AMUSEMENTS

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 32, 19 July 1940, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE. . WARREN WILLIAM PLAYS LONE WOLF “The Lone Wolf Strikes,” Columbia’s newest addition to the thrilling Lone Wolf series, screening at the State Theatre with Warren William in the title role. Joan Perry supplies the so-essential romantic touch in the newest and most exciting adventure of the debonair ex-rogue who laughs at love and..locksmiths alike. A fortune in gems is the prize as the Lone Wolf solves a double murder, upsets the plans of rival jewel thieves and rescues a kidnapped lady in distress in a whirl of reckless, romantic action. Eric - Blore, Astrid Allwin, Robert Wilcox, Montagu Love and Alan Baxter play prominent parts in the production, which was directed by Sidney Salkow. The second feature “Two Fisted Rangers” starring Charles Starrett and Iris Meredith is hot ryhthm roaring across the plains as “six-guns” thunder a blazing doom for killer. Situations, romantic and dramatic have been built in to this Columbia picture \ where pioneers sing and play their way in the latest and stirring western. PLAZA THEATRE. Up came Michael Redgrave’s hand. Smack it went across Margaret Lockwood’s cheek! “Jolly good!” said Carol Reed, who directed “The Stars Look Down” (G.8.D.) at the Plaza Theatre. . “Now we can do it again.”

“Eh! What is this?” asked Mar-

garet Lockwood, holding her face. He hit me an awful slosh. Nearly knocked my head off.” “I’m afraid it was not convincing enough,” said Reed, shaking his head. “Let’s take it again.” This is the first time Margaret Lockwood has been slapped in her screen career, and now she is hoping that it is her last. Nancy Price, who plays the mother of Michael Redgrave and the wife of Edward Rigby in the Fenwick family in “The Stars Look Down,” did not use any make-up or special hair-dress-ing for her part. She felt that if make-up were added to her face a lot of character would be lost. • % Would you, every ten minutes or so, allow a person to empty the contents of a watering can over you, and not get annoyed about it? You would probably reply that it depended entirely upon the circumstances. Well, Michael Redgrave put up with this kind of thing for several hours recently at the Twickenham studios during the taking of a sequence for the film version of A. J. Cronin’s “The Stars Look Down.” He was fully dressed, and did not wear an overcoat. Before every take he walked over to the property man, who was seated upon a ladder, and allowed him to empty the contents of the can over his head. The day before scenes had been shot of Redgrave in the rain. The downpour was made with the studio rain machines, so when the star entered the house he still had to be wet through. . The house scenes were not

shot until the following day, so the actor had to get wet all over again.

However, there was little chance of him catching cold, for. Nancy Price, who plays his screen mother in the picture, makes him peel them off in front of the camera, which is part of the scene. KING’S THEATRE. . /• An unforgettable story, brilliant performances, outstanding direction and a beautiful production make Edward Small’s film version of Howard Spring’s “My Son, My Son!” one of the finest pictures of the year. This new film drama, which will be given a gala premiere on Friday at the King’s has a brilliant array of stars in Madeleine Carroll, Brian Aherne and Louis Hayward, a trio which enhances the picture by down-to-earth,. unforgettable acting. Others who turn in excellent performances include Henry Hull, one of the best contemporary character actors, Josephine Hutchinson, Laraine Day, Sophie Stewart, and Bruce Lester. With his usual skill for maintaining swift tempo and clear characterization, Charles Vidor has directed “My Son, My Son!” with a remarkable sureness of touch and with unsurpassed clarity of insight.

The story of “My Son, My Son!” is rich in emotional implicatiopis and everyday drama. It concerns a father and a son, and the high hopes that fail to materialize. William Essex’s dreams for his son fade into thin air when he realizes that Oliver is a vain and selfish young man, over sophisticated, insincere and cynical. Oliver realizes almost too late that he has brought misery to the people who have surrounded him with love and understanding.

.. Golden-haired Madeleine Carroll, portraying the role of Livia Vaynol, has never turned in a screen characterization to equal her present one in this picture; Brian Aherne and Louis Hayward, as William and Oliver respectively, play their parts with understanding and humanity which points up the story brilliantly; and the other members of the'cast in the supporting roles make many notable contributions. .

“My Son, My Son!” definitely belongs among the great pictures that from time to time come out of Hollywood to surprise the millions of moviegoers all over the world. It is a memorable screen accomplishment because for sheer entertainment, it hasn’t been—and is unlikely to be—surpassed in a long time to come.