1935-06-26 — Page 5

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118

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CINEMA TRADE NOTICES

HES

THE WITCHING HOUR

om the germ of an idea con- celed 20 years before its writing, Autist Thomas, one of America's foremost playwrights, created his famus "The Witching Hour.", The play.which when first presented ru edhe Broadway stage for two years, as just been put in picture form Paramount and has 15 initial showings to-day at the Queen's Theatre,

It feares Sir Guy Standing, John Halday. Judith Allen, Tom, Brown, Getrude Michael and Wi- liam Fraway..:

When Thomas come to New York from the slli untamed West in 1880, he took position as secretary to Washingtq Irving Bishop, the famous telepathist þind mystic.

Bishop took Thorns on his tour of the country, and by watching his employer through hundreds of successive performances. Thomas became ronvinced that Bishop's gift for mind-reading was genuine and that.. thought really had a dynamic force...

The experience made such a memorable impression on his mind that years later when he was about to write a play, he selected the theme of the "dynamic force of thought." Into It he wore a rare romance, to create the play "The Witching Hour" by which he will always be remembered.

4 SHOWS

DAIL

1.20.5.15

7.15–1.30

STOLEN HARMONY

Started with George Raft, in his second film, Ben Bernie together. with his lads appears in Stolen Harmony," coming to the Alham- (bra Theatre on Saturday in hie’best ̧

clowning and musical mood.

The picture, featuring a дел score by those wizards of the key- board, Mack Gordon and Harry Rovel, blends music with comedy and closes on a dramatje note.

Ben Bernie, in "Stolen Har- nony," leads his lads and lasses on a transcontinental barn-storming tour in a large bus.

One of the members of the band is Raft, au ex-convict whom Bernie has given a Job in an effort to help the la go straight. When money is missing things look bad for Raft, but Grace Bradley, also a member of the troupe persuades him to stick it out and clear himself.

En route between towns, the band is kidnapped by a gang of des- peradoes who intend to use the bus for their get-away, Raft sees his chance and takes it. He makes the criminals believe that he is one of them then by a desperate ruse out- wits them and turns them over to the police.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1935.

TO-DAY ONLY

AT

2.30.5.10.7.15 & 9.90 P.M.

AIR-CONDITIONED THEATREN

ON ONE GIRL'S

ANSWER HUNG THE

DESTINY OF A NATION!

CLIVE OF INDIA

RONALD

COLMAN

20TH LORETTA YOUNG

CENTURY

FICTURE

A SO LATEST WALT DISNEY'S

“FLYING. MOUSE” A SILLY SYMPHONY IS GORGEOUS TECHNICOLO"R|

IMITATION OF LIFE

Claudette Colbert, barn in Par

Direction by Alfred Werker, the man who directed "The House of Rothschild" gives "Stolen Har-decided on an American name for mony" smoothness, consistency and stage and screen büt Hollywood der feated her purpose. The actress* real name is Claudette Chauchcin. busne chose "Colbert." the name of her grandmother, and pronounced

which heightens the entertain ment value of the novel plot.

TAKE ANY THAM DR HAPPY VALLITY BUS

ORIENTA

2 DAYS

ONLY

THEATRE

TO-DAY & TO-MORROW

IN ALL YOUR LIFETIME

FLEMING

ROAD

WANGHAI

TEL. 2847E

YOU'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY THRILLING

EVENTS

Joan herself!.. in a motion pictura record of her own incredible story! STRANGER THAN FICTION

more amazing than the wildest dream... more thrilling then any mystery.... YET SHE SWEARS IT'S TRUE!

JOAN

LOWELL Loventure

Ud girlTM

Summer Prices Matinees 20 ets -80 ata -----Evening120 ets-35 ets.-65 ela.

MISSISSIPPI

The screen's leading exponents of song, comedy and beauty-Bing Crosby, W. C. Felds, and Joan Bennett, respectively-vie for hon-

2

film

and

He Needed At

to rhyme with "shirt." This, she decided, did not sound French, and was vastly more pronounceable than the other.

