The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 11

THE GAZETTE, MONTREAL, SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1043. 11 'CASABLANCA' FOUND ABSORBING AND WELL ACTED PICTURE VOL. CLXXII. No. 56 A TOAST TO FRANCE fN CASABLANCA Warners Film Presents Drama mm.

k. I I if Guide to Theatres Ut Ketugees in iNorrn Africa; With Bogart Heading Strgng Cast i i YWV A 4 v. fm ft jfv x4 h'JhM I New Minstrel: Show HIS MAJESTY'S "The Night Has Eyes," at 12.20, 3.30, 6.35, 9.45; "Spring Meeting," at 1.50, 4.55, 8.05. LOEWS "Yankee Doodle Dandy." at 10.45. 1.25.

4.00. 6.40. 9.20. PALACE "Casabjarca," at 11.05, I. 45, 4.25, 7.05, 9.45.

CAPITOL "Journey For at 11.20, 2.00. 4.45, 7.25. 10.10; "Moonlight in at 10.05. 12.45, 3.30, 6.10, 8.55. PRINCESS "Silver Skates." at II.

35, 2.10,- 4.50, 7.30, 10.10; "Great Gildersleave," at 10.10, 12.45, 3.23, 6.05, 8.45. ORPHEUM "In Which We Serve." at 10.30 12.40. 2.50. 5.00, 7.15. 9.25.

SNOWDON. "Design For Living," and "The Falcon's Brother." NEWSREEL "I Live On Danger." and "One Day of War." IMPERIAL "Pride of The Yankees" and "Young and Willing." YORK "Road To Morocco" and "A Night To Remember." MONKLAND "You Were Never Lovelier" and "Desperate Chance For Ellery Queen." WESTMOUNT "Springtime In The Rockies" and "Just Off Broad way." KENT "The Moon And Sixpence," and "Henry Aldrich, Editor." ON ICE. FORUM "The Ice Follies of 1943" at 8.30 p.m. ON THE STAGE MONTREAL, REPERTORY THEATRE "The Late Christopher Bean." at 8.45. GAYETY "Headliners of 1943" at 8.00 p.m.; Matinee, at 2.30.

CABARET TIC TOO Two Shows Nightly. THE SAMOVAR Two Shows Nightly. ESQUIRE Two shows 'Nightly. EL MOROCCO Two Show Nightly. ASTOR Two Shows Nightly.

AU LUTIN QUI BOUFFE Din ner Musicale. CAFE ST. MICHEL Two shows nightly. Walter Pidgeon and Rosalind Russell make a -handsome couple as they face the cameras for Design For Scandal, the comedy which brings them to the Snowdon thia week. Design for Scandal' at Snowdon Starring Pidgeon, Rosalind Russell After travelling back and forth across the province, entertaining thousands- Of soldiers, sailors, air-forcemen and CWAC's, the Y.M.H.A.

Minstrels will return to the Y.M. H.A. Auditorium to make their annual five day stand with a brand new Minstrel Revue entitled I'se Right. Production dates have been set for March 20, 21, 22, 23 and 28. With Producer Sam Miller and Music Director Peter Rubman in charge, it is reported that another tuneful show is under way.

Rehearsals are proceeding. Most of last year's soloists will be back including Sadie Cohen, Zelda Gordon, Sybil Rosen, Ann Zeligman, Joe Spector, Bill Aaron-son, the Gould Sisters, and Sylvia O'Bran. The chief purveyors cf comedy will be Maxie "Sunshine" Rosenthal and Ben "Rufus" Silverman, both well-known and popular with the men in the Services. They will be aided by Mickey Abramo-vitch and Michael Avrith. Show Maugham Film Realism, drama and romance are component parts of the film version of Somerset Maugham's novel.

The Moon And Sixpence, which opens today at the Kent Theatre. In the leading roles, of its story of a London business man who threw over the traces of domesticity and matrimony and went to Paris to become a painter; are George San- CASAB LANCE." AT THE PALACE. Warner Brothers release of Hal B. Wallia production. Directed by Michael Curtn.

by Julius J. and Philip A. Epstein. Characters Players Rick Bogart Lund Iagrid Bergman Victor Laszio Paul Henreld Captain Louie Claude. Rains Major Strasser Conrad Vetdt Scncr Ferrari Sydney Greenstreet Uftarte Peter Loire Carl, a Waiter Z.

SakalJ Yvonne Madeleine LeBeau Sam Wilson Annina Brandel Joy Page Berser John (Jualen Sacha, Leonid Kinskey Jan Helmut Dantuie Carle European Curt Bois Croupier Marcel Daho Singer Corinna Mura Mr. Leuchtee Stossel Mr. LeuchUg IUa Grunlng Senor Mortinei. Charles La Torre Arab Vendor FranK Puglia Ahdul Dan Seymour By HERBERT WHITTAKER The arrival of the American Force in Casablanca has given this Mm an added publicity value since it was made. This comes as an accolade of fortune to a fine and exciting film.

It is a film that has nothing to do with the Casablanca which hit the headlines, it so happens. The of the title is pre-invasion Casablanca, a jumping-off place for Lisbon and the new world and there-lore a hot-bed of intrigue. Into a getting which may prove reminiscent of that of another film, Algiers, Warner Brothers have placed one of the season's most distinguished casts, to play the strange conglomeration of refugees, parasites and representatives of various governments. They all enter into a game of chance, the prize being two visas to freedom. But while the situation Is now so happily dated, the sentiments of the picture are exactly up to date.

The anti-Nazi and anti-Vichy cracks are plentiful and were much appreciated by yesterday's audience, while there were also a couple of smart comments in Italy's standing in the present conflict. The world situation also gives the film its peak emotional moment, which comes almost as a side-issue of the plot We are shown some Nazi officers singing their national songs in a' Casablanca cafe. At the instigation of a Free French underground leader, the band strikes up La Marseillaise and the guests, joining in. drown out the German voices. It is a moving scene, and one which we know will grow in topical significance.

The main tnread of the story, emerging from the setting of intrigue which director Michael Curtiz has presented with such adequate color, gives Rick, an American a cafe-owner, possession of the two precious visas and has as leading contestants Tor them, the woman he once loved Paris and her husband, the Free Fr-eneh leader. Romance and intrigue are nicely balanced before the final ending on a note of sacrifice. In the hands of the three featured players, Humphrey Bogart, Igrid Bergman and Paul Henried, these roles get the attention one would expect Bogart turns In another of his Sphinx-like yet strangely expressive performances as the cafe-owner, and is given a little more romancing than usually falls his due. Miss Bergman plays sensititively as ever, alternating under Arthur Ede-son's camerawork between one of the screen's loveliest women and one of its prettiest. Henried is ex- THE MONKEY f't-t is 0 4 ders and Herbert Marshall, while Doris Dudley, Elena Verdugo, Al bert Basserman and Eric Blore have prominent supporting roles.

The second film at the Kent is Henry Aldrich, Editor, latest in the series based on the stories of Henry Aldrich who is already established as a juvenile hero of both stage and radio. Jimmy Lydon plays "the screen role of Jimmy. Self-respect implies that one thinks himself too high to do anything low. The three principals of Casablanca drink a toast to Free France between scenes of this Warner Brothers' film which is now at the Palace. They are Paul Henried, Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart.

Below, the toast becomes a Navy salute and is to Belita, who performs thus in Silver Skates, at the Princess. Thomas directed. McBride. Mr. Sadler Bowman, Jeaa Rogers, Guy Kibbes.

Barbara Jo Allen and Thurston HalL If' 1 vV "SILVER SKATES." AT THE PRINCESS. A Monosrram oroductlon directed by Leslie Goodwins from screenplay by Jerry Cady. Characters Players Danny Kenny Baker Claire Patricia Morlson Belita Belita Frick and by Themselves Katrins irene ware BUlle Danny Shaw Eugene Turner Himself Lucille Eddie Haves. Joyce Compton Faylen Mcve: Blake Maxwe Tom Henry Wadsworth George Stewart by Himself Jo Ann Dean by mmseir and Ted Fio Rito and His Orchestra Monogram is considered to have made a bid for attention as a first- rate producer of spectacles with this film, but audiences will hardly be aware of it. me maior compan ies have been making large-scale pictures for so long and know how to spend, money so lavisniy in an departments tana nave tne money to spend) that there is Httle hope oi a minor concern supplying com' netition.

Silver Skates will find its local interest, not as a spectacle, but be cause it comes at the same time that the Ice Follies are visiting the city. From this company alone there should be enough attendance to swell the box-office receipts, to cay nothing or the generally reawaKen ed interest in ice-shows caused by the Forum presentation. Most regular visitors of all this weekend should be Frick and Frack, comedy stars of the Ice Follies who are also featured in the film. They should learn many things from it One thing is that their comedy an tics make lor the most enioyaoxe bits of skating in the picture; another is -that they should avoid acting. Another skater, known to Mont- realers although not with the cur rent show, is the English star.

Be lita. Belita is very presentable off the ice as on it, and while she may not be a serious rival for the throne of Sonja Henie, adds some very pleasant moments to this film. So, too. does little Irene Dare The contrast between the limited and rather dull spectacle of this film and the more spacious and colorful show at the Forum is only too apparent as the picture unfolds, The Monogram ice-sequences are set among papier-mache snowbanks and give an impression of chill without cheer. OfMhe-ice scenes suffer from the same icy atmosphere.

