ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 145, 22 May 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAYFAIR THEATRfc. “TOPPER.” Constanco Bennett and Cary Grant, costarred for tile first time, and Ronald Young as “Topper,” achieve a joint triumph in the 1.1 ul Roncli-M-G-M teal tire comedy, “Topper,” which screens to-night at the Mayfair Theatre. The screen piny is sensational and refreshingly novel in its motivating theme. Adapted from Thorne Smith's hock by Jack Jevnc, Eric Hatch and Eddie Moran, the Kerbys are pictured as a rich, madcap couple who. after death in an automobile accident, are • low plane spirits with the ability to mortally materialise and deiuaterialise. The Kerbys resolve lo obtain heavenly e’.erliity through the exercise of a “good deed.” Cosmo Topper, a staid Wall Street bank president—perfectly portrayed by the expert farceur, Roland Young—who lives a routine, suburban existence under the dignified but domineering ambitions of llis wife (Billie Burke), is considered by the Kerbys as a perfect specimen of repression. How the captivating Lonnie and the rollicking Cary proceed to upset llio normal life of the droll Roland and Miss Burke to mould it. to their own hectic ways of living set the audience into spontaneous lplarity of hysterics'. Tlie astounding adventures and ribald escapades in which the gay ghosts involve Young burst all bounds of comedy. In the end they lift Topper from hi.s snug existence, make him a happy human being, and joyously escape themselves from their earthbound existence. Among those who contribute much to the scores of featured roles are, Alan Mowbray and Eugene Balletic. lloagy Carmichael’s new song Hit, "Old Man Moon,” adds to the outstanding production that makes Hal Roach’s debut into the realm of super tilin features. REGENT THEATRE. “SWEETHEARTS.” Modern dress, a modern story, and modern technieolour beiit Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy better than anything they have attempted in the past. Despite their success together in “Naughty Marietta,” “Rose Marie,” I “Maytime,” and “Girl of the Golden West.” they establish still another milestone for the film musical in “Sweethearts,” now showing at the Regent Theatre. A new warmth and vividness of personality colours all their efforts ill this new Victor Herbert adaptation, and whether the cause includes the story, the dress, or the technieolour, they emerge as even brighter luminaries of the Hollywood firmament. Ah stars of a Broadway "show within a show.” they are right in (heir clement and handle the comedy as skilfully as their singing assignments. An unprecedented cast of comedy personalities surrounds them, with Frank Morgan prominent as the flattery show producer. Ray Bolger winning (lie limelight lie deserves as the show’s dancer, Florence Rico adding to a series of recent hits with lier secretary role, Mischa Alter and Herman Bing tiie laugh riots they always are as the battling composer and librettist, and Reginