PLAZA THEATRE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20427, 23 December 1931, Page 7

PLAZA THEATRE.

♦ "THE SMILING LIEUTENANT." Tho pay, lilting songs which Maurice Chevalier sings in his new starring Paramount picture, "The Smiling Lieutenant," which will begin on Boxing Day at' the P(aza, art, the worit of the noted Viennese composer, Osoar 'Strauss. Especially commissioned by Paramount to write melodies for "The Smiling Lieutenant," Oscar btrauss hag supplied Chevalier with bodio of the best songs he has yet sung from the screen. Audiences attending showings of lho Smiling Lieutenant" have found these melodies refreshing, intimate and somewhat different from tho usual run of popular Bongs, and, what is more important, they are particularly suited to Chevalier's talent, for milking them well nigh irresistible. Supporting the excellent work of Chevalier in "Tho Smiling Lieutenant' are Claudette Colbert, Miriam Hopkins, Charlie H«B" gles, George Barbler, Hugh O'Connell, and Elizabeth Patterson "Tlie Devil to Pay," at the 1 lazu, has all those elements" that make a fin; ft financial as well an artistic 'success —sparkling comedy, clever dialogue, a thoroughly enjoyable plot, likeable characters and natural acting. There have been many films before which have contained one or several of these factors, but it is doubtful if any film has contained them all to such a marked degree as ''The Devil to Pay.'' It is impossible to decide whether Ronald Colman. the star, is more responsible for the enjoyable nature of the film than Frederick Lonsdale, the author, but it is safe to sav that it would not ba the entertainment "it is without their combined efforts.