AT THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 23796, 19 April 1939, Page 8

AT THE THEATRES

COMING ATTRACTIONS Vividly revealing the life, laughter, and tragedy in the hearts of young people of the streets of a big city, “Little Tough Guy,” begins on Friday at the Majestic Theatre, featuring the “Dead End” kids with Helen Parrish, Robei-t Wilcox, Jackie Searl, and Marjorie Main. Sweeping in its scope, and filled with stirring moments, the picture is a compelling human document. Billy Halop, who captured wide favour in “Dead End” and again in Crime School,” delivers a dramatic portrayal that rivals the best efforts of skilled adult performers. Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Bernard Punscley, and the other “Dead End” boys are equally outstanding with their pungent brand ot acting. The sister role is played by Helen Parrish, who scored as the “meanie” with. Deanna Durbin in “Mad About Music.” She is splendid , as the girl who struggles to save her brother from the sordid influence ot the gang. Marjorie Min does her usual fine work as the mother, and Robert Wilcox is excellent as Helens sweetheart and friend.

Directed by Harold Young. A Universal Picture.

* * ♦ * As Tommy McCoy, the boy who fought his way from the slums to the Heights, Robert Taylor presents his finest, most vigorous acting role in “The Crowd Roars,” beginning at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. Here is the plea for action in pictures, with Taylor putting every ounce of energy and ability into his first prize fight role. The picture is packed with thrills, romance and suspense. A cast of champions supports the star: Frank Morgan as his father, ex-vaudeville trouper; Edward Arnold as the gambler behind the scenes of the. fight game; Maureen O’Sullivan as his daughter and Jane Wyman as her school chum and rival for Taylor’s affections; William Gargan as the former light-heavy-weight champ killed in the ring by Taylor, his former pupil; Lionel Standel as the star’s trainer; Nat Pendleton as Arnold’s gambling rival; Isabel Jewell as Gargan’s wife; Gene Reynolds as Tommy McCoy as a boy. All these parts are taken with skill and understanding.

Driected by Richard Thorpe. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture.

In “Hollywood Cowboy,” now at the Civic Theatre, George O’Brien gives more than his usual share of skilful horsemanship while playing the role of a Hollywood cowboy star who returns to his natural element—the wide open spaces. While vacationing m the cattle country with a friend, a pretty girl’s smile tempts him to hide his identity and go to work for her aunt as a hard-riding cowboy. He is further influenced by the fact that a gang ot city thugs have invaded the range and are carrying on a. ruthless reign of terror against the cattlemen in an attempt to blackmail for alleged protection against cowboy strikers. The girl, played by Cecila Parker, and her aunt, Maude Eburne, are selected as the next victim of outrage; and after the herd of cattle is stampeded by a gangster’s aeroplane, O’Brien launches a counter-campaign with the aid of a Hollywood stunt flier. Directed by Ewing Scott. An R.K.O. Radio Picture.

“The Saint in New York,” which comes to the State Theatre on Friday, brings to the screen the famous character created for fiction by Leslie Charteris. When New York authorities are unable to secure convictions against a half dozen gang leaders, a civic authority secretly calls in the aid of “The Saint.” This mysterious individual, who might have been the world’s most dreaded criminal had he not whimsically dedicated his talents to ridding the world of riyal evildoers, promptly sets to work killing, off the gangsters one by one. The frightened survivors on his list do their best to trap “The Saint,” as do the police and unforseen complications serve to build the suspense of the film to dramatic heights. Louis Hayward heads the cast of the picture as the debonair underworld reformer, with Kay Sutton as a mysterious girl involved with tne gangsters. Jonathan Hale, Sig Rumann, Paul Guilfoyle, Frederic Burton, Charles Halton, Cliff Bragdon and Ben Welden have prominent roles. Directed by Ben Holmes. An R.K.O. Radio Picture.

Seven of Hollywood’s greatest character stars have been assembled for important roles in Warner Baxter’s newest starring part in “I’ll Give A Million,” now showing at the State Theatre. The production, a sparkling comedy drama which has Warner Baxter and Marorie Weaver as the romantic leads is a story of a millionaire who leaves his yacht to enjoy life as a tramp, required some expert handling of character roles. Several actors, stars in their own right, were chosen for these parts to assure perfection of portrayal. These included Peter Lorre, Jean Hersholt, John Carradine, J. Edward Bromberg, Fritz Feld, Sig Rumann and Georges Renavent. The plot is ingenious. Only a clever writer could develop the idea of a whole town in Southern France suddenly inaugurating kindness to tramps because Warner Baxter, tired of fair-weather acquaintances, announces that he will give a million francs for a real friend.

Directed by Walter Lang. A 20th Century-Fox Picture.

Madge Evans is co-starred with Preston Foster in “Army Girl,” now at the Regent Theatre. Miss Evans portrays the role of Julie Armstrong, daughter of an army post cavalry commander. Dissatisfied with the routine life of an “army girl,” Julie falls in love with a dashing army captain, Dike Conger, played by Preston Foster. Conger has come to the post for an experiment, which, if it works, will do away with the cavalry—Julie’s greatest love. Conger wants to replace the cavalry with a tank corps. In spite of their different viewpoints on this subject, and despite Conger’s reputation for “loving and leaving” girls, the two come together in a happy ending—after many trying experiences. An excellent supporting cast includes James Gleason, Ruth Donnelly, H. B. Warner, Ralph Morgan, Neil Hamilton and Heather Angel. Directed by George Nicholls, jun., A Republic Picture. ♦ » * *

Rudolph Valentino returns in his last and greatest picture, “Son of the Shiek,” now showing at the Majestic Theatre. Brought back by the genuine popular demand, in exactly its original form except for the addition of a modernistic musical score and dramatic sound effects, “Son of the Sheik” is a

thrilling drama of the great. Arabian desert. Valentino plays both the sheik of the picturesque Sahara and the role of his strong-willed, swashbuckling son, who while keeping a rendezvous with a dancing slave girl, enacted by the ever popular Vilma Banky, is kidnapped by a band of Moorish robbers. Riding recklessly over the hot desert sands, making love to his sweetheart, and avenging himself single-handed against the Moors, Valentino portrays once more the romantic character that endeared him to millions. The revival of “Son of the Sheik” will find a new audience waiting eagerly to see it, since a new generation to whom Rudolph Valentino has been only a myth, has now joined the movie-going public. At the premiere return engagement of “Son of the Sheik” in Hollywood, the audiences which thronged to the theatre seemed to be largely composed of younger people who came to pay tribute to the film idol of their parents, and remained to be thrilled by one of the greatest pieces of entertainment ever to be shown on the screen. Directed by George Fitzmaurice. An Inspiration Films production. * * * *

Despite the great number of popular, best-selling books brought to the screen with signal success, motion-picture producers still hesitate when contemplating the film adaptation of a widely-read story because of the problem of choosing players who will best bring to life beloved fictional characters. Faced with the task of filling the real-life shoes of P. G. Wodehouse’s famous Jeeves, Twentieth Century-Fox executives, in choosing Arthur Treacher, discovered the most successful type of story figure ever brought to the screen. Treacher’s second portrayal of the beloved “gentleman’s gentleman” is in the hilarious “Step Lively, Jeeves,” now showing at the Civic Theatre. Patricia Ellis and Robent Kent play the romantic leads in the film, with Alan Dinehart and Helen Flint also in featured roles. Directed by Eugene Forde. A 20th Century-Fox Picture.