s screen story, the legend of the buried treasure was investigated by the film company’s research department and was found to be based on authorative fact. The scene of the story which concerns the finding of the fabulous treasure, is set in Arizona, where 300 years before, monks buried their treasure. A young American, Bob Harvey finds himself owner of the land in which the treasure is buried and becomes interested in its finding. Also screened in the same programme is “The Sea Spoilers” starring John Wayne and Nan Grey. It tells of the thrills of coast-guards battling with smugglers in far-off Alaskan seas. REGENT THEATRE “THE GAY DESPERADO” Although the principal role-is portrayed by Nino Martini, a star of the Metropolitan Grand Opera, the concert stage and the radio microphone, “The Gay Desperado,” the United Artists film which is having its final screenings at the Regent Theatre today, cannot be completely described as “a musical production.” The director of “The Gay Desperado” is Rouben Mamoulian, and the story gives him ample scope for the exercise of his somewhat specialized talent which aims primarily at the har- : monious blending of entertainment for both the eye and the ear. Here he has i Martini’s voice and the Mexican setting with which to work out his effects. The story concerns a band of Mexican desperados led by Leo Carillo, who wants to ape modern gangster methods and ' who possesses a natural love of music. He makes prisoners of Martini, who be- j comes the minstrel member of the out- ; fit, and Ida Lupino and James Blakely, whom he holds for ransom. Stanley Fields, an American gangster, attempts to double-cross the bandit chieftain, with resultant excitement. Romance, arrest, and other factors complicate the story, in the course of which Martini sings “Celeste Aida,” “The World is Mine,” “Adios Mi Terra,” “Cielita Lindo,” “Lamento Gitano” and “Estrellita.”