“FOUR MOTHERS”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3184, 19 October 1942, Page 5

“FOUR MOTHERS”

A DELIGHTFUL STORY PROGRAMME AT REGENT BEST OF LEMP FAMILY SERIES When the camera pans through the branches of the blossom-laden apple - trees, the windows of r. rambling oldfashioned house and into the parl'-ir, with a soft musical accompaniment of Beethoven’s Sonata —you know you’re at home with the Lemps. The same delightful family of girls, played by the Lane sisters and Gale Page, who captured so many hearts when they were “Four Daughters” and “Four Wives,” are back again as “Four Mothers,” with their four husbands and their four babies. “Four - Mothers” will show at the Regent Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday. While the charm and spirit of the earlier films has been retained in “ Four Mothers,” and the characters are the same, the story is completely fresh and new. All the girls are happily married, and just to keep the record straight, the couples are: Priscilla Lane and Jeffery Lynn, Lola Lane and Frank McHugh, Gale Page and Dick Foran, and Rosemary Lane and Eddie Albert. The last-named couple, however, are having their difficulties, because Albert, as a young doctor, devotes so much time to his research work that he has little left for his wife, who doesn’t like being neglected. They are the only couple too, who have not had a “blessed event.” The second generation of Lemps consists of four baby girls, one each for (Priscilla and Gale, twins for Lola.

As the story opens the Lemps are preparing’ for a family reunion. Father Adam Lemp (Claude Rains) and Aunt Etta (May Robson) are busy cleaning the house, although Adam is trying to get time out to teach one of his tiny granddaughters to thump out a Beethoven melody. The occasion is the return of Thea and Ben (Lola Lane and Frank McHugh) from Florida. Ben is a millionaire real estate operator now. Through Adam, he has sold nearly everyone in the little town shares in his big Ocean Zephyrs real estate development in Florida. The family rejoicing, however, is short-lived. That night Ben gets word that a hurricane has destroyed Ocean Zephers. The hitherto friendly and admiring townspeople turn on the Lemps with one accord.

In this family crisis, the men of the family put their shoulders to the wheel, to try to pay back the money lost by the twonspeople. It is old Adam who succeeds first,* however. Secretly, he sells the house to a big city firm for an apartment house site. He has lost his job as head of the Music Foundation, and stoutly maintains that he wants to go and live in the city. Meanwhile the younger members of the family are having their troubles, too. Felix (Jeffrey ■ Lynn) has gone to Chicago to accept a radio engagement, giving up his . dream of writing a great symphony. Kay (Rosemary Lane), wearying of her husband’s complete absorption in his work, also goes to Chicago to try to get a job singing. Lonely and bored, the two go out together one night. She tells him about the time when all the Lemp girls were in love with him and that leads to a kiss. It is all over in a minute, but it sends 'Kay flying back to hei' husband and Felix back to his wife. The townspeople, having gotten their money back, invest again in anther scheme of Ben’s—a suburban development right outside their own town. This time it is a success. For Adam there is the greatest of all

triumphs. He is invited to conduct at the Beethoven International Festival.

It is a fresh, human story, told through the medium of a cast who seem to have immersed themselves completely in their roles. Through William Keighley’s deft direction, the picture has a simple naturalness that is a thorough-going joy to the 'beholder, and the fine musical score contributes to the general delight of the film. FINALLY TO-NIGHT “INTERNATIONAL LADY”

“International Lady,” will show finally to-night at the Regent Theatre.