AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 10, 12 January 1940, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

"YES, 'MY DARLING DAUGHTER.' EMBASSY. Ellen Murray Priscilla l£ne Douglas Hall .......... Jeffrey Lynn Titus Jay wood Roland Young Ann Murray Fay Bainter Cranny Whitman May Robson Connie Nevinii ...... Genevieve Tobin Lewis Murray lan Hunter Director: William Keighley (Warner Bros.) Hollywood is incurable. In ite lusty adolescence it flaunted sex-appeal from its scarlet banners with most glorious disregard for the canons of self-respect— even, at times, of decency. With the advent of the Decency League, Hollywood became modest and family-conscious. It is still tremendously fond of the family and aware of its pulling power, yet occasionally breaks out again in red rashes. The latest evidence is in its production of Mark Reed's highly successful Broadway stage play, "Yes, My Darling Daughter," which comes to the screen of the Embassy Theatre as a hilarious farce with brilliant dialogue and comedy situations. It is, in fact, as clever a comedy *>s has been released iu Auckland for years past —and it is as risque. The theme is that of a daughter who dares to follow mother's footsteps when it comes to love —also auntie's footsteps and even grandma's. She makes secret plans to spend a week-end at a cottage with her young man, but all the family hear about it and react in varying manner. Grandma alone decides to give the pair of lovers their chance. The actual week-end proves, as such affairs often do, to be hopelessly embarrassing and the couple decide that it would be far more sophisticated and daring if lie slept on the porch anil she in the l>edroom. There if no pacifying angry papa, however, who is out gunning for the yonng man should he prove unwilling to slip a gold -band on the gnls third left-hand finger. Grandma, of course, magnificently comes to the rescue and provides a solution, with a weulock as respectable and permanent as any and far more welcome than papa s brand.

The whole film is one succession of laughs, amusing dialogue illustrating brilliant comedy situations with a plenitude that would be hard to match in any former film farce. Priscilla Lane ha 6 a hectic time as the unconventional heroine, while Jeffrey Lynn (her lover from loutDaughters") is a most embarrassed young man—until that final romantic fade-out. Holand Young and Genevieve Tobin are an excellent comedy team, while May Kobson towers above everyone in her brilliant grandmother role. Jan Hunter is the angry father and Fay Bainter the tar more understanding mother. The Embassy's programme of "shorts" includes "Have You Got Any Castles, a comedy cartoon in colour; Lhina To-dav," a delightful coloured travelogue; "Small Fry," another coloured cartoon; and splendid newsreel "shots of the King in France and of the bomlung of Helsinki. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Three more performances will be given l>v Messrs. J. C. Williamsons Switzerland" Ice Ballet at His Majesty s Theatre, where the company has been enjoying a long-run season of such popularity as le\ professional touring organisations have experienced in Auckland. p ,- goers have been entranced by the heaiitiful scenes and skilful skating of the troupe's members. The present world champion. Miss Megan Taylor, who was four times runner-up to Sonja Heme, ana twice in succession champion herself, is the star of the show. Her father Phil Taylor, never fails to please and thri l patrons with his magnificent trick skating He was himself a world champion in 1914. A talented and varied cast, comprises tile remainder of the company. Excellent skating is done by the MacKinnon sisters, by Elsie Heathcote and Diana Grafton, while Eddie Marcel (on skates), Ernie Marconi. Tommy Russell. Connie Graham and Hal Scott are prominent in the comedy line.