MERIAN C. COOPER'S
MIGHTIEST SHOW
:
THE
LAST DAYS OF POMPEII
Short Shots
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DMAN AHEARNE, who scored D such a hit in the doun frawford vehicle "I Live my Life" has returned to his real love, the stage. after An-1 ishing "Sylvia Scarlett" with Ka- tharine Hepburn. He is Broadway with the greatest of all American actresses, Katherine Cor nell, in her presentation of "Joan of Arc." It was with this great artiste that he played "Mercutio" in "Romeo and Juliet" and most of us wish he had been given the role in the screen version.
For so long Joan Crawford - had bern scheduled to act the leading role in "The Garden of Allah" Now it is to be the next for Merle Oberon and will most likely be filmed in the new tee! nicolour. No cast chosen as yet.
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Clarence Brown Rill direct Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in "A Lady Comes to Town" which she willi do before "Parel!"
Warners are planning to make a Tepeat of "The Jazz Singer" to cele- brate the tenth anniversary of the Talkies. Al Jolson will of course : play the lead.
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A LOVE STORY
$2,000 YEARS OLD
WRITTEN FOR THIS VERY HOURI
with
PRESTON FOSTER.
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ALAN HALE BASIL RATHBONE
JOHN WOOD LOUIS CALHERN DAVID HOLT
SUNDAY
AT THE
KING'S
Arline Judge in in "Here Comes Trouble,” which is com~ ing to the King's Theatre soon
LO
THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, APRIL-ZĘ, 1935"
ERROL FLYNN IDEAL HERO
OF "CAPTAIN BLOOD" _ "DRAKE OF ENGLAND” THE FINEST BRITISH FILM YET SHOWN
A
“LAST DAYS OF POMPEII" GREAT SPECTACULAR
DRAMA VIVIDLY PORTRAYED
VIGOROUS and colourful)
By Diane
JA:
ROBUST historical
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marice of Elizabethan EnK- land with plenty of action and a strong patriotic appeal is "Drake of England." The story
tale of slavery, romance and piracy in the Caribbean is told in "Captain Blood." This marks the debut, in a starring role, of Irish Erroll Flynn, des-perfection the dead-eye lass who opens with Drake's departure cendant of Fletcher Christian can outshoot "World's Champion from Plymouth in 1567 on that of the "Bounty") and brings to Sharpshooter" (Preston Foster) famous voyage that made him the screen another leading man any day, but who losses her heart the hated enemy of the Span
liards. who is likely to share in popu-to him.
The film follows the! main facts of Drake's career larity with Clark Gable. Gary
This is grand old-fashioned me very closely and, as a study of Cooper and a few others.
Arthur Woods directed this
Most of us know the Sabatinilodrama filled with colour and exthe England of that time, istory which tells of a young Irish /citement. George Stevens, Holly-Louis N. Parker's play is un- surgeon who is wrongly accused of wood's youngest director, who re usually interesting. jcomplicity in the rebellion againstcently won such praise with "Alice James II of England, sent to the /Adams." is in charge of affairs B.I.P. and Matheson Lang with! West Indies to be sold into sla-He has given that much-loved, star his very and bought by the pretty Barbara Stanwyck her best chance dramatic delivery. makes a glam- heroine out of pique. An uprising in years and she receives super orous figure of Drake." Athene Foster, Seyler gives one of her best per- of the slaves puts Peter Blood in support from
Virgin Queen. command of a pirate ship. the Melvyn Douglas, Moroni Olsen formances as the French are driven from the Carib-Andy Clyde. Chief Thunder Bird Her lines, it is claimed. are based
Preston
commanding presence and
on authentic sayings of the bean. he is pardoned and becomes and Pert Kelton, with a crowd of
who contribute in до Queen. Small parts are played ef- Governor of the Island where he cowboys
fectively by Ben Webster. Sam had been in bordage. It is unne-small fashion to the enjoyment.
