KING'S
•
PRINCESS
A 223, 115, TM, & MJG 7 da
A1 2 35, 1.40, 7:15, 0 9:30 PM.
★ SHOWING TO-DAY ★
A Comedy with a very special touch!
THE MOST UPROARIOUS, OUTRAGEOUS COMEDY OF THE YEAR!
JAMES MASON
VERA MILES
GEORGE SANDERS
Touch of arceny
„WAN FOXWELLS - na tumeshanklike Brendy & BOCCE MOSCAL BUT HA
BOOK
EARLY
Weck-End Morning & Matinee Shows To-morrow
KING'S
At 11.00 a.m
Fox Color Cartoons
At 12.15 p.m.
Henry Fonda in
"THE WRONG MAN"
PRINCESS
At 11.00 a.m. M.G.M. Color Cartoons
At 12.30 p.m. Joel McCrea, in
"CATTLE EMPIRE"
Plus an 'added attraction to the above two shows Demonstration of "Russel Yo-Yo" on Stage
STATE-ROYAL
TEL:77-3948
TEL:80-5700
NOW SHOWING AT 2.30, 5.30, 7.30 & 9.30 P.M.
You can't put out the human fires
that burn in...
The Bramble Bush
Richard Burton Barbara Rush Jack Carson Angie Dickinson-James Dunn
A WARNER BROS. PICTURE
TECHNICOLOR*
SUNDAY MORNING SHOWS AT REDUCED PRICES
STATE: 12.30 p.m.
ROYAL: 11.00a.m.
Robert Taylor in
"QUENTIN DURWARD" CinemaScope-Technicalor
UNIVERSAL COLOR CARTOONS
12.30 p.m. Tony Curtis Frank Lovejoy in
"BEACHHEAD"-Technicolor
ROX VƐ BROADWAY
SHOWING TO-DAY
r
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1960.
FILMS
Is only natural that you should ask when you go to see. "Back Door" at either the Roxy or the. Broadway, what shot this film into first place at the 7th Asian Festival,
Well, the thing is, you never can tell with a Festival what will happen. A jury is but human, and it could be such a small thing as a good different. Alm, scoring
You might recall the sensa- tion "Woman in a Dressing Gown" caused in Berlin. It was! a modest film in every sense of the word. It was pathetically bourgeois in outlook, full of middle class aspirations and fears, Nevertheless, it had the Berliners eating out of its hand, because, and here's the point, It held up the mirror: to Ke. Every day life, admittedly, the iffe of the Smiths and the Joneses, but aren't most of us related to them?.... be
honest now!
It
So with "Back Door." takes a slice of life from the events of a Mr and Mrs Hon. a good living, kind hearted, Chinese couple. They
have
no children, and one day, the Hitle girl who plays near their back door enters their but, alas, only to 50
away again.
But between the coming and the going, there is much to say. In fact, all Bite is held up, questioned, and let go ogain, without any of the answers we, need, being given.
True the problems are there, for the Chinese less than the westerners, for happy to say, Chinese family relationships seem more deeply rooted than western.
CURRENT & COMING
by
ANTHONY FÜLLER
"HELLO, LITTLE_STRANGER.” Mr Wang Jen and wee Miss Wang Ai-ming, in
a scene from Run Run Shaw's 7th Asian Festival Winner, “Back Door." Showing at the Roxy & Broadway.
Why did he commit suicide? that he carried out his friend's
in is Because he found his wife in Instructions
the bed with a drunk.
Не meets an old friend, a
diplomat, and suave subsequently introduced to his friend's fiancee, an American widow,
unscrupulous, for,
pose herself, privately, and set- des for a photographic print.
Richard Burton gets a warm welcome back from Fran, but From then on, Max tries the next thing she does la to get every trick in his hand, ont into bed with a smart lawyer. some of them are perilously
Then a newspaper editor finds needing money desperately, Max burns put, and instead of exposing her For the
in newsprint, he makes her ex- average westerner, his boats. such as myself, with an interest He purposely pretends to bo in people, and a settled con- drunk at the Russian Embassy, we talks to a Russian officer who humans have more in con- does not understand a word he mon than we have differences, says, loses? a "Top Secret File, "Back Door" is a delightful goes on leave, docsn't turn ? miniature of everyday life.
at an address he has given, and trail of red (both leaves political and metaphorical) her rings behind him,
viction that as a race,
It is located in Kowloon Tong, but apart from radial characteristics, the story could be set in Kensington, Cuba, or Korea,
The production by Run Run Shaw seems to me very good indeed, and the direction by Li Han-hsiang very firm and Intel- ligent,
Butterfly Woo gives a charm. ing performance as the
child- less Mrs Heu, who humanly cannot reconcile herself to her state, and will not resign herself to a childless future.
