OPERA SINGER’S STORY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22388, 29 April 1938, Page 5

OPERA SINGER’S STORY

Romance”

' Selecting her numbers from , grand epera, swing music, and novelty tunes, Grace Moore offers her, most diversified musical programme in her ~ new Columbia comedy, “I’ll Take Romance,” Which is coming to the Avon. Melvyn Douglas appears opposite the star with Stuart Erwin and Helen Westley ,in support.

“I’ll Take Romance.” is a rollicking story in the humorous . vein of Grace Moore’s recent “When Ypu’re In Love.” A delightful, tale, it tells of an opera singer, completely dominated by her aunt, who plans to break a contract to sing in Buenos Aires so that she may accept one to appear in Paris. Jim Guthrie, American, comes from the Argentine with Senor Paqcho Brownelles. a former taxi-driver, and things begin to happen. Melvyn Douglas plays' Guthrie and, as usual, proves himself the master of light comedy. Stuart Erwin was never funnier than as Pancho Brownelles. Helen Westley is the impetuous former opera singing aunt and Margaret Hamilton does a fine comedy job with the role of Margot, Grace Moore’s maid. Others in the excellent cast are Richard Carle, Esther Muir, Ferdinand Gottschalk, and Walter Kingsford. ■, Among the operatic numbers Grace Moore sings in “I’ll Take Romance" are the “Drinking Song” from “Travlata,” the finale of the third act from “Martha,” the Gavotte from “Manon” and the duet from "Madame Butter-

*For the 'dancing scene with' Leslie Howard-In Walter Wanger’s “Standlb,” Marla Shelton had to wear a beaded. «ilver-and-blue dress that weighed 48 pounds six ounces..

Max Steiner, who won. an Academy award for " his musical score for “The Informer,” recently completed scoring Warner Bros.’ “Tovarich,” starring Claudette Colbert and Charles Boyer. Steiner worked on the musical background for the picture for three months.

Phil Baker has bepn awarded a longterm contract by 'Samuel Goldwyn, because of his comedy work in "The Goldwyn Follies," and in the next Goldwyn pictures will receive a salary almost double that which he got in “The Follies.” Furthermore, because Baker has been in great demand by other studios since he came to Hollywood, die producer will allow him to make one outside picture a year..

Grace Moore in “I’ll Take

fly,” in which Frank Forest also sings well.

The theme number of the picture, ‘Til Take Romance,” written by Ben Oakland and Oscar Hammerstein 11, will be heard for months on the radio and elsewhere. It is a beautiful waltz song, that should rival in popularity the unforgettable “One Night of Love.”

For the swing fans Grace Moore, in harmony, with Melvyn Douglas and Stuart Erwin, offers that breezy ditty, “She’ll Be Cornin’ Round the Mountain,” which probably serves as an encore to the rousing reception accorded her swing version of “Minnie the Moocher” in “When You’re in Love.” In’a diverting interlude, Grace Moore sings the infectious song of the French music halls, “Paree,” and in the more romantic moments, she regales Melvyn Douglas with the lilting strains of “I’ll Take Romance.”