PICTURE FILMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 248, 30 July 1943, Page 5

PICTURE FILMS.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. Finally to-night at 7.30 p.m. double feature programme, Gene Autry in “Sunset in Wyoming,” with Smiley Burnette. Second feature “Invitation to a. Murder,” with Thomas Mitchell and Jeffrey Lynn. Plus latest news. Commencing to-morrow at 2 p.m. and S p.m. George Formby’s latest comedy hit “South American George,” with Linda Travers. Excellent supports. If you can imagine George as a theatrical extra who suddenly finds himself forced into impersonating a highly temperamental opera star whom he happens to resemble, you will have some idea of the hilarious fun and adventure that make “South American George” the grand and glorious entertainment that it is. George Formby, in fact, actually plays three roles in this devastating comedy. He is the hapless George Butters, a lad with operatic ambitions but no ability; the opera star he impersonates; and the opera star himself! George’s make-up as the genuine star and the “phoney” one is an absolute riot as is a scene in which he has to endure the necessity of having to appear on the stage in “Rigoletto.” Of course, he has neither the Italian tongue nor the right tenor voice for the job, but one of the characters comes to his rescue with a solution that is as ingenious as it is. uproariously funny. From the beginning to end “South American George” is packed with a lavish assortment of brand new “gags” and comedy situations. The operatic sequences are outrageously funny, especially a scene in which Formby gets himself tangled up in a ballet with results that must be seen to be believed! Other comedy highlights include the famous death scene “La Traviata,” in which George, as the hero, behaves ns no grief-stricken hero should do; the star’s encounter with a couple of engaging crooks, one of whom happens to be a knife-tlirowing fiend; and a climax that begins with a, free-for-all during the last act of an opera and leads through a succession of excruciatingly funny action scenes that leave the audience breathless with laughter.