The some times sultry Patricia Morison nlays her romantic scenes at a tempera ture well-below freezing point, al- tnougn much or the fault may lie with Kenny Baker. He sings like a tenor but acts like a boy soprano. n. w. w.

cellent," although his role is one 'of understatement throughout. i nese tnree noia their own against a supporting cast of clever acting experts which includes Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greervstreet. Peter Lorre. S. Z.

Sakal, Helmut Dantine, and Leonid Kinsley, as well as an interesting collection of bit-players. The cast is practically a blue-book of supporting players, and most of its mem' bers have, or make, some brief opportunity to display their talents In the hands of this cast and the capable direction of Curtiz. the mm remains absorbing throughout, where lesser players might have made it seems slow-moving. The picture lacks action, but never drama. OR THE RABBIT (J ard, for the British film.

In Which We Serve. A message from President Roosevelt to Academy President Walter Wanger, read by Donald Crisp, said motion pictures are no longer mere entertainment but significant vehicles of constructive human enterprise. "In total war," he wrote, "motion pictures, like all other human endeavor, have an important part to play in the struggle for freedom and survival of democracy. Those who achieve highly in motion pictures at this time nave contributed greatly toward that end." Concert at Macdonald The McGill String Quartet will give a concert at Macdonald College on Wednesday in aid of the International Students Service. Playing under the auspices of the Macdonald College Glee Club, the quartet will.be heard in the following program: Quartet (Dittersdorf); Passepied (Rubenstein); Lonely Shepherd (Spaeth); Scherzo a la Dittersdorf (Kreisler); La Oracion del Torero (Turina); Theme and Variations (Gliere); Molly on the Shore (Grainger).

The concert will start at 8.15 p.m. MflWRMS PARKER 4vk SHOWING Vltj That even an austere llidy judge is susceptible to the charms of the opposite sex is amusingly proved in Design for Scandal, which opens at the Snowdon today with Walter Pidgeon and Rosalind Russell co-starring as the charmer and the lady judge, respectively. Miss Russell's skill as a comedienne is reported to have scope in her role of Cornelia Porter, the judge who awards a pretty blonde a monthly alimony of four thousand dollars when she divorces a magazine publisher (Edward Arnold). The latter, distraught at the prospect of having his pockets relieved of so handsome a sum, is only too happy to act upon Pidgeon's suggestion that he use his wiles upon the lady judge to the point where he can involve her in a case of alienation of affections and thus unseat her from the bench. This will free Arnold to appeal his case to another judge, preferably of the masculine gender.

The flaw in the case is that Pidgeon carries his wooing too far, with the result that he not only entangles the judge, who finds that a completely feminine heart beats beneath her judicial robes, but aiso entangles himself. It takes a lot of comedy situations to untangle these entanglements. The stars are supported by a large cast headed by Arnold, Mary Beth Hughes. Lee liLI 1 I I NOW SHOWING mm CAGNEY Mif Jv? Shewanlctl mar, the juggler. The Two Co-Eds, Sally Joy and Mascot The current attraction.

Headliners Of 1943, starring Julie Bryan, terminates its engagement on Sunday evening. Late Christopher Bean At Repertory Theatre Although the Montreal Repertory Theatre production of Sidney How ard's comedy, The Late Christopher Bean, opens tonight at the reper tory's new home on Guy street, the title role has not been cast. For Christopher Bean, although one of the most important characters of tne play which bears his name, does not appear. He is dead before the curtain rises, many years dead. But although Christopher Bean is dead, he left a living legacy.

His paintings suddenly become the bone of contention and the cause of greed in the New England household of Dr. Haggart, who gave the starving painter Doard while he lived and now seeks to share in this legacy. How Dr. Haggart discovers the worth of the paintings, his efforts to deal with sharp art dealers from New York, and the final disposition ox -the heritage of American art gives the latest MRT play its substance. In the leading roles of tonieht's production, which is to run a week, cic tuiuuic otturei, muriei uuncan, btarke, Douglas Peterson, Vir ginia Bogardus.

David Matheson. Kathleen Andrews. Carl Miskin and Today and Sunday EADLINERS OF 1943" MA. 7160 ST.CATHERJME Ajt ST.URBAtN MONDAY A YELL of A Show DIAN ROWLAND ok a i GIRLS ll I I I I (Sherbrooke at Hingston EL. 2271) Onm of th Crtat Picturttl "THE MOON AND SIXPENCE" Gtorfe Sanders Herbert Marshall alio "HENRY ALDRICH, EDITOR" COMPLETE SHOW STARTING 9.45 Watch For Our "LUCKY 7 WEEK" GARY COOPER "THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES" Added Feature 'YOUNG AND WILLING" "IN THIS OUR LIFE" Added Feature 'NAVY COMES THROUGH" "THE NIGIIT HAS EYES" AT HIS MAJESTY'S Associated British Dicture directed by Leslie Arltss.

