Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 April 1939 — Page 8
MOVIES
By JAMES THRASHER
INDIANA—“The Story of V
Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Walter Brennan, Edna May
Oliver. CIRCLE—“Dodge City.”
Bruce Cabot.
LOEW’S—“Broadway Serenade,” with Jeanette MacDonald, Lew Ayres, Frank Morgan, Ian Hunter.
“The Lone Wolf Spy
Ida Lupino, Virginia Weidler.
APOLLO—%, . . One-Third of a Nation . . .” with Sylvia Sidney, Leif Erikson, Hiram Sherman.
“The Eagle and the
Cary Grant, Carole Lombard, Jack Oakie.
INDIANA
the couple's days of top stardom.
This week brings a break for the musical right wingers who feel that “The Flat Foot Floogie” never can replace “The Curse of an Aching Heart.” At the Indiana, “The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle” is calling up nostalgic memories of the davs when button shoes were comme il faut and the Turkey Trot was a pretty wicked thing. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, who approached the Castles’ popularity in the early days of their screen career, do an excellent job in the title parts. The emphasis, of course, is on dancing. But the essential landmarks in the Castles’ rise to fame are sketched in deftly. Authentic or not, there is an amusing sequence at the film's opening built around the young Englishman's courtship of Miss Irene Foote of New Rochelle. Also included is the verified incident of Castle's appearance as a slapstick comic in a Weber and Fields show— and with Lew Fields playing his original part. The story follows the honeymooners on their trip to Paris. where they achieved success after | the usual vicissitudes. Then comes the sensational and international] craze. which most prewar fans will remember. It might be wished by some that more footage had been devoted to
CIRCLE
Whether a Western movie costs a million dollars or whether it is shot in 10 days with the producer's lunch money, the plot unfolds with almost a liturgical familiarity. Thus “Dodge City,” the Circle’s current attraction, tells a& familiar story despite its technicolor, historical background and high priced stars. The fact is mo accident, nor is the mention of it a condemnation. For America loves its prairie pictures. has loved them for 25 vears, and will not tolerate any tampering with the triumph of hard-riding virtue over back-knifing vice. So. in “Dodge City.” we have the brave voung buffalo hunter (Mr. Flynn) who moves in on the frontier town, reluctantly takes over the job of sheriff, and eventually brings law and order to a tough community Then there is the wealthy villain (Mr. Cabot) who, with his fierce henchmen, controls and terrifies Dodge City. And, the pretty miss from the city who first hates the sheriff for killing her drunken brother in self-defense, then learns to care. No mawkish love-making, | though. Just good, clean and reticent romance.
with Errol Havilland, Frank McHugh, Ann Sheridan, Alan Hale,
ernon and Irene Castle,” with
Flynn, Olivia de
Hunt,” with Warren William,
Hawk,” with Fredric March,
Yet the picture presents the distinct |§ novetly of not cashing in on every | 3
opportunity for an elaborate se- a
quence. The film biography skims lightly over the peak of their popularity, giving glimpses of the famous dances and showing the furor that, followed in the wake of Mrs. Castle's | new hats and gowns, and especially her bobbed hair. She was the one, you know, who started it all. Then comes Castle's war days and, finally, his death at Ft. Worth, where his plane crashed while he was serving as a flying instructor. Needless to say, the dancing is delightful and plentiful. You'll see the Castle Walk, the Texas Tommy, the Maxixe, Tango, Castle Polka and several others. More than 30 popular songs of the 1911-18 period are heard, and those in the middleage bracket probably will get a kick out of hearing again such things as “Too Much Mustard,” “On Moonlight Bay.” “Missouri Waltz” and other items of the hobble-skirt era. Besides boasting Hollywood's top dance team, the Indiana feature possesses a story which, if not vitally absorbing. at least escapes the conventionalities of the usual movie musical plot. It's definitely good entertainment.
Likewise the sheriff's companions (Alan Hale and “Big Boy’ Williams) are at hand in their familiar capacity of adding & touch of bluff |
humor. For trimmings, there is the his-| torical background of railroad | building and frontier life. And, in| the plot's defense, be it said that Dodge City, according to history, | was just about as rough and unin- | hibited as the picture makes it. There is a bangup saloon fight | which vou ought to love, plenty of | quick shooting elsewhere, good | touches of suspense, and & rousing melodramatic finish in a burning | baggage car, with the hero shooting | the villains from the rocking tender | of a locomotive. And the Sacra color is sumptuous. Mr. Flynn cuts a fine figure in|
‘boots and sombrero, and his Brit-|
ish accent is explained away with | complete satisfaction. Ann Sheri-| dan, who gets more billing and less | footing than anyone in Hollywood, | appears for a few minutes. Miss]
de Havilland is a lovely and win-|
some heroine, and the rest of the| players give capital performances. | As shootin’ pictures go, this one is & dandy. Just try to keep from |
‘having a good time.