However, Hollywood placed the French pronunciation of "Colbear" on it, and the film cupita! is more or less unanimous in its acceptance

of this version. But Claudette still pronounces it to rhyme. with "shirt," thus “Colbert.“

Miss Colbert comes to the King's Theatre on Thursday as the star Gz “imitation of Life," John M.. Stahl's powerful Universal drama naapted-from-the-novel-by-Fanite- Hurst. Warren William heads the supporting cast, which also in- cludes Ned Sparks, Louise Beavers, Wyndham Standing, Rochelle Hud- son Baby Jane, Alan Hale and many other popular screen players.

W

WAGON WHEELS

Aetung au impressive cast' which includes Gail Patrick, Monte Blue, Raymond Hatton and Jan Duggan, Handolph scott returns for another ot nis hard-riding, whirlwind nghting and thrilling roles in the Paramount picturization, of Zane Grey's "Wagon Wheels," which is showing to-day at the Alhambra Theatre.

In this handsomely directed and | nounted film, which details some

1844 to

TO-MONROW

BOURING. AT THE THEATRE

TEL. No. 25313 25339

CLAUDETTE COLBERT FANNIE HURST'S

IMITATION OF LIFE

[UNIVERSAL PICTURE

CLAUDETTE COLBERT and WARREN VILLIAM "IMITATION OF LIFE" - UNIVERSAL Coming to the King's Theatre on Thursday.

CLIVE OF INDIA

The great pictures of to-day are war pictures without war.

Darryl E. Zanuck who recently completed Clive of India," with Ronald Colman, his first million- dollar production for 20th Century Pictures, makes this seemingly paradoxical statement.

J

UNADVERTISED EXPLORERS

(Special Air Mall Service)

"London, June 7.

Three years ago three elderly women arrived in London having "I selected "Clive," be goes on to travelled from their mission station explain, "because the background in the extreme north-west corner has the sweeping breadth dramatic brilliance of war without Turkestan,

and of China, across the Gobi Desert, the roaring of cannon,

"The success of my previous pro- duction, "The House of Roths- child," proved the popularity of this type of film. The story cep-

themselves, for defeated peop.e rise to fight again. The effects of

"Wars are not so important of

and Soviet Russia. The Journey had taken them a year, for they had been held prisoners for many weeks in the desert city of

Tunghwang by General Ma and his thousand bandits and it was by a miracle that the three missionaries got away alive, and then survived a 600-mile flight by mule cart across the desert to comparative safety.

]]

Now these courageous women are preparing to return, after a

are Miss

war on those people is the signi- long furlough, to their sphere of

cant thing. the thing which work. Their names makes great drama. Looking back Mildred Cable, Miss Evangeline and Miss Francesca over the big pictures of the past, French,

develops into a gun-fighting "ter- ror, billed all along the river as of the actual and historic adven-tered around Napoleon's campaigns the singing terror.

tures that beset the sturdy pioneers

and his final downfall at Waterloo, yet Napoleon and his soldiers were The comedy climax of "Mississip|who took the first wagon train pi" occurs when Crosby discovers across the country in

seen and heard for only a few sec- onds on the screen. that he hasn't loved Gail Patrick Oregon, Scott plays the role of an Indian-fighting frontier scout. He our her little sister, Joan Bennett wins the love of a lovely widow and ours in Paramount's "Mississippi" alt along. And she despises any her child, when he saves the entire the new and gala musical

cne who duels! So Crosby and caravan from death at the hands coming on. Friday to the screen of Fields have to go to work undoing of the savages. the Queen's Theatre and come off-his-reputation all over again.................. In a glorious, te that makes the

picture flood

of mirth melody:

"Mississippi" is a story of Dixie in the days when the ladies wore crinoline and gentlemen didn't en- joy their morning coffee unless it had been preceded by a duel. Into this.colourful and somewhat dan- gerous country comes Bing Crosby, a Yankee youth from Philadelph'2 to claim the hand of his lady, play- ed by Gall Patrick. He won't duel with his rivals for the lady's al- fection, not because he is afraid, but because he thinks-the-custom- ridiculous..

even.

21

TO-DAY AT THE CINEMA

Hong Kong

KING'S:-

"Clive of India”

QUEEN'S :--

"Witching Equr

ORIENTAL:

"Adventure Girl"

Kowloon

MAJESTIC:

Trail Drive" ALHAMBRA:-

"Wagon Wheel"

KING'S:-

V. n

Coming

"Imitation of Life"

QUEEN'S :-

"Mississippi"

ORIENTAL:-

"Lottery Bride".

"David Copperfield"

"El Neille"

DOUBLE DOOR

Mary Morris, in one of the most villainous roles of her impressive dramatic career," makes an dan- portant contribution to the screen in her film debut in Paramount's thrilling "Double Door," which opened yesterday at the Star Theatre.

For years called upon to play all of the sharp, hateful roles in the American drama, she emerges from her first .m as the most im- portant character actress to be seen on the screen to-day.

In the picture, she portrays the role of Victoria Van Brett, ruth. less spinster, who rules the destiny. of the last surviving, members of the family with an iron hand and a determined will. Miss. Morris created the role in the stage pre- sentation of the play, dramatic hit of the past Broadway season.

In

In Famous Plays Miss Morris Is a seasoned Lormer, having been seen throughout the country the1 heatre Guild's produc- tions of Eugene O'Neill's "Be- yond the Horizon," "Desire Under the Elms," and "The Great God Brown. Two seasons ago, she appeared in the Group Thea- tre's presentation of Paul Green's "The House of Connelly.”

As played by Miss Morris, Vic- toria Van Brett is the tyrannical ruler of the gloomy old Van Brett mansion, controlling the fates of her spinster sister and younger brother, as played by Anne Revere and Kent Taylor. When the lat- ter marries in defiance of her wishes, she persists in her efforts o destroy his happiness. Finally, when she accuses the young bride. as played by Evelyn Venable, or

infidelity, the neway-weds decide

to leave the Van Brett mansion.

Attempts Murder

Monte Blue is excellent as the renegade halfbreed, through whose evil machinations the wagon train

In a last desperate efort to re- tain control, Victoria attempts to we find not only "The House of French. They have all been in the is almost captured by Indians, and

but Scott's rival in love. Miss Rothschild,"

mission's service for more than "Cavalcade,"

murder Miss Venable. It is at this The boy had been fishing for Patrick, who has recently played "Seventh Heaven" and

thirty years.

point that Miss Revere shakes off four hours when the inquisitive dramatic characterizations ima "Smilin' Thru' with war as an For ten years before their ad-

*her domination and betrays her. man' came along and inquired Death Takes what he was doing.

a Holiday" and undercurrent.

venturous return to England they purpose to Taylor, saving the "Murder at the Vanities" is stun-

"There is in the life of Robert | had been working among Chinese,young couple from disaster, "Fishin'," was the boy's tersening, attractive and extremely con- Clive a great drama than the stir Tibetans Mongolians, Quzaqs, breaking Victoria's rule. and reply.

vincing as the heroine.

ring scenes of his conduct in bat- Turkis and Russians, along the bringing the iron-willed dictator Got anything?" asked the mun

Much of the comedy relief of tle. I wanted to find for Ronald trade routes between Central Asia to a atting end. "Yes," came the reply.

this excellent film is furnished by

Colman a story of really great and China and had explored the "What?"

the middle aged romance between breadth. When I saw on the Lon- Gobi Desert in mule carts half s "Patience." said the boy, still Jan Duggan, who played the spins-

don stage that private life story dozen times. At first they were more tersely.

ter in W. O. Fields "The Old- Fashioned Way," and Olin How-

of Robert Cilve, without any of the often stoned by the people they land, who courts her for an OD:

rattle and pomp of warfare, I knew "met, but as they became known, portunity to steal the chickens she I had found the story I was look- is transporting across the country!ing for.

