ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 48, 25 January 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

METEOR THEATRE. “HAPPY LANDING.” Another new bit of skating ■ technique lias been perfected by Sonja llcnie and is now being used by her in “Happy Landing,” current 20tli Century-Fox musical by Ilil-Crcalor Darryl F. Zanuck now showing at the Meteor Theatre. A Sonja radiant beyond imagination is co-starred with Don Amec-he, her “One In A Million” sweetheart. She is supported by such capable actors and actresses as Ethel Merman, Cesar Romero and Joan Ilcrsholt. For lour years Sonja lias attempted to perfect the extremely difficult trick ol spinning on one foot while holding on to tiio other in a crouching position. Just a short time again the trick virtually “did itself”- and since then, Miss llcnie, with con-side ruble glee, lias been able to execute the stunt at every try. In doing the crouching spin on one foot it always used to be necessary to let go of the second foot when .straightening up in the spin in order to use the arms ficcly to maintain balance. Now the spin is much more spectacular for she continues to bold oil to her foot even after she lias straightened up and accelerated the spin. As far ns Sonja knows, no other skater has ever done this, so she is searching for a name to give this new little trick. ”Happy Landing” was directed by Roy Del Ruth from an original screen play by Milton Sperling and Boris Ingster. Songs in the picture by Sam Pokrass and Jack Yellen include “Hot and Happy,” “A Gypsy Told Me,” “You Are the Music to the Words in My Heart” and “Yomiy and His Oompah.” 'Walter Bullock and Harold Spiria wrote “You Appeal to Me.” STATE THEATRE. “BREAK TIIE NEWS.” The story of “Break the News” is unique inasmuch as it allows two such famous artists as Jack Buchanan and Maurice Chevalier to bo co-starred. '1 hey appeal as a couple of chorus boys whoso first big chance is snatched from thorn when the show they are in needs cutting. Their envy of their producer, the famous Grace Gatwiek. who also stars in the show, knows no bounds when by merely temporarily losing her dog she became lront page news. They decide that something must be done, and the “something” turns out to h c Jack Buchanan whereby one of the two friends disappears for a short time, leaving false clues to the effect that lie has been murdered, while the otner “takes the rap.” Maurice Chevalier, anxious though he is to play the role of the murdered man, is left to deal with the authorities who, for many weeks, do not display the slightest unrest at the mysterious disappearance of his stage partner. lie is eventually taken in charge only to find that it is Grace Gatwiek who again breaks the news —the lovely star taking full advantage of his plight to advertise the show. Jack Buchanan, meantime, has been mistaken for a revolutionary leader during liis temporary . retirement to the south of France, and is hustled willy-nilly to a hot-bed of intrigue in flic centre of Ruritania. Complications follow thick and fast when the death penalty hovers periolously over the heads ol both chorus boys, with the climax as ingenious as it is unexpected. Tile purl of Grace Gatwiek is played by love.y June Knight, and other names of import in Hie supporting caste are Ma-rtlia Ikiharr, trude Ili/grove, Charles Lefcaux. Garry Marsh, Wallace Douglas, Felix Aylmer and C. Denier Warren.