MUSICAL ROMANCE AND COMEDY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22894, 15 December 1939, Page 16

MUSICAL ROMANCE AND COMEDY

“Second Fiddle,” starring Sonja Henie and Tyrone Power, has been transferred from the State to the Liberty. Abounding with entertainment surprises typical of Darryl F. Zanuck’s musicals, “Second Fiddle” shows Sonja with her first screen skating partner and introduces a new ballroom dance craze, the “Back to Back.” This step was evolved by Harry Losee, who staged Sonja’s skating ensembles, from the tune hit by Irving Berlin. OtherBerlin hits in the film are: “I’m Sorry for Myself,” “An Old Fashioned Tune Always Is New,” “When Winter Comes,” “Song of the Metronome,” and “I Poured My Heart Into a Song.” The screen play by Harry Tugend, based on - story by George Bradshaw, is a realistic tale of what happens when Hollywood at last finds a girl deemed worthy of portraying the heroine of a great best-selling novel. Sidney Lanfleld directed, with Gene Markey as associate producer. “Wife, Husband, and Friend,” a comedy of the gayest type, returns to the Liberty to-day. A dilirious romance

Sonja Henie at Liberty

filled with unrestrained gaiety and sparkling wit, the new film finds the lovely Loretta Young teamed with Warner Baxter for the second time by Darryl F. Zanuck, production chief of 20th Century-Fox. They last appeared together in “Wife, Doctor, and Nurse,’’ one of last season’s outstanding comedy hits. It was in response to thousands of letters received by the studio that Mr Zanuck decided that only an encore would satisfy the fans. The story of “Wife. Husband, and Friend” concerns itself with the hilarious misunderstandings which result when a lovely wife. Who has much money, a beautiful home, and a grand husband, decides that she wants one thing more—a career as a singer. Kenneth Macgowan served as associate producer for tHe screen play written by Robert Ellis and Helen Logan, from the story by Fidel La Barba and Walter Ferris, based on the book by Muriel Denison. Mei’le Oberon and Rex Harrison are forming a new team in “Over the Moon,” just released in London.