PLAZA THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 17

PLAZA THEATRE

The'glorious voice of Lily Pons has never been heard to greater advantage than in her latest musical film, “Hitting a New’ High,” -which opened its 'Wellington season at the Plaza Theatre yesterday. Some of her greatest operatic triumphs have been woven info the story, •which is a most hilarious one, with Jack Oakie, Edward Everett Horton and 1 . Eric Blore brought together in a film in which humour and melody are excellently blended. ' ' The story is a most amusing satire on modern methods in discovering a star. A feud develops between the wealthy patron of an opera company (Edward Everett Horton) and its impresario (Eduardo Cianelli). Both claim to have discovered the star (Lily Pons), -who is first seen as a night club entertainer, whose great ambition is to crash the gates of grand opera. The story affords her the opportunity of singing excerpts from some of the best-known operas, including the famous mad scene for “Lucia di Lammermoor,” as well as many captivating song hits. Neatly counterbalancing this theme is a romantic plot involving John Howard and the singer. Howard-, in addition to playing the role of a lover, is also the singer’s employer, a band leader with whose orchestra she sings. Jack Oakie, Horton’s press agent, gives an excellent portrayal of the part, conceiving a gigantic hoax, but EH? Blore learns the secret. Matters become more and more complex, and the concluding scenes are intensely amusing. Caught up in this peculiar triangle, Miss Pons is given ample scope to reveal the remarkable range of her golden voice, and general favour must inevitably go to her singing of the classical numbers. Included in the supports are two excellent news gazettes, a bright comedy, and a clever Mickey Mouse cartoon, all of which combine to make a most entertaining programme,