STATE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 155, 29 March 1937, Page 5

STATE THEATRE

“Rainbow on the River” The romantic satmosphere of the southern States of America is invoked by the producers “Rainbow on the River,” the film which .mixes music with drama and comedy, and which commenced a season at the State Theatre on Saturday. Bobby Breen, the boy who is surprisingly mature vocally and historically, has the featured! part, that of a child orphaned by the turmoil of the civil war. He is mothered by a negro woman, former devoted slave of .his family. In spite of the Degress’s obstruction, which is inspired partly by love of the boy aud partly by dislike of the Yankees, of the north, a benevolent priest brings the boy’s existence to the notice ..of his grandmother in New York, and he is transported from poor easy-going melodic south to rich, hard, artificial, Victorian New York. In the household of -his grandmother, an outwardly savage old woman, but human at heart, he is regarded as an interloper by other relatives covetous of the old woman’s wealth, and much of the drama of “Rainbow on the River” is based on their efforts to eject him from the household and his grandmother’s growing affection for him. Finally he and the negress, who has been pining to death at. his loss, are happily restored, and the avaricious relatives defeated by their own schemes. The film is rich in sentiment and flavoured with comedy throughout. A strong cast includes May Robson, Charles Butterworth, Benita Hume, and Alan Mowbray. The star sings a series of charming songs, some old au f ] some new, the theme song being particularly catchy. There is an interesting group of short subjects.