AMUSEMENTS

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 28, 21 June 1940, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE. Ruth Terry is one person who can tell you how Daniel must have . felt <•/ when they tossed him in with those lions—and so can Pat O’Brien. When Producer Walter Wanger gave Ruth her first major screen opportunity in “Slightly Honourable,” screening at the State Thetare, he featured her with a cast that includes such artists as O’Brien, Edward Arnold, Broderick Crawford, Alan Dinehart, Claire Dodd, Douglas Dumbrille, Phyllis Brooks and others. Ruth has a major role that runs through the entire picture, in which she matches line for line with these tried .veterans. Nobody realized how < much of a strain it was until Pat saw her practically in tears after a certain scene. When O’Brien asked what the trouble was, Ruth said: “Gosh, Mr. O’Brien, I’m just scared to death. Every time I walk on the set with you or Mr. Arnold or any of the others I start to shake like a leaf.” Pat looked at the girl for just a second, then said: “Honey, I’m going to tell you a secret that I’ve never told anybody before. You haven’t anything on me — been scared to death for years.” “Slightly Honourable” was directed by Tay Garnett for United Artists release. HEROIC HISTORY! A page torn from heroic history! The “Overland Express” defies Indians and bandits as it speeds across the Western plains! Buck Jones stars in Columbia’s new Western, set in the

pioneer period and screening at the State Theatre. Drew Eberson directed this story of the pony express, Marjorie Reynolds, Carlyle Moore, and Matson Williams are among the supporting play-

ers. KING’S THEATRE. “REBECCA.” OUTSTANDING FILM THRILLER WITH CAST OF BRILLIANT STARS. With Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine heading a cast of outstand-

ing players and with a story filled with drama, suspense and mystery, David 0. Selznick’s latest production “Rebecca” is released by United Artists, and is screening at the King’s Theatre. The film is brilliantly directed by Alfred Hitchcock, known internally as a master of intrigue, crime and mystery on the screen. “Rebecca” is the film version of the best-selling novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. It was prepared for the screen by Robert E. Sherwood and Joan Harrison and retains all the gripping drama of the original book. Laurence Olivier, who last year made a tremendous hit as the hero of “Wuthering Heights,” plays the role of Maxim de Winter, the socially prominent owner of Mandreley, the vast Tudor estate where most of the action unwinds. To this house he brings his second wife, played by Miss Fontaine, a shy and unsophisticated person who can hardly be compared to the glittering and brilliant former mistress of Manderley, Rebecca, now dead. But though Rebecca is dead,

her forceful personality and dramatic beauty still continue to dominate Manderley and to haunt the lives of those who wander through its immense rooms. Judith Anderson, as the sadistically cruel Mrs. Danvers, George Sanders as Jack Favell; Nigel Bruce, C. Aubrey Smith, Reginald Denny and Gladys Cooper are othe rimportant players. Alfred Hitchcock, the director who brought a new status to screen intrigue and melodrama, has directed “Rebecca” with startling impact, with amazing subtlety as to character delineation and with rich dramatic overGladys Cooper are other important and. engrossing swiftness from its initial scene to the final fadeout. Brilliant pictorial backgrounds include London streets, old taverns, a coron-

er’s office, a boathouse facing a windswept bay on the coast of Cornwall, and the largest which depicted the Tudor estate, being two stories high and containing a drawing room, library, dining room, foyer and two upper storey wings. PLAZA THEATRE. One of -the best loved of all story classics, Johann David Wyss’ ‘Swiss Family Robinson,” at the Plaza Theatre, and this reviewer is delighted to report in its favour. The screen version is infinitely more vivid and realistic and exciting than any possible arrangement of words on paper could be. And its producers, the noted screen-writing team of Gene Towne and Graham Baker, are entitled to plenty of plaudits for their skilful cinematic rendition of Wyss’ immortal book. ’ Opening in London during the Napoleonic period when all Europe was jittery with war alarms, the story tells how William Robinson, Swiss

clockmaker, sees his four boys growing up to be useless snobs, his wife interested only in her shallow social pleasures.

Determined to make men of his sons if it can be done, Robinson sells out his business, embarks with his rebellious wife and offspring on an Aus-tralia-bound brig and plans to build a new life. But the brig is wrecked in' a storm and ttm Robinsons, the sole survivors, ferry themselves to a nearby tropic island along with a few barnyard animals. 7 How the marooned sextette pit themselves successfully against the forces of nature and how the boys become self-reliant and upstanding young men while the wife eventually comes to understand her husband’s ideals, along with a brilliant series of adventures and experiences, make up the absorbing drama. A splendid cast with Thomas Mitchell and Edna Best as the parents and Freddie Bartholomew, Terry Kilburn, Tim Holt and Baby Bobby Quillan as the four youngsters, do grand work throughout. The clever direction of Edward Ludwig, the remarkable marine-and island locations and the fidelity of the film to the original, all rate hearty praise. By all means put “Swiss Family Robinson” on your list of pictures that must be seen. TUDOR THEATRE “EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT NIGHT.” A completely different type of picture for Sonja Henie, now trans-

' • . . ... • ferred for a third week to t* dor Theatre, in this 20th (J I Fox film. Darryl F. Zanuck R 1 the famed skating staring dramatic and comedy role. $ 1 amazingly developed - acting i M makes - her" perfectly, at home i‘ story and of '■ course' there t quences in which Sonja dispon ß only on skates but on the sheer, I* mering ski slides' of the Alp though' Sonja’s role is essential matic, light comedy touches® jected when Ray Milland anil Cummings, as ■ two rival m reporters, fall for her and® her love as well as for one of’ gest stories of the day. hire Irving Cummings with a deft “Everything Happens at Night' ceptional entertainment. - The associate feature is “H : Spy,” a re-issue of the mosttii L z . . spy picture of ' all time, stare [ rad Veidt, Madelieriel Carroll& I bert Marshall. ‘ “til