Scenario by Alan Kenniagton. Photography by Ounthec ftrampi. Characters T1avir Stephen Deremid Jams Mason Sturrock Wilfrid Lawsnn Mrs. Ranger Mary Clare Marian Ives Joyce Howard Doris v. Tucker McGuire Barry Randall John Fernald If you get lost on the Yorkshire moors at night, anything may hap pen io you.

ii you are a pretty girl ana an innocent scuooi teacner on a holiday like Marian Ives, for in stance, yOu may stumble urxm a nanosome reciuse wno appears on the face of it to be a homicidal maniac, and yet, who is attractive enough to make you believe that ne is your nero. Thus miRht the Dlot of The Nisht Has Eyes be summed up. It is by no means one of the best nictures Britain has sent us recently. It is, to be frank, a routine thriller that need not be judged on the terms of wnat movie reviewers seek for copy. But.

like all thrillers made by producers who know their busi ness, you stay to the end. You want to find out whether Stephen Deremid. veteran of the Spanish Civil War, is really a mad murderer in spite of the fact that he is so obviously a romantic hero. You do find out in the end, and you proDaoiy come out with the guilty feeling that vou have missed an important appointmet Just in order to see how it was worked out. James Mason, who plavs the role of the Tecluse, is an English actor who is both new and exceptionally good.

The veteran Wilfrid Lawson gives an extraordinary picturesque perrormance as a Yorkshire yokel. Mary Clare. Joyce Howard. Tucky McGuire and John Fernald fill the conventional role satisfactorily. T.

A. Comedy Is Stressed In New Gayety Show Wake Ud And Lauirh. the new Gayety attraction which is to open on Monday is designed to lift the Duraen or gloom irom, anyone brow, it is announced. This new variety show emphasises comedy throughout. The star of the show is Dian Rowland, described as "a modern Venus, who will present her Dance of Perfection.

The comedy of the show is headed by George Murray and Radie Lloyd, supported bv Betty Coette, who will also be seen in a specialty number. Other enter tainers booked for the show are Eileen Hubert, Lew Penney, Del- TODAY at the UNITED THEATRES GIVi GINtRQUSLY TO THl RED CROSS BINO CROSBY, DOROTHY LA-MO UR and BOB HOPE In "Read To Morocco." "A NIGHT TO REMEMBER." with Loretta Younc and Brian Aherne. BETTY GRABLE OHN PAYNE SPRINGTIME THE ROCK IES," in Technicolor, with Carmen Miranda. Cesar Romero, Charlotte Greenwood and Edward Everett Hor-ton. LLOYD NOLAN in "JUST OFF BROADWAY," with Marjorie Weaver and Phil Silvers.

RITA HAYWORTH and FRED AS- TA1RE in "You Were Never Love- lier," with Adolphe Menjou. "DES- PERATE CHANCE FOR ELLERY QUEEN," with William Gargan, Mar- garet Lindsay and John Litel, yiy Wilfred Lawson compares the merits of a monkey as a pet with the charms of a rabbit, which are sponsored by Mary Clare, in this scene from The Night Has Eyes, which is at His Majesty's. James Cagney and Greer Garson Win Academy Awards This Year I dpi fate cumins crrj- A the city GREENSTREET hifrockei WondefMNv Hollywood, March 5. (IP) James Cagney and Greer Garson, established thespians but newcomers to the "Oscar' roster, today received the Motion Picture Academy's Awards for the best actor and actress performances of 1942. Cagney's award was for his role In Yankee Doodle Dandy, a Warner Brothers' film, and Miss Garson'f for her performance in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Mrs.

Miniver, the picture which was adjudged the test production of 1942 and which virtually swept the list of Other major awards: Best supporting performance by an actor. Van Heflin. now a. United Stitos Army lieuitenant. In Metros Johnny Eager: best supporting actress, Teresa Wright, in Mrs.

Miniver: best directorial achievement, William Wyler, now an Army major, for Mrs. Miniver. Mrs. Miniver also was acclaimed the year's best-written screen play and the best achievement in black and white cinematography. With Random Harvest, it brought producer Sidney Frankiin the Irving F.

Thalberg Memorial Award. Moscow Strikes Back was voted the best documentary film, and a special certificate for the best foreign picture went to Noel Cow NOW SHOWING.