AT THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 23897, 16 August 1939, Page 14

AT THE THEATRES

COMING ATTRACTIONS “Men With Wings,” a technicolour picture which will open on Saturday at the Regent Theatre, presents a bird’seye view of the progress of flying over three decades in the story of three young Americans who devote their lives to the development of aviation. Its all-star cast is headed by Fred. Mac Ray Milland ahd Louise Campbell. The story opens with the historic flight of the Wright Brothers over Kitty Hawk in 1903, and traces the progress of flying through the early heartbreaking years of experimentation, through the World War, the fabulous boom days of the Coolidge era, the bleak years of the depression and down to the present period of round-the-world flights at lightning speed. MacMurray is shown as the devil-may-care adventurer who blazes _ trails across the sky but cannot stay in any one place long enough to make lasting contributions to aviation. Milland, on the other hand, is the patient experimenter, the far-visioned man who builds the planes for tomorrows flyers. Miss Campbell, in her first big dramatic role, nlays the pioneer air woman with whom both men are in love.

Directed by William A. Wellman. A Paramount Picture. * # ♦

With Don Ameche as a singing, loving, fighting D’Artagnan, and the Ritz Brothers as musketeers more at home with a carving knife than a sword, the musical comedy version of The Three Musketeers,” opening at the State Theatre on August 24 is a new way of presenting the Alexandre Dumas story which has captivated and enchanted audiences and readers from the day it was conceived almost a century ago. The film has been hailed as one of the happiest entertainment ideas since the movies began. Swordplay alternates with horseplay, royal romance and secret intrigue vie for interest with the antics of three buffoons, and through it all are to be heard some rousing songs. In addition to Don Ameche and the Ritz Brothers, the cast includes such popular favourites as Binnie Barnes, Gloria Stuart, Pauline Moore, Joseph Schildkraut, John Carradine, Lionel Atwill, Miles Mander, Douglas Dumbrille and John King.

Directed by Allan Dwan. A 20th Century-Fox Picture.

“Give a man a horse he can ride!” is the way the song runs, but it needs a slight change in lines to meet the requirements of Buck Jones, in his latest screen offering. .The new line might read, “Give him a car that he can guide.” In his new adventure film, “Ride ’Em Cowboy,” which begins at the Civic Theatre on Friday, Buck Jones provides a varied assortment of thrills and fun. As the central character he is a mischief-loving cowboy who has a habit of getting himself into trouble. While trying to get out of one of his escapades he is induced to substitute for a racing driver to pilot a car in a race. The catch is that the racing car is the first he has ever driven. Through the story runs a thread of intrigue, with Buck attempting to beat his enemies and performing unusual daredevil feats astride his horse Silver. An excellent cast includes Luana Walters as leading lady; George Cooper, William Lawrence, Joseph Girard, J. P. McGowan, Donald Kirke and Charles Lemoyne.

Directed by Les Selander. A Universal Picture.

Stage coach travel becomes so fraught with danger in the days of the frontier West that one man stakes his life on the turn of a single card to make it safe again. The man is “Hopalong Cassidy,” played by William Boyd once more in Paramount’s “Sunset Trail,” the latest of this series which comes on Friday to the Majestic Theatre. A notorious gambler and outlaw terrorizes the trail to Sacramento, finally committing a robbery and murder which drives “Hopalong” into

action. With his pals “Windy” and “Lucky,” “Hoppy” comes into town, and proceeds to throw money about until he gets the gambler into a card game. “Hoppy” turns the right card and securing some of the gamblers money, establishes him as the man who has made the trail unsafe. In a thrilling pursuit, “Hoppy” succeeds in gaining the upper hand for the forces of law and order.

Directed by Lesly Selander. A Paramount Picture.

Based on brilliant stories by Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Suicide Club ’ is now showing at the Majestic Theatre with Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell in starring roles. The production is marked by excellent detail, for the story is laid in the 1880’s, and there is a light-hearted charm about it which comes only with fantastic tales about the princes and princesses of mythical kingdoms travelling incognito. For in this film Montgomery is a Crown Prince and Miss Russell, is a princess. The picture is also outstanding because of a remarkably pleasing cast, headed by Frank Morgan, Reginald Owen, Louis Hayward and E. E. Clive. The thrilling climax of this most entertaining picture is a fast and furious rapier duel between Montgomery and Owen which equals any such combat ever screened; and the mystery with which Miss Russell invests her part through the first half adds to the attractions of a delightful romance. Directed by J. Walter Rubin. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture.

The screen adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s brilliant comedy “Pygmalion,” which is now at the State Theatre, has been acclaimed as one of the most remarkable achievements of the British film industry, and one that equals the best that Hollvwood has of-

fered. The play has lost nothing in its adaptation, and the reflection of its sparkling wit, its pathos, its drama, and its comedy, presented by a superb cast, calls forth nothing but admiration. Through every stage of Eliza Doolittle’s transformation from Cockney flowergirl to a great lady who passes with society, Wendy Hiller is perfect; and she remains human, which is not an easy task in a Bernard Shaw play. As the boorish, callous professor of phonetics, Leslie Howard is magnificent. The rest of the cast reads like a “Who’s Who” of the English stage. All of them help the picture’s triumph; none more so than Wilfred' Lawson as the miraculous dustman. Since the first few early unsuccessful efforts to film his plays, Shaw has learned a lesson. He no longer insists, as he once did, that his work must go on the screen exactly as it was written for the stage; he has permitted cinematic licence. Every word in the film was written by its author, but at the same time the mass of dialogue has been skilfully adapted, and skilfully directed. This story moves and is alive. It is not just an occasion for Shavian philosophizing, but a deliciously amusing and often uproarious screen comedy. A Gaumont British Picture. ♦ * *

“Fools For Scandal,” now showing at the Regent Theatre, is a gay comedy starring Carole Lombard and Fernand

Gravet. A. sparkling musical score is provided by Rodgers and Hart and there are two notable songs, “How Can You Forget?” and “There’s a Boy in Harlem.” The story shows Miss Lombard as an American film star in Europe to see the sights. Gravet, an impoverished French baron who does not use his title because of a lack of coin of the realm, shows off his culinary ability for a joke at a party. The haughty actress offers him a job as her cook to embarrass him. He accepts, after which the film continues its fast pace as Miss Lombard falls hopelessly in love with her aloof chef. Supporting roles are aptly filled by Ralph Bellamy •as Miss Lombard’s willing but unwanted fiance, Allen Jenkins as an American friend of Gravet (also impecunious), and Isabel Jeans and Marcia Ralston.

Directed by Meryyn Le Roy. A Warner Brothers Picture. * » * .

The methods of blackmail rings that have been revealed in newspaper headlines of the past were rarely more ingenious than the plans developed by the “Thursday Club” in “The Girl on the Front Page,” now showing at the Civic Theatre. The blackmailers succeed in entering the employ of the

most prominent wealthy families in the city as butlers, personal maids. and household servants. They look for scandal and improvise it where it does not exist. Working in several homes simultaneously, they meet on Thursdays to compare notes and advance their schemes. When some person is ripe for plucking, they send a representative to demand hush money. After collecting, the exclusive help goes on to'another victim. This bright little scheme is finally squashed by the managing editor of the city’s leading newspaper. The editor’s role is portrayed by Edmund Lowe, remembered for his success in “What Price Glory,” “Bom Reckless,” Cisco Kid,” “Old Arizona,” and “Mr Dynamite.” Other important roles are taken by Gloria Stuart, Reginald Owen and Dave Oliver.

Directed by Harry Beaumont. A Universal Picture.