Impossible

The congressman's wife sat up in bed, a startled look on her face "Jim." she whispered, "there's a robber in the house."

Crosby is branded coward by the mothers and goes off with Fields. the captain of a river steamer in order to escape their taunt. "Impossible," was her husband's. Under the tutelage, of the bluster-sleepy reply. "In the Senate, yes. Ing old braggart. Crosby rapidly but in the House, never."

W. C. Fields, Joan Bennett, Bing Crosby and Gall Patrick co-starred in, Paramount's mighty musical [ppi"; showing from Friday at the Queen's

"Theatre:

TO-DAY

AND

TO-MORROW

the

Miss Morris and Miss Revere, who played the central characters. during seven months of the play's Broadway run, contribute excel- lent characterizations. Sir Guy they were given a friendly wel-Standing renders his usual fine come.

QUEEN'S

WITCHING HOUR

SIP CUY STANDING JOHN HALLIDAY JUDITH ALLEN

TOM BROWN

i fanta

cally anved!

AELECTED SHORTS

for BELA LUGOSI in

MAR

2.30, 5.10:

7.20 & 9,80

P.M

NEXT CHANGE

Paramount's MUSICAL SENSATION 1

Mississippi

with

BING CROSBY WC. FIELDS JOAN BENNETT

VAMPIRE

acting to the part of the family e- confidential lawyer, and Mias Venable and Kent Taylor are charming and sympathetic as the young couple

Convincing Drama. Director Charles Vidor has pro- duced a smooth, convincing drama that builds up logically, and dra- matically to the thrilling climax. And Gladys Lehman and Jack: Cuningham have done praise- worthy work in their adaptation of the original by Elizabeth A McFadden,

Others in the cast whose excel-/- lent work merits recognition are: Colin Tapley Virginia Fowell, Halliwell Hobbes and Frank Daw: sop.

The Birm Father (admiring heir) That

statesman: 9ZIO

Mother

you really think he w

Tather:

easily he

thing

(days)

MAJESTIC

Famous THEATRE RA Nathan, Raf Kawioon. Tel. 57222) FINALSHOWINGS TO-DAY At 2,80/5.20, 7.20 a 9,20 PL

KEN

MAYNARD

THE

TRAIL DRIVE

MAE WEST

More Full Blooded In New Film

(Special Air Mail Service)

London, June 7. The proper name: for “Goin' to. Town." Mac West's new film which opened at the "Carlton last week, shonla be From Barmaid to Countess.".

It is the story of Mae West's rise to social grandeur. Pirat she fouts. the cowpunchers "of her native

she place, then

takes Buenos Aires by storm and routs the

Trust snobbish "American county society.. She ends up by marrying an English peer.--

Mae West has written the screen play and dialogue herself. She has a fine sense of the dramatic, which sometimes becomes over-dramatic.

The film contains the best scenes I have witnessed on the screen. says a fim, critic. It also shows Mae West singing quite prettily as very-insinuating Delilan in the opera, "Samson and Delijah."*

FULL-BLOODED

1

I found, contrary to my expecta- tion, that her jokes were even fun- nfer, and never palled. "We could- "n't marry" she says to a gigolo. We're intellectual opposites. I'm Intellectual and you're opposite."

The only reason for her playing Delilah appears to be the chance for a joke, “I've got a lot of respect for that dame-she's the first lady barber to make good."

I think "Goin' to Town", is an Improvement on her last two films. It is more full-blooded, more Mae West

ALHAMBRA

MENTRE

TO-DAY TO FRIDAY at 2.80, 5.20, 7.20 4 9.20 p.m..

BIG AS ALL OUTBOGRSE

nation on

the march ing the

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