LOEW'S |
In a picture brimming with mel-] ody, Jeanette MacDonald is visiting Loew's this week, accompanied bv the usual baritone or tenor costar. The film is called “Broadway Serenade,” and it's pretty much Miss MacDonald's show all the way. in spite of some fine work by Lew Avres ‘Broadwav Serenade” resembles Miss MacDonald's recent “‘Sweethearts” in that Frank Morgan again is seen as a show producer, and the star herself again is cast as a leading lady. “Broadway Serenade’ also resembles almost all of the musical shows that have preceded it. It will be enough of a clue to tell vou that the lovelv Mary Hale wins a revue job, and that her husband, Jimmy, is left behind to grub away at his piano playing and music composition. On tour Mary discovers that the show's backer is in love with her. Everybody gets the wrong impression, including Jimmy, who walks
out. Mary supplants the revues] star, who threatens a scandal. But! the scandal never comes off Tor some reason. | Then one of Jimmy's compositions | is bought bv Mary's producer. And being a fortunate movie composer, the single sale is enough to make Jimmy wealthy. So he gives up his degraded life of drinking and raop-| ing, Mary cancels her plan to mary | the backer, and the two are el united. Miss MacDonald does a bit of! swing. & bit of grand opers, and her
familiar sort of light ballads in be- | 3
tween. and sumptuous. In fact, it's so like! all the star's other pictures, that | there is little new to say. | Unlike “Sweethearts,” however, the show doesn't have any of Dorothy Parker's amusing dialog. So. in spite of evervone's best efforts! the nonmusical portions take on an, Easter breakfast flavor. But the| MacDonald admirers are almost sure to like it anyway. |
APOLLO
President Roosevelt's second inaugural address, in which he found “onc-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad and ill-nourished,” brought forth a social drama in * Third of a Nation . .."” week at the Apollo. The play. written by Arthur Arent and produced by the Federal Theater, and now the victure, starring Svivia Sidney and Leif Erikson, attack existing slum conditions with a vengeance. That is the sum and substance of the production— i an indictment of the slums. The sordid side of New York tenement life is protrayed zestfully. Even a group of cockroaches plavs a brief part, and bedbugs are mentioned at least five times. “Mellerdrammer” and svmbolism are sprinkled generously throughout. the soliloquies by the tenement building itself being the best example of the latter. Of course, the show is reminiscent of "Dead End "—Miss Sidney makes an excellent child of the slums
showing this
despite & rather unslummish ward- |
. One- |
robe, and Mr. Erikson, as & philan-thropic-minded socialite, plays the role of public benefactor with ability. | Needless to sav, such & crusade! would be incomplete without & five. | So “... One-Third of a Nation . . stages two. both realistic. After an ardent campaign, Miss | Sidney succeeds in convincing Mr. Erikson, owner of the tenements,
that better housing conditions are tOMOITOW in the St. ‘Cecelia dra-
imperative and her dream is real1zed at the end when model apartments are built, complete with yards, trees and playgrounds. The accompanying feature is a reissue of “The Eagle and the Hawk,” with Fredric March. Carole Lombard and Cary Grant.
> m LFRED TI ine
NN
AMPHITRYON 38
Production of
“AMPHITRYON 38"
Mon. and Tues. Eves, April 17-18
Prices: Eves, Orch., $8.30: Baile, $2.
FONTANNE
dapted by S. N. BEMRMAN
“The SEA GULL”
Ned, on ua un April 19. Note: Alfred Lynn Fon~ anne and heh Drie Acting Co.
Apvear in Both 5. $2.20, S1.65: cr “is. Wed. Mat.: MONDAY.
Orch., $2.95; Bale., $2.20, $1.65; Gal. $1.18, SEATS
The settings are massive]
-|been appointed again as promotion |
ACADEMY TO GIVE
CLASS PLAY SOON |
The St. Mary Academy class play, | will be
“Anne of Green Gables,” given on April 16 and 17, with Betty |
DANCE TILL Two
Except Monday. Adm. 25¢
BANDWAGON
Southeastern and Emerson
[Carson and Eileen Sellmeyer in the
| leading parts. Sacred Heart tion of ° a repeat performance at 8:15 p, m.
College's
matic Lu ERE
GETTIN' HIS GOAT HIS GOATS
James Cagney ‘herd” of goats from two to four.
produc- | ‘Snow White” will be given |
is increasing his
Mildred
HAL BAILEY'S ORCHESTRA Dance Every Sat, Lieske
re SKY IE, HARBOR
| Bbc Couple Wefore 5:30; 8be SAT., Every 18 Min, to 200 After 12:30.
