FILM SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 38, 14 February 1931, Page 5 (Supplement)

FILM SOCIETY.

COMEDY AND "SUPPORTS."

AN OPTIMIST'S MUSINGS.

.(By J.C.T.);

The comments appearing in this weekly column will bear oil' the technique directorship, drama, acting and any outstanding feature of any given picture, and are in substance,the combined criticisms of the society's representatives, authorised and accredited by the Film Society's executive ; hut the articled will be the expression of personal opinions of individual members. i . '~ r;■ America is a great place for prizes. Trophies and cash abound for those who excel in every path of work and play. In the cinema world George Arliss' "Disraeli" has been adjudged the finest character study of 1930; and among other awards that for the most artistic production of the year has been conferred upon the art director of ''King of Jazz." Excellent judgments. If asked to pick the best work achieved in, the realm of comedy I should be inclined to award the palm to Mitzi Green. The staggering gifts of this young lady—appropriate gesture, histrionic ability, dramatic insight and a superb sense of humourmake you sit up and "lick your chops" as B.L.S. would say. But I shouldn't give her a prize; it might spoil heii, for. she can't be a dozen years old. * ' 9 Unconscious Humour. Humour, in these days of depression, is a powerful antidote for the megrims, and I suppose one must forgive those people who went to see "Whoopee" three times—that is assuming they went to see Eddie Cantor." Hei' was genuinely funny, if at moments a little suggestive. Perhaps the funniest scenes are the court trials. No one is ever tried for anything less than murder or manslaughter. A nice civil action such as Shylock's suit for specific performance would be a welcome relief. The. prosecuting attorney is always poisonously bent on a conviction no matter how slight the evidence, and counsel . for the defence is always the most chivalrous of fellows and an Adonis >to boot. The judge, hammer in hand, looks like an auctioneer (with the accused making a bid for his life!) and the audience, tense and theatrical, encourages with bursts of unrestrained applause. Yet, despite the vigour of the defence the accused is invariably found guilty, otherwise there would be no prison scenes, which are an essential ingredient nowadays in the' best dramas. Shade of Dostoieffsky! It'is all very cheerfuL "Canaries Sometimes Sing." Elstree's' aptitude for corhedy lias been established beyond a doubt. Following upon the hilarious "Rookery Nook" and the soberer "On Approval" comes-"Canaries Sometimes Sing." It is great fun, Lonsdale relying solely on verbal action, flutes his variations onan old theme with his accustomed dexterity. The show is a triumph of English artistry; America has, given us nothing like it for "nimble aiid naughty" dialogue. The touch is sure, though hard, prismatic. > T om Walls, who is also the producer, deservedly gets the loudest laughs. He has, the, brightest lines and says ; them inimitably. A predestined comedian, hs is possibly a little prone to excess- —at least for Lonsdale. Sapphire . provides the atmospheric peg on which the play hangs, and (to mix the metaphor) she drives it homo to the hilt without bending the sword ! of vraisembla'nce. Elma has, perhaps unfortunately, rather more Gallic sense I than sauce. As for Geoffrey—well, he richly deserved the price of spiritual groundsel left by the joyous, migrants. The climax of the play presents a difficult situation, which'the author solves by the age-long, stage-long, expedient of resorting to mild intoxication. Brandy is the selected spirit, and that heroic stimulant plays its part nobly. Audiences will not puzzle-their heads over the future of these four curious birds, beyond entertaining a passing doubt as to whether they will enjoy a happier fate than befalls the averago canary that gains the open sky. But everyone should enjoy the picture thoroughly. " Supports " Not Satisfactory. "Supports" On the whole are dreadfully disappointing. How often, do we hear . someone say, "Oh! Do see the picture at the Blank 'Theatre, but for goodness sake miss the supporting programme." Take: gazettes! Who would not >be .wttlmg to watch for an hour or so a really interesting and informative gazette? Yet most .'of them are a veritable source of :

For instance, when you are asked to spend five- Ainu W at agolf . match between Bobby Jones and / sonio other fellow does the camora. mart select an interesting■■ hole and give you the play from drive to first putt? Oh, dear, no! You may see the drive off if you're lucky, but you will not, know whether the critical putt is sunk or. whether the hole was a "birdie" or an "eagle"; and the next moment you will see the winner (Bobby Jones, of course) being handed an enormous cup. Similarly with tennis. If Helen Wills is manoeuvring for a. placement you may be _ sure that the instant before she executes the shot your attention will be diverted to the. Mayor of. Muggle-on-the-Mud in the act of opening a midget golf course. Lately Bernard Shaw, talking in excellent mood at the Epstein dinner, was given a couple of minutes only and was cut off.'-at the merriest moment of his address. I cannot understand why. , , . '