MUSIC AND LAUGHTER

Evening Star, Issue 22004, 13 April 1935, Page 10

MUSIC AND LAUGHTER

‘STUDENT TOUR’ AT ST. JAMES Music, youth, and laughter are the three ingredients which form the basis, of * Student Tour,’ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s merry comedy, which commenced at the St. James Theatre yesterday. It has a light-hearted plot which should appeal to all picturegoers. and there are novel situations, scintillating humour, smart dialogue, and remarkable dancing scenes. * Student Tour ’ tells of an American college rowing eight, which, after winning the national championship, sets out for England to defeat the similarly pre-eminent Lethbridge eight there. Their steamer, the Arcadia, takas them across the Pacific, and from China to England via Java, India, and France, at , all of which suitable interludes are produced. Although the tour is supervised by the professor and bis voluble trainer, the college team is successful in getting all the amusement they can at every port of call, and the fancy dress party on board the steamers is a splendidly staged spectacle in the best Hollywood style. The heroine, Ann Lippincott, w’ho surprisingly combines a taste for philosophy with an unsuspected brilliance as a ‘dancer, is secretly in love with Bobby, the stroke of the crew. He unfortunately takes very little notice either of her or of his rowing, and can only, be induced to be reasonable by the stronger measures. At Monte Carlo comes the climax, and from then on the crew concentrate all their energy on the race. In spite of this none too early beginning they are successful, although the heroine influenced the ending in an. entirely unsuspected way. Most of the scenes are enacted on the ocean liner, and the action moves at breathless pace. Every ounce of humour that can be won from the situations is extracted by the effervescent trainpr, and the balance required to make the picture logical is supplied by the other principals. The love theme is adroitly interwoven, and it harmonises perfectly with the general atmosphere of the story. The idea, which ‘ Student . Tour ’ successfully realises, is somewhat new in the realm of musical entertainment, and its presentation undoubtedly set a new standard. The picture is remarkable for the musical numbers which abound in it, and Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, who wrote ‘Singing in the Rain ’ and scores of other outstanding hits, have contributed seven new numbers, notably the ‘ Carlo,’ new lance rhythm. Other hit songs are ‘From Now On,’ 1 A New Moon Is Over My Shoulder,’ ‘Taj Mahal,’ ‘The College Hymn,’ ‘Snake Dance,’ and ‘Fight On.’ The romantic leads of the picture are played by Maxine Doyle and Phil Regan, two singing newcomers to the screen, expected to become one of the film’s outstanding sweetheart teams. Comedy is provided largely by Jimmy. Durante, who is worthily seconded by Charles Butterwoi'th as Professor Lippincott. Another player who makes a welcome reappearance is _ Monte Blue. The second attraction is the latest vehicle of the ever-popular Laurel and Hardy. This time the duo- are policemen, in charge of a radio patrol, and their attempts to arrest burglars and prevent crooks from stealing the spare tyres of their car provide much laughter. Their buffoonery, though, is artistic, and in ‘ Midnight Patrol ’ there is neither over-acting nor drawn-out exaggeration. A travcltalk cruising in the South • Seas ’ and a cartoon ‘ Insultin’ the Sultan,’ add variety to the i programme.