Couple at 9:30, Reduced So EASTER DANCE
25¢ Per Person
One Block South Spd Alrport!
manager.
{sumed full control.
the company since the World War, | has arranged
| direct the park's first aid station.
oh
Bs
Bis
Four peeks at the week's curent movies in downtown theaters: 1, caught right at its height is the saloon brawl which is one of the slam-bang features of the Circle's “Dodge City”; 2, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in “The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle,” In= diana; 3, Jack Oakie, Fredric March and Cary Grant, plus the unidentified recipient ‘of Mr,
Oakie’s kiss, in the Apollo's “The Bagle and the Hawk”; 4, Dew Ayres and Jeanette MacDonald in “Brodaway Serenade,” Loew's.
WHEN DOES IT START?
APOLLO
“One ‘Third of a Nation,” Svivia Sidney and al Erikson, 12:33, 3:22, 6:11 and 9 “The Eagle and the Hawk,” with Fredric March, Carole Lombard, Cary Grant and Jack Rake, at 11, 1:49, 4:38, 7:27 and 10
CrReLE
“Podge City,” with Errol Flynn, Olivia de Heian ant Ann Sheridan, at 11, 05, 3:20, 5:35, 7.45
with at
and 10 INDIANA “The Story of Vernon and Trene, Castle,” with Fred Astaire Rogers, Bdna May Oliver antl wal er Brennan, at 11:08, 1:14, 3:25, 5:38, 7:45 and 9:58. March o Time, at 12:56, 8:07, 5:10, 7:29 and 9:40.
LOEW'S “Broadway Serenade,” with Jean-
ette MacDonald, Lew Ayres, Tan Hunter and Frank Morgan, at 11:20,
ADD ATTRACTIONS es lg Ry wor Soy Hunt.” with
IN RIVERSIDE PARK Warren William, Ida Lupino and
Ralph Morgan, at 1:25, 4:55 and 8: 25. John LL. Coleman will serve actively as president of the Riverside Amusement Park during the com-| ing season, with H. E. Parker as |
Mr. Coleman has been | president of the organization for the last six vears but has not as-
dens again will have George Golding as manager. The Riverside Roller Rink will remain open throughout the summer with skating every | afternoon and evening.
Victor MeEnglen Cary Grant—Jonn Fontaine
Kipling 's CGUNGR PIN”
Masterpiece »
TRA way fo hud NOW [RES = 15st Run—Roy Roge Art Rov6n RANGHRS Rov pop» Chexter Morris—Vic Mcliaglen “PACIFICO LINER"
—— — i a
SITS =~
TRUE! BIG! DRAMATIC!
DAZZLING ROMANCE! — DANCEN THAT A THE CAMMY rn IDOLS OF YESTERDAY. WITH TE
Mr. Parker, who has been with for several new at-| tractions and a number of new ath- | Jetic contests. Frank Holmes has | manager and Dr. BE. B. Lamb will |
The Showboat refreshment gar-
® soe jo 8
LES TENDER GLORIOUSLY
ip
FULL
A150)
BLL
"a 2)!
GLI
Divcunwing —
“BACKGROUND 3 ‘W. "” vee, apo il
DEEP SEA FEATURED
“Titans of the Deep,” pictorializ-
filmed on the floor of the ocean by Dr. William Beebe, Otis Barton and Gloria Hollister, shows a girl in a knife fight with a devil-fish, a deepsea diver fighting a man-eating shark with a spear and a battle be-
marine crocodile.
ing savagery of deep sea life, will open today at the Fountain Square Theater together with “Gunga Din.” | The picture, miuch of which was «
| CS Sa (RR [Ao FIA BP 0
Lombard - Cary Grant and Jack Qakie TY)
RL T(E: AL, HAWK
Sah 1 A Tin
Leif Erikson
one third
tween a boa constrictor and "
EAST SIDE
3 8155 E. T I RIVOLI™ * vs 15¢ Jack Holt—Beverly Roberts “STRANGE CASE OF DR. MEAD” Anne Shirley “BOY SLAVES”
Added! Andy Olvde & Swing Band EXTRA! Added to Last Show Tonight! Spencer Tracy—Ann Dvorak
“SKY DEVILS”
Sunday-Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday
Cary Grant—Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Victor McLaglen—Joan Fontaine
“GUNGA DIN”
George Bnei Pe Wavilland
“WINGS OF THE NAVY” E 4630 ¥. Tenth 15¢ merson
5:45 to 6 Melvyn Douglas—Virginia Bruce “THERE'S THAT WOMAN AGAIN” “Torchy Blane in Chinatown” (First Showing East) Sun. through Wed.—John Garfield “THEY MADE ME A CRIMINAL" Jane Withers “ARIZONA WILDCAT"”
HT
25 T0 6
. BALCONY 30c AFT ER 6
Yl 3K
1939 QUEEN OF THE SCREEN! begins her reign in a burst of melody... a blaze of triumph!
veo Jeanette sings and ings” and romances’ with a new leading man!
Sahara Grotto Will Present
Homer Rodeheaver
in CADLE TABERNACLE
Sat., April 22, 8 P. M.—Sun., Apr. 23, 2:30 P. M. Advance Tickets, 25¢- Grotto Clubhouse RI. 4221
FRENCH MOD with CHORUS the
MATINES 2 Bowe
pL YEE] 1] KIDDIES 10
t O'Brien—JYoan Blonde nD”
“OFF THE RECO
Dorothea Kent-—Andy Devine “STRANGE FACES”
Stinday—Robt. Tavior and Wallace Beery
“STAND UP AND FIGHT” Lew Ayres “SPRING MADNESS”
Tuxedo 40% E. New York
Last Times Tonite 1=¥Eleanor Powell—Robt, . “HONOLULU”
2-Franchot Tone “Girl Downstairs” 8—‘Lincoln in the White House”
1 RVI NG 550% E. Wash. St.
Sidney Toler Phyllis Brooks “CHARLIE CHAN IN HONOLULU” “DIVORCE OF LADY X”
Sunday: Olark Gable—Norma Shearer
‘IDYOT’S DELIGHT”
411 E. Wash. Tonieht Only!
Paramount Two Big Features 1=-Preston Foster—Frank Jenks “LAST WARNING” 7:35 and 10:25 5 “CALIFORNIA FRONTIER”
1382 ¥£. Wavh. St. Now Thin
Strand Two Bix Henrares Oary Grant—Victor Melaglen “GUNGA DIN”
Eleanor Powell=—Robert Young
“HONOLULU” ~ WEST SIDE Speedway Oity
Speedway a, Yorn “MR. MOTOS LAST WARNING”
Wm. Boyd “THE FRONTIERSMAN”
Sunday: Fre@eric March—Joan Bennett “TRADE WINDS”
20]
With Buck Jones at 6:30 and 9:30
Matinee Today Th 6
CARY GRANT DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, 11. PLUS 60 Minutes of Gasps “TITANS OF THE DEEP” and Donald Puck Cartoon
TONTGHT—SUNDAY GEO. BRENT—JOHN PAYNE OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND
| n | WINGS NAVY ™
ADDED WHIT-LLOYD NOLAN IN “AMBUSH"'~and CARTOON Janet Gavhor
O r en ta I nue. Fairbanks
“THE YOUNG IN HEART” Wendy Barrie “PACIFIC LINER" Fady
a 1105 S. Meridian St.
Je,
Sun. Jeanette MacDonald—Nelvon
“SWEETHEARTS” “LAW WEST OF TOMBSTONE” NORTH SIDE .
Zz arin g Central at Fall Ori.
Fleder March nn Sothern “TRADE WINDS” Anne Shirley “BOY SLAVES”
uy: W. C. Fields=Charlie McCarthy
“wy ant © ; » 3. Withers “ARIZONA WIEDCAT” | Frit et er
“WINGS OF THE NAVY”
College at 63d Free Parking ing Crosby==Shirley Ross
“PARIS HONEYMOON" Lew Ayres “SPRING MADNESS” Sanfiay: Geo. Brent=Olivia De Havillan@ “WINGS OF THE NAVY” “SECRETS OF A NURSE”
16th & Delaware
Jackie Cooper Wendy Barrie
‘NEWSBOY’'S HOME” Botis Karloff “DEVIL'S ISLAND” Stnday: Tom Brown-Joan Fontaine ‘DUKE OF WEST POINT” “KING OF THE UNDERWORLD”
___ Continuous Daily From 1:30
ER — REX 318t & Northwestern
Porathy Lamow Ravmond Millan ‘AER JUNGLE LOVE” “LAW WEST OF TOMBSTONE”
Sund@ay=lew Ayres “SPRING MADNESS® _ “STAND UP AND FIGHT”
R | TZ 34th and —
Now Thra Eleanor Yori Young
Wed. o Big Wits “HONOLULU”
Franchot Tone=Franciska Gaal
|“THE GIRL DOWNSTAIRS”
Uptown Reiser
“DUKE OF WEST POINT”
_ | “STRANGE CASE OF DR. MEAD”
‘Sunday=Don AmecheRity Brow, “TAREE MUSKETEERS”
St. St. Clair" wre