It is not generally known that
Livesey Charles Quartermaine) icessary to tell that pretty Ara-)
now used bella (Olivia
(who also played in the stage ver de Haviland) bethe perforated tickets
The value of in the show business were once sion) Jane Baxter, Henry Molli- this picture lies in the brisk move-Called "Annie Oakleys." This picson, Alan Jeayes, and crowds of and others too numerous to mention ment and the truly amazing scenes ture of her spectacular life
comes his bride.
of sea battles, which are so rea-jove in the Wild West Show Sup The musical effects deserve special
listically staged and ably directed by Michael Curtiz.
Errel Flynn is the personifica- tion of the dashing hero-stal- wart. handsome and magnetic and the lucky possessor of a cultured speaking voice. If one can judge' by this picture Mr. Flynn has a future in Hollywood. Miss Haviland makes a lore- al-
bi
ide
ly and charming heroine. though the over-elaborate gowns jseem out of place in certain in- stances. For instance it seems hardly credible that a young girl! would appear in the West Indies slave market, wearing a pastel sa-
jtin gown at noon time. Apart from this blatant mistake in dress the picture has few faults and is de finitely worth anyone's money, for
it is great stuff and should share kwith the ever-memorable "Sea Hawks" and that epic of 1935, Muting on the Bounty." for box- Basil Rathbone is office appeal. known as one of the finest swords- men in the film colony and is most! convincing in his big scene with Errol Flynn.
Paul Kelly heads the cast in which "Here Comes Trouble,"
at the King's will be shown
The support is excellent and Alexander, Lionel Atwill, Ross Guy Kibbee, Henry Stephenson, picture "These Three" (starring Mi-Robert Barrett. Donald Meek, Loretta Young will have Robert riam Hopkins, Merle Oberon and Joel Jessie Ralph, Forrester Harvey Theatre soon. Taylor, Patsy Kelly and Basil Rath-McCrea) that he has received a ton- bone in her next picture,
"Private tract with Goldwyn, and his next job(the comic relief) Vernon Steele,
!will be Number."
"Dodsworth," with Walter Leonard Mudie and others share
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praise.
This film, with its sea battles, stately pageantry at Windsor and Hampton Court, plus 3 strong
dramatic story, which ably ex- presses the spirit of romantic Elizabethan England. should prove) to be stirring popular entertain- ment. (Alhambra).
"The Last Days Of Pompeñï”
This picture most of all shows how realistically the destruction of 'Pompeii and the panic of its
nhabitants can be recreated
on
the screen. Most filmgoers go ex- pecting to see Bulwer-Lytton's great novel, but this is a story of a hero Elacksmith (Preston Fos ter) who loses his wife and child because he is poor, and decides to make money his goal. His adopt- ed son is a Christian and
repu father's teachings.
diates Zig There is a love romance running through, with Dorothy Wilson as the Christian girl.
is
The newcomer John Wood likeable as the son when grown- up, while David Holt takes the role) as the boy. Preston Foster, Louis Calhern, Basil Rathbone, Frank Conroy, Wyrley Birch, Murray. Kinnell and many more do splex- did work but it is as a spectacle that this picture can be recom- mended. The sets are gorgeous.
Huston and Ruth Chatterton in the with Errol Flynn in making this plies one of the most novel and and the scenes of the actual des Mark Sandrich, who has made such leading roles. Buston recently the biggest picture Warners have heartily wholesome comedy triction of the city are breath- a bit of musicals (he is the man be-ished Rhodes of Africa" for a Bri-given us this year. Michael Cur mances seen for a long time. The taking in their reality. As drams- hind the Rogers-Astaire films), will tish studio, He played "Dodsworth"
tiz earns applause for his skill in ja an unusual entertainmenttic fare it is well above the aver=" direct Katharine Hepburn in "Mary for over a year on Broadway.....
keeping the story moving vigorous with popular appeal to men, women age, although the cameramen and of Scotland.”
