"THE MIKADO"

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22656, 10 March 1939, Page 5

"THE MIKADO"

After a preview of “The Mikado,” which Is coming to the Civic, Ernest Fredman, editor of the London "Daily FiLn Renter,” wrote: “When I say I think ‘The Mikado’ is one of the most delightful pieces of screen entertainment I have seen in years, you can appreciate how thoroughly I enjoyed it. I should say is definitely the most complete triumph a British studio has had to date, for, filmed in the most glorious technicolour I have ever seen (it is actually streets ahead of. any other picture in this respect), the fantasy of the story—its superb music and singing—is so faithfully recorded that the work really lives before your eyes. “I have never heard such recording before. Every word of every song comes over so clearly—and with such perfect articulation—that you hear and understand every syllable.

London Critic’s Praise

“ ‘The Mikado’ has been hailed as a triumph of British film production. It is easily that; and I conscientiously “ ‘The Mikado’ has been hailed as a feel it is going to be one of our most sensational box-office successes. “It will also be one of the most controversial —controversial in that there are certain to be people who will say, ‘Yes; it will appeal to the Gilbert and Sullivan fans; but will it have the same appeal to the younger generation?’ “Well, for one thing I need not tell you that Gilbert and Sullivan fans are legion. “These operas have been played up and down the country for years. The stories of their grosses are fantastic. So you have a ready-made public—a bigger public than many of you ima“Adolph Zukor, who was there, told me he considered ‘The Mikado’ in the same class as ‘Snow White’; and Zukor, let me tell you, is no mean judge of a picture. It was the topi* of conversation and it onened to a brilliant premiere in Leicester square.” The cast includes: John Barclay (The Mikado), Kenny Baker (Nanki-Poo), Martyn Green (Ko-Ko), Sydney Granville (Pooh Bah), Gregory Stroud (Pish Tush), Jean Colin ( Yum-Yum), Elizabeth Payntor (Pitti-Sing), Kathleen Naylor (Peep-Bo), Constance Willis (Katisha), and the full chorus of the D’oyly Carte Opera Company. “The Mikado” is released by Gaumont British Dominion Films. The sequel to “Four Daughters” is now to be called “Four Wives.” The three Lane sisters, Gale Page, and Jeffrey Lynn will all be in it with the rest of the former cast, except John Garfield. * * * Henry Fonda is the letest candidate for the star part in “Golden Boy.” ♦ * * Ronald Reagan is to be co-starred with Pat O’Brien in "The Roaring Road,” a motor-racing story. Reagan used to be. a racing motorist before he came into films. * • • Isabel Jeans, after a year in Hollywood in Warner pictures, is going back to the London stage. She went to Hollywood to play in “Tovarich.” * * » John Garfield, Ann Sheridan, John Payne, and the “Dead End” kids have .been promoted to star status at Warners. The “Dead End” Kids become stars only as a team, not individually. * * » Sam Goldwyn has shelved “Dry Guillotine,” the sensational story of France’s penal colony, because of the French Government’s protests about “Devil’s Island.”