Silver Screen (Jun-Oct 1940)

Ida Lupino, who steals the picture, and Alan Hale let loose with the laughter in "They Drive By Night," which also has Ann Sheridan and George Raft. young man who wants to be alone in the ghost town, but after several run-ins and heated battles with Maisie, he not only learns to smile, but learns to like people. Mary Nash, John F. Hamilton, Virginia Weidler, Scotty Beckett and a cute baby called Gladys make up Maisie's migratory family. The stand-out scene in the picture is when Ann, to ward off a cold gets herself beautifully plastered. THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE Screwball Satire — RKO RIGHT merry indeed is this adaptation of George Abbott's Broadway hit, which in turn was adapted, most freely, from Shakespeare's "Comedy of Errors." It's a modern farce set in the locale of ancient Ephesus, and its idea is to show that men and women and politicians enjoyed the same civilization, as well as the same graft, in those days as they do now. Droll Charles Butterworth steals the show as the Duke of Ephesus and some of his policies bear a startling resemblance to those of F.D.R. The story tells how twin brothers Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus (both played by Allan Jones), separated in babyhood, finally meet up with each other in Ephesus. Both have twin slaves named Dromio {both parts played by Joe Penner). Complications arise over the pretty wife of Antipholus of Ephesus {Irene Hervey) who can't tell her law-, ful spouse from her brother-in-law, and also over the female slave of the household {Martha Raye) who can't tell one Dromio from the other. The comedy is fast and furious, and if you've been Greer Garson, Ann Rutherford, Maureen O'Sullivan, Heather Angel and Marsha Hunt, as the Bennett Sisters, on their way to bed in the recommended "Pride and Prejudice." wanting something different in pictures this is it. The trumpet fanfares, blown in swingtime, alone are worth the price of admission. Rosemary Lane plays the sister who falls in love with the Antipholus from Syracuse. She and Allan Jones sing the Rodgers and Hart songs beautifully, especially "This Can't Be Love." Alan Mowbray and Eric Blore, as a couple of tailors, contribute to the comedy. SOUTH OF PAGO-PAGO Adonis Jon Hall Returns— United Artists THE white men are disturbing the peace of the South Seas again. Something ought to be done about keeping these nasty white men out of the South Seas, a law ought to be passed, or something. This time it's Victor McLaglen, Douglas Dumbrille and Francis Ford who move in on the poor natives and force them to burst their lungs out diving for pearls. Frances Farmer, one of those hard-boiled waterfront gals, is. used as the "allure," and she tricks good looking young Kehane, the boss of the island of Manoa, into a honeymoon with her on a neighboring island so Victor and the boys can coerce the natives with gin and guns. Frances repents, just in time, falls honestly in love with the stalwart Kehane, and catches a bullet meant for him. Jon Hall as Kehane is handsome, indeed, and for October 1940 Anita Louise and Margaret Hamilton in a typical scene from "The Villain Still Pursued Her," a hilarious comedy which encourages the audience to boo and hiss if it wishes. will start many a feminine heart fluttering. This is his first big part since "Hurricane." THE GREAT McGINTY A Spanking For Politics— Paramount HERE'S a rowdy, rough and tumble, smash hit that takes a good punch at corruption in American politics. It's loud, but it's funny, and a good time will be had by all. Brian Donlevy plays Dan McGinty, a grafting roughneck who becomes Governor of a State, and has to flee to Latin America before the people catch up with him. It's a wonderful part for Donlevy, a swell actor, and he makes the most of it. Akim Tamiroff plays the political boss of the State whose [Continued on page 98] 67