Robert Armstrong has marriedly and, as is usual with pictures and children of all nationalities. the technical department are the Clarice Mayne, who will be remem-Gladys du Bois, a song writer. This like this, the cameramen deserve Not to be missed. (Alhambra). bered in the English music halls ap-is his second venture.
the highest praise. Warners went pearing with her husband as "This
and That," and whose best song-
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to great lengths to make this a
Another popular actress marries a
memory is "Broken Doll," the war- doctor. Mae Clark recently became super picture and they have suc taking a try at the talkies, the wife of Dr. Frank Nolan. Mrs. ceeded in bringing another smash-
time hit,
"Woman Trap"
Jewel crooks versus "G"
пад
and will be leading lady in the new Don Alvarado, former wife of the hit to the screen. For grand ex-and reporter George Murphy try-
real stars of the picture Not to
be missed if you favour this type
of picture. (King's).
"Last Of The Pagans"
The King's offer a most popular]
Max Miller comedy for Warners' Mexican actor, has married one of citement and adventure don't missing to return kidnapped Gertrude programme with "Last of the Pa-
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British studio.
the famous Warner Brothers. Kather-this. (Queen's). ine Carver, who was once Mrs. Adol- William Wyler recently divorced phe Menjou, has married a New York from Margaret Sullavan has made broker. such a success of the Sam Goldwyni
*Annie Oakley"
(Continued on Page 12)
Jane Withers and Jackle: Searl are in ""Gentle Jalia," which. will be shown at the Alhambra Theatre on Sunday.
Michael to her Senator father all gans," a most amusing "Short,” mix into an exciting melodrama "Live Ghosts," with the great! when Sydney Blackmer's gang comedians Laurel and Hardy do- This is the story of the famous carry his hostages into Mexico. Aling their stuff, and the new backwoods girl who made a great Mexican "bad man" character isMG.M. "Audioscopiks." Provided! name as a crack rifle-shot and was well played by Akim Tamiroff, you do not throw away the ttle a headliner with Buffalo Bill's Rescoe, Karns,
Jagger, two-coloured glasses handed to Wild West Show in the early nine- Samuel Hinds chief among support you in the theatre, you will ties. Barbara Stanwyck plays to (Queen's).
Dear
“A scene from the EKO proćnelon, “The Last Days of Pompeii,” which will be shown at the King's Theatre on Sunday.
ser
the length, depth and breadth of the object on the screen. At least it is a novelty and M.G.M. claim they have given something mai vellous to the screen.
"Last of the Pagans" was "shot” in the ideal surroundings of the South Seas Mala, whose screen work in "Eskimo" will not seen be forgatten, again contributes A splendid characterisation as the Tahitian native. With him on Jocation from Hollywood went Lo- tus Long, but the rest of the cast; in the Johnny Farrow, story were chosen from the natives, sailors and traders who live on the islands. Here is passion, roi mance, treachery and adventure with a vengeance, and for those who favour this type of Bla nothing better has been seen here.. ((King's).. *.*
"Dezze”
Here is the of the most sophis ticated films seen in a long while, Marlene Dietrich scoring one of (Continued on_Page_12) |
CT
ENTERTAIN,
QUEENS
NOTE THE SPECIAL TIMES 2.30, 5.05, 7.20 & 9.30. Sensation after sensation packed by Warner Bros, into this filming of Rafael Sabatini's world-famed romance.
SLASHING ITS WAY TH SEN- SATIONAL SEW RECORDST
CAPTAIN BLOOD
W: ERROL FLYNN OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND LIONEL ATWILL - BASEL RATHKONI
Note: The management will not be responsible for reservations not taken up 10 minutes before the show starts.
One Minute After Seeing This Picture You'll Cheer This Lovable Girl!
Shell steal your
heart!
Tank Withers
Remember the meanie of "Bright Eyes"?Now this marvelous girl weaves a magic spell -grips you with her genuineness-unlocks her hungry beart— gloriously fulfills her promise with a trium-
phant performance.
Gentle Julia
A FOX Picture with
JANE WITHERS
TOM BROWN
****
· MARSHA HUNT
JACKIE SEARL
SUNDAY AT THE
ALHAMBRA
Bad
2
Olivia de Haviland' in the 'Warner Bros production, “Captain Bload," which; is "now being, shown at the Queen's Theatre.