Wang Jan, who plays the hus- band, again appeals in one of these so human roles which he refuses.to_overplay, and as a consequence presents you, with an admirable performance.
2
He then hides away un a barton Scottish iste, and waits for the Press to get going which they do. "I was 1 Traitor's Nanny," for instance
Then the fates dep in, and Max finds that the way of a deceiver is hard,
Ivan Foxwell, the producer, has really gone to town on this film, he has overlooked no detail, he has handpicked his supporting cast, and the re- sult is that only too гале
And so on...and so on... and so on......
But what I have, written so far concerns the asides, nothing to do with the main plot which is......
Richard Burton returns to his home town to treat his boyhood friend who is dying of Hodgkin's dlsease. (look it up yourself, I can't be bothered.}"
After lot of this and that, it is decided that Tom Drake has his chips in.
Tom has two last, requests, One, that his doctor friend knock him off, (euthanasia) two, that said friend marry his wife after the party of the first part has been knock- ed off,
order.
Wroug
First he gave his friend's wife a baby, then he gave his friend an overdose of morphine,
Well, you know what people are so you don't need me to tell you that the town misun-- derstood the whole business, and I took quite a bit of this
and that before the affair was straightened out,
The dialogue is very nice, very cutspoken, · and neatly to the point. Barbara Rush, the dying man's wife asics the doc- for, "Did I love you that night, or was I just an animal?”
This puzzled me somewhat, because I couldn't sec difference until animals don't have to undress.
realised that I
any
So to sum up. Taking the pulse of the film, you would say that it won't leave well alone. You can believe in the plot in its opening stages, but the sordid soldes have you worried because they are. so unnecessary,
Richard Burton acts well, but is called upon for an unsympathetic role. Barbara
thing, British comedy at its Naturally, Richard Burton Rush gets down to it as the best. Audacious, skirmishing, will have none of it, but after frustrated wife, while Jack but played with a sparkling thinking the matter over, At Carson comes along well as the dead-pan cynical wit
finds that euthanasia is not so understanding Kelsey, inconsistent with his Hippo- The atmosphere is authentic. It might be sued locally cratic calh. that the Alm is too subtle. Well, could see wrong about it was says it.
The only thing I and as I have said, the dialogue that's just too bad I'd sooner Li Hslang-chain is the young se one film e A Touch of mather of the at first unwanted Larchy" then a dozen at the and then the wanted child. She joke s, trick gimmick, love!. that transitional James Mason as Max, the stage which Asia in general and Chairborne Naval Commander Hongkong In particular, is or after the girl and the undergoing. The old order meney necessary to possess het, passes, but in passing leaves a is absolutely it, cool in artios hlutus, and there's the rub.
whether it be taking Flect Street for a million, or ex- naive husband, plaining, to a
Owing to length of picture please note change of times: represents
AT 2.30, 5.20, 7.30 & 9.40 P.M. SHAW STUDIO presents
THE ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL 1960 BEST PICTURE
AWARD WINNER!
Butterfly Woo Wang Yin in
BACK DOOR
To-morrow Morning Show At Reduced Prices
ROXY: At 12.00 Noon || BROADWAY: At 12.15 p.m. ROBERT MITCHUM ROBERT WAGNER
in
"THE HUNTERS"
In CinemaScope & Color
BROADWAY: At 11:00 am,
FOX COLOUR CARTOONS
MIZUS | STAR
JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Featuring 5 Tatami Rooms The only japanes restaurant in Hong Kong." Delicious Sukiyak); Tempura, Kobe stak prepared by Japanese Chats
and served by charming
Japanets
hostesses.
Bakiyaki Riem, Breaćung Barat, Kendesa -
TEƐ, 60331ÉRE 4 - .
SHOWING TO-DAY AT 2.30, 5.30, -7.30 & 9.30. P.M.
DAIEI proudly presents Machiko KYO Atsuko KINDAICHI Eiji FUNAKOSHI
"A PRINCESS OF TWO
· NATIONS”.
In DalelScope & Color
With Superimposed English
G Chinese Sub-titles
Wang Ai-ming is the title unwanted child who Alls the great hearts of the Isus for a brief period., She gives n wonderfully winsome ptr. formance, and is a young actress of skill. intelligence, and unspoiled charm.
his presence in the house.
Then George Sanders is Jusk right as the pompous fussy diplomat who Just cannot get mixed up. or associated to any degree, with Mason's unscrupulous plan.
Honestly, whatever your aquaintance with the east, I And Vera Miles is clegant think you will like this film, The and lovely as the innocent excellent English titles will help cause of all the trouble. you along, and you will be able Providing you have the land to follow the story easily. The of mind that can at least keep story, the film, and the gcheral vs with dhe mbliefts of the production are charming, that is lend appreciation of the word I want, I think.
what is the satiric sense of the bm, you are in for a lovely cvening.
★ ★
So good do I rate the picture that I am going to say that this Hamilton directed
cend
TOUCH OF LAR. Guy
"A CENY," (King's & piece of eroes double cross, unti
Princess) is based upon a this genial villain's piece of joke, probably the only in. What hall piracy, here is a film tentional joke ever made not to be missed.
by the Civil Service. When
Burgess and MacLean went
★ ★ ★
BRAMBLE
"over the wall" and every-. one was enquiring as to GCTTHE their whereabouts, someone "T BUSH," (Royal & in Whitehall said how won State) is a Technicolour "our derful it would be if B. and town" drama, one of these M. were only enjoying a pictures where, metaphorl- holiday from which they cally, the houses are made would return to sue the of glass, and the inhabitants national papers. Everyone are disposed
throw in England thought this á stónés. good joke, except the editors of Fleet Street.
I could not make out the title, The Bramble Bush, unless. 10 Well, “A Touch Of Larceny" means that you get in a mess if takes us this idea, plays with you fall into abramble bush, it, and the result is as good à And the characters in this pic-
NEW FILMS AT A GLANCE
SHOWING
HOOVER & GALA: "Euro- ROYAL & STATE: "The
pean Nights." Continental night club extravaganza, now showing for the third weekend. Holds every good caberet sbow in London and on the continent in fee. Carmen Sevilla; the Plat- lers; Tommy, Steele; Eddie Gray; and everyone else in show business, Technicolor. KING'S & PRINCESS: "A
Touch Of Larceny."
which James Mason, as z chairborne Naval Com- mander takes My Lords of........ the Admiralty and Fleet Street for a ride, and, the latter for its bank baluzce. Tremendouts fun 25 this super
2
Bramble Bush." Heavy Sex drama played within an "our town" atmosphere. In whleh a doctor returns to treat his boyhood friend, but finds himself involved in sex, and
murder charge. Well cast, good direction and pholography. Technicolor, Richard Bur. ton; Barbara Rush; and Jack Carso ROXY & BROADWAY: “Back Door." The film which÷wan the 7th Asian Festival Premier Award. Domestic -melodrama with a pleasant sentimental tale, told against the background of Kowloon Tong. Subtitled well 远
English; tale easy to follow European áudiences. Butterfly Woo; and Wang Jan; also clever child actress, Wang Al-ming.
for British comedy is played with a straight face. Also, George Sanders and Vera Mlica.
COMING
HOOVER & GALA: “The Miracle." Flim presentation of the miracle play which swept London both shortly before and soon after the first World War. In which the Virgin of MiraflorEN - took the place of a Nun who had found the world too mach with her. The sceneR of Brussels, Waterloo, and the Peninsula. Campaign are romantic, picturesque, and somewhat moying, A. magnificent spectacle. Car- roll Baker: Roger Moores Walter Slezak; and Viltorio Gammah.
KING'S & PRINCESS: “Visit lo a Small Planet" Typical Jerry· Lewis gag, which han
comedy as has come out of a remes of psychologkat way his vidling this earth pugu
British, stable."
disorders Bor Instance talce
Kithard Burton, the dedicated
-
The story has Commander doctor
Max Easton war hero and a He hates is home town. nautical Camion worlding in Why? Because his father, who Whitehall on wisecret - Afomle built the hospital there. com- project:
mitted suicide,
being from contermon.co. Uninhibited farce, with very good gimmick throw to the audience every,
Iraphy / VULT good" nghe Iaughs come, skelly,
subtle here. Jerry Lewin and Joan Blackman,
ROYAL STATE: "Darby O'Gill and the Little Peo- ple." Sure" fire: Disney whimsy, all about the little folk and the bad folk of Ireland, Sentimental, with hozvy Irish humour, but BOTTLES good shots in which the wee folk match their wlts and fay, gold with the humans. Albert Sharpe;
Janet
Munro and Sean Connery, with Jimmy O'Dea Technicolor, (*). ROXY & BROADWAY: "The Third Volo Mystery thriller played by an ex-
·perienced ; and capable cast: Rated excellent in the States. Edmund O'Brien said Jolie Landon
LEE & ASTOR: Both theatres havě roze over to Chinese Opers for kort „season. The Bim with which they will re-open their next ĐÈNCIA, BERBOn le not yet 'ABDOUBORG.
DREUIT!
HOOVER GALA
TEL 72371
TEL 32579
NOW IN THE 3rd WEEK
TO-DAY AT 2.30, 5.30, 7.30 & 9.30 P.M.
European Nights
The
Greatest
Show on Earth!
TECHNICILOR
Starring 'THE WORLD'S MOST TALENTED ARTISTS Distributed by PATHE OVERSEAS LTD.
Special Matinee At Reduced Admission To-morrow Gala 11:00 a.m. Walt Disney's COLOR CARTOONS
12.30 p.m. "INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS REVUE" Hoover 11.00 a.m. 20th Century-Fox Color Cartoons
12.30 p.m. Clifton Webb Jean Peters
"3 COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN"
CAPITOL
★ SHOWING TO-DAY ★
AT 2.30, 5.30, 7.30 & 9.30 P.M. TOHO proudly presents
AMUSING AND HEART-WARMING STORY OF AN ARTIST WHO NEVER GREW UPI KEIJU KOBAYASHI AIKO MIMASU REIKO DÁN
in
The Naked General!
A Tcho Super Production
In TeloScope & Agfacelor
With Superimposed English & Chinese, Sub-tilles
TOHO SCOPE
To-morrow At 11.00 a.m. Paramount Color Cartoons
At 12.30 p.m. "Black Narcissus" In Color
ORIENTAL MAJESTIC
AIR
CONDITIONER
SHOWING TO-DAY AT 2.30, 5.30, 7.30 & 9.30 P.M.
JAMES
CAGNEY
Con
MURRAY
DANA WYYNIER
GAYNIS
JOHNS
"SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL'
vent: %
Morning Show Tomorrow at 12.30
"THE IRON MISTRESS"
LEE Theatre
SHOWING TO-DAY Please Note Change of Times AL 2.15, 6.09, 7.30 & 9.50 p.m.
M-A-M PRONENTE
Home
From
the
Min
ROBERT MITCHUM
ELEANOR PARKER
CHEMASCOPE, and METROCOLOR
Sunday Morning Show at 12.30 BRUTE FORCE
TO-NIGHT
AT
8.00 P.M.
CHINESE STAGE SHOW
Presented by the DAI LOONG FOONG (CANTONESE) TROUPE
"MISS CINDERELLA"
凰鳳變頭枝上飛
Admissions: $7.60, $6.00, 54.70, $3.50 & $3.00
FLOORSHOW MUSIC DANCE
Champaque
NIGHTCLUB
·Finest Cantonese Food
ABAR
Danco Mightly
Kimberley Rd, Kowloon
60001 57000.
OFFERING YOU THE BEST
· IN ENTERTAINMENT ACROBATIC DANCE
by
HELENE MORRIS
2 shows nightly.
(9.45-p.m; & 110 am.
Music by let ISING GATCHALIAN &
·HIS, QUINTET At Songs b7
MIRA. BOBBIE LEE MISS ANGEL WONG MELANTOMAS CHUNG MR. ALLEN LEEVE
AFTERNOON TEA DANCE Every Saturday & Sunday,