ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23377, 8 December 1937, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE LAUGHTER AND DRAMA A comedy picture about four swindlers who find rough going in a small town, Fox Films’ “Welcome Home,” is now at the Civic Theatre with James Dunn, Arline Judge, Raymond Walburn and William Frawley heading the cast. The story is about Dunn, a boy who brings his light-fingered friends to his home town and decides to reform. But habit proves too strong for this quartet of charming scoundrels, and before they know what they are doing they are “taking down” the local citizens. There are romantic complications for Dunn, hairbreadth escapes for his friends. A hilarious climax solves all their troubles. B. G. DeSylva produced “Welcome Home,” which was directed by James Tinling, and on the same programme is a more serious picture.

Because of their unusual success in “Mystery Woman,” Mona Barrie and Gilbert Roland are again brought together in a Fox Film picture. They are featured in “Ladies Love Danger,” the mystery comedy of multiple murders, in a back-stage and penthouse background. It is a comedy mystery in which comedy follows thrill, and the comedian, Herbert Mundin, almost steals the picture. Critics have proclaimed it as a very clever film built on the same plane as the principal’s former success, “Mystery Woman.”

STATE THEATRE

TWO GRAND PICTURES Action, thrills, adventure and romance, with blazing gun duels in the most turbulent era of the California gold fields, when every man wore his own law at his hip, the birth of the vigilante movement to bring law and order into the “diggings”—these are among the features of RKO Radio’s dramatic romance, ‘The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” which is now showing at the State Theatre. Based on the w rldfamous story by Bret Harte, the film has its setting in the Mother Lode region from 1850 to 1860, at the period when news of the vast riches in California brought swarms of adventurers from every country on the globe. Wild and unchecked in their earlier days, the mining camps turned into civilized communities as militant clergymen, fearless teachers and the more farseeing element in the camps combined to eradicate lawlessness and hang the desperadoes or drive them into exile. Preston Foster and Jean Muir head the cast of this production. The second feature, “Behind the Headlines” is a high-speed drama of daring men and women of the newspapers who make and search for sensational news, regardless of consequences. A large cast is headed by Lee Tracy and Diana Gibson

BEGINNING FRIDAY “WAIKIKI' WEDDING” A comedy of love and music in romantic Waikiki will bring Bing Crosby, Bob Burns, Martha Raye and Shirley Ross to the screen of the State Theatre on Friday in Paramount’s “Waikiki Wedding.” The story deals with the romance of a contest winner, played by Miss Ross, who wins a trip to Waikiki with a pineapple recipe. Miss Ross does not like Waikiki and is about to walk out on the whole business when Crosby, who is Press agent for the pineapple concern and who conceived the contest as a publicity stunt, is prevailed upon to take Miss Ross in hand. He proceeds to make Waikiki romantic and glamorous for Miss Ross —so much so that he falls under the spell himself. The climax comes when reality clashes with fantasy and he has to produce a Waikiki which does not exist. Being a resourceful Press agent, he produces it.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“CRAIG’S WIFE” FINE, DRAMATIC FILM TODAY In bold, unflinching strokes, Columbia Pictures has painted on the screen the story of Harriet Craig, one of the most fascinating characters of modem literature or drama. When “Craig’s Wife” was first shown, as a Broadway play, it was enthusiastically received and ended its long run by winning the famous American Pulitzer Prize. The film begins a season at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. Rosalind Russell, who up to now has appeared only as a comedienne, and a charming one, plays the highly dramatic title role. Film audiences have known Miss Russell since the middle of 1935, when she made her first screen appearance in the comedy success, “No More Ladies.” She has subsequently been seen in light roles in “Forsaking All Others,” “China Seas,” “Rendezvous,” “It Had to Happen,” and “Under Two Flags.” Craig, the abused husband, is portrayed by John Boles with unfailing skill. He shows, in one of his finest roles to date, exactly what it means to be the husband of Harriet Craig. Harriet Craig’s marriage was a means towards an end. She married Walter Craig because he could give her what she had carefully planned for all her life—absolute independence. Her home is her symbol; it represents to her the one definite thing she has acquired, and she guards it with vicious intensity. An imposing supporting cast aids materially in the enactment of this sensitive and moving story. Billie Burke, Jane Darwell, Dorothy Wilson, Alma Kruger, Thomas Mitchell, Raymond Walbum, Robert Allen, Elizabeth Risdon, Nydia Westman, and Kathleen Burke contribute fine performances. The associate feature “Escape From Devil’s Island,” featuring Victor Jory, Norman Foster and Florence Rice is a thrilling drama of a daring escape from France’s famous penal settlement. “SARATOGA” SATURDAY Jean Harlow’s last picture “Saratoga” in which she was co-starred with Clark Gabe will be shown at the Majestic on Saturday. It tells of the thrilling exploits of the famous Saratoga race track business and has probably one of the most exciting stories of this type ever presented. Lionel Barrymore, Cliff Edwards, Una Merkle and Walter Pidgeon are also in the cast.

REGENT THEATRE

“DRAEGERMAN COURAGE” DRAMA OF MINE DISASTERS Thrills and comedy are offered in generous measure in the two features which are at present being shown at the Regent Theatre. The thrills are in “Draegerman Courage,” a mining film with strong dramatic suspense. The explanation of the peculiar title of the main film is that draegermen are miners specially trained in underground rescue W’ork. The film is a direct tribute to their courage and resourcefulness. It opens in a small mining town, seething with unrest, which retakes a climax

in a disaster at the mine. The stirring rescue is merely the prelude to a second disaster in which three of the prominent men of the town are trapped by a cave-in. It now becomes apparent that the film has found its inspiration in the Canadian mining disaster last year, which was somewhat parallel in its circumstances. Cable messages told of the prolonged rescue work against great odds in that case, but here the vivid details are shown in an inspiring manner. The stark drama is relieved by some touching domestic scenes and the thread of its love interest. Barton MacLane, Robert Barrat, Henry O’Neill and Jean Muir give strong and sincere performances. “BRIDES ARE LIKE THAT” The picture, “Brides Are Like That,” centres about the activities of a happy-go-lucky ne’er-do-well who has such a tremendous gift for flattery that no one can help liking him. After leaving college the youth sponges on his uncle, a wealthy apple grower, because he and hard work just can’t agree. The uncle’s exasperation reaches a climax when his nephew buys an engagement ring for his sweetheart and charges it to him. The way in which the youth circumvents his rival, and wins the admiration of his sweetheart’s parents and his uncle, brings about one of the most hilarious climaxes imaginable. Ross Alexander and Anita Louise play the featured roles as the young lovers.

THE EMPIRE, RIVERTON

Tonight two features will be screened. “Pot Luck,” featuring Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn, is a riotous comedy full of action, speed, laughter, and romance. The other picture features George O’Brien and Polly Young in “The Border Patrolman.” George O’Brien gives what the public always demands of him—a strong story about red-blooded men, and a girl worth fighting for, in a country where every trail leads to blazing adventure.