REGENT THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 124, 19 February 1938, Page 13

REGENT THEATRE

* “Artists And Models” Strictly speaking. ’Artists and Models." the Paran omit production at the Regent Theatre, is mainly a glorili.il variety show. The separate ingredients of music. dunce, comedy, novelty and spectacle are almost w.thout exception good, but it may be objected that Raoul Walsh's direction is rather lacking in cohesion. In this respect. "Artists and Models" does not compare altogether favourably with another recent Pura’■niiiint musical film. "Double or Nothing,’’ in which the spectacular element was not developed at the expense of the story. It must be admitted, however, that such balancing of entertainment is the exception rather than the rule in musical productions, and so “Artists and Models” is not likely to prove disappointing to the majority of picturegoers. wlro like this brand of film. Far more important than the story as a connecting link- between the acts is the performance TUni.nv one o f the smoothest comedians the Broadway 'stage has given to Hollywood. This ’ is Benny's first solo starring picture. It is also a departure for him in that, while he is still the goo dhumoured butt of many of the jokes, he is given the leading romantic role. And he does it remarkably well, even though he is scarcely the ’slim, romantic type. Benny portrays an advertising expert with a sumptuous oflice, but very little work to do in it. By virtue of the fact that, be is chairman of the anpu.il Artists’ Ball Committee, he secures a valuable contract from a millionaire manufacturer of silverware (Richard Arlen)on the understanding that the “Silverware Girl” will be chosen as Queen of the Ball. Benny has half promised the honour to Ida Lupino, a professional model with whom he is in love, but Arlen prefers a society girl (Gail Patrick). So Miss Lupino sets out to prove that she is as good as any society girl, ami falls in love with •Arlen, while Benny is sufficiently consoled by Miss Patrick.

In and out of this story dash the crazy Yacht Club Boys, full of "inspirations” for the forthcoming ball, and Hie action is afeo interrupted by Andre Kostelanetz and his orchestra, Connie Boswell crooning “Whispers in the .Dark” (a good tune), an under-water “dance” novelty, clever puppet show, and crazy interludes by Ben Blue and Judy Canova. For the niost part, these variety numbers are sufficient excuse'to for?/ the story. The spectacular highlight is the ball sequence, which features—though perhaps not so much as one . might expect—some of America’s leading illustrators and some of the world’s most famous models. “The Life of Emile Zola.” The rebel genius, Emile Zola, whom life never tamed, is convincingly portrayed by Mr. Paul Muni in Warner Brothers’ picturisation of the story of the great novelist, which begins at the -Regent Theatre on Friday.