EVERGREEN JESSIE MATTHEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 27, 31 July 1937, Page 7

EVERGREEN JESSIE MATTHEWS

! Jessie Matthews is possibly the most charming woman on the screen. She is particularly remembered for hei part in "Evergreen," and that title ! might indeed be attached to the star herself, for her charm is perennial and custom does not stale her infinite variety. That glorious freshness of Jessie Matthews is the keynote ot the musical film "Head ■ Over Heels, last night's main offering at the Plaza a theatre that has known other Matthews successes. To the output of love lyrics there is no end, but there is something vital about a love lyric when Jessie Matthews sings it. Sometimes the vital thing is the joyous vitality of the singer herself, but one or two of the songs in "Head Over Heels" have a lyrical value of thenown, as, for instance, "May I Have the Next Romance With You?" The dance setting, in which the star's own dancing is reinforced by a corps of male adorers, helos powerfully to get an altogether happy effect; for once, the dance setting is an intimate part of the romance, instead of being merely incidental to it. Outstanding in tempo and in jauntiness is the lilt ''There's That Look in Your Eyes Again, "Head Over Heels" (which gives the title to the picture) means of .course head over heels in love. If it is inevitable that love must be put across lyrically from every angle, then one would sooner have it from a sorig-and-dance artist with Jessie Matthews's personality and talent than from most others. As will perhaps have been gathered from what has been said above, the rest of the picture is mainly the appropriate background of her artistry. One has no need to pronounce this picture great, except in so far as its leading actress is great. In her role as a Pans cabaret singer, she is wooed by an aggressive actor (Louis Borrell) and a retiring inventor (Robert Fleming); the actor makes all the running, but science wins in the finish. It is the Hollywood tradition that a star's husband finds his principal use in the divorce court; but in this GaumontBritish picture, Sonnie Hale, the comedian-husband of. Jessie Matthews, fills the position of director. It is his first attempt, and the musical continuity is good; plot continuity not quite so good. The atmosphere of "Head Over Heels" is sweet, and young and old or middle-aged may .enjoy it.

The supporting programme is exceptionally good, and includes a number of shots of the second Rugby Test, Springboks v. Australia. Several newsreels are screened, and among numerous other events of interest are tennis at Wimbledon, the Royal Family at a tattoo, and an alligator hunt. Probably one of the best of the short features is a study of Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.