ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 41, 17 January 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “LOOK UP AND LAUGH.” Those who have wondered what it must he like to hear a new song hit for the first time will bo interested in the story of a film writer who visited the Associated Talking Pictures’ Studio at Ealing during the early production days of “Look Up and Laugh,” Gracie Fcilds’s latest merry musical comedy, which is screening at the Mayfair Theatre to-night. When he reached the studios, Gracie was testing alter finishing a scene while Director Basil Dean was preparing the next. The newspaper man was about to approach the popular Lancashire star for a personal interview when a young fellow, case in hand, dashed on to the set, and reaching Gracie before him piloted her through the various properties over a corner of the studio where stood a piano. Inquiry revealed the fact that Grade's companion was Parr Davis, the song composer. Always on the look-out for something new, the “news round” moved over to a .scat near the piano to watch the very interesting operation of Gracie going through one of her songs for ( the first time. Parr Davis (who, hv the way, is Welsh) opened up his case and taking out a piece of music in manuscript began to play. After he had played it through once .he started again and this time Gracie joined in. It was particularly catchy and Gracie quickly got hold of the tune. But she wasn’t satisfied by any means and she went over the song again and again until the melody began to impress itself on the memory of everyone on the set. Eventually Grade rendered the song to her satisfaction and with the practice concluded, die sat down to await the shooting of the next scene. The supporting picture is “The Last of the Mohicans.” REGENT THEATRE. “WALTER WAGNER'S VOGUES •• OF 1938.” Too seldom are’films produced that are so different that they start ~.a new trend in motion pictures. Such a, picture is “Walter Wagner’s Vogues of 1938,” which screens to-night at file Regent Theatre. It is a completely unique production that combines a story rare in dynamic [race and hilarious comedy. 1 lie lavishness of its production and its pictorial beauty, in which the power of the modern technieolour camera shows new technical refinements, reaches its peak to date. Warner Baxter and Joan Bennett head the dazzling array of stage, screen and radio stars in thiss gay romantic tale of Manhattan which incidentally offers glimpses of this year’s fashions in fun, dances, music and gowns. ’1 he film, which introduces the . gorgeous Walter Wagner Models, garnered in the producer’s search for the “most photographed girls in the world,” easts Baxter as head of the House of Curson, New York’s most fashionable dressmaking establishment, while Joan Bennett is seen' as a lovely debutante who jilts a millionaire (Alan Mowbray) on her wedding day to become a mannequin. Helen Vinson is seen as Baxter’s extravagant, stage-struck wife, and Jerome Cowan is the shady producer who stars her in a flop show, which, she has persuaded friend husband to back. Contributing generously to the general merriment are the reliable Mischa Auer, playing a penniless Russian prince whom the jealous Mowbray sets up in a rival fashion establishment in order to ruin Baxter.