ROMANCE, MELODY, AND WIT

Evening Star, Issue 21784, 28 July 1934, Page 18

ROMANCE, MELODY, AND WIT

SPECTACULAR FILM AT EMPIRE ‘ Footlight Parade,’ Warner Bros.’ latest “ glittering musical,” now showing at the Empire, really is the most spectacular film seen for many months in Dunedin. The magnificence of some of its scenes is remarkable. In addition, there are tuneful melodies and good performers., Two hundred arid fifty girls, in bathing costumes and less, appear in it. Lloyd Bacon, whose work in making mammoth musical comedies for the films dates back to the days of A 1 Jolson and ‘ The Singing Pool,’ apparently spared no expense' in turning out ‘ Footlight Parade.’ The size and splendour of the sets and the numbering and costuming of the performers gives a very fair idea of the length to which film producers can go to produce spectacular _ effects. In one scene scores of girls unite in a bathing beauty ensemble, carried out on the mammoth bathing pool and then on an enormous revolving set-piece. Every trick of photography is used to heighten the effects. Unusually catchy song numbers include ‘Honeymoon Hotel,’ which is in the same class as ‘ Let’s Build a Little Home,’ from ‘Roman Scandals,’ .and will probably be just as much whistled and hummed in the city within a week or so. ‘ Shanghai Lil ’ is of a different type, but as good in its way. ‘ By_ a SVaterfall,’ the theme song for the great bathing scene; is catchily tuneful. , , . . , .Timmy Cagney plays the part or a musical' comedy director, who has the idea of turning musical comedies. into motion pictures, and he both directs nud dances. Joan Blonde!!, of wisecracking ” renown, produces the best acting of the film, in a part winch shows her as a sophisticated secretary who acts according to the old maxim that all is fair in love and war. Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, of 42nd Street ’ and ‘ Gold Diggers of 1934. have the song hits, and sing them well. Ruth Donnelly, formerly noted bn the stage, furnishes much of the comedy. An excellent range of shorts includes another of the very amusing rescreeniiigs of what were considered great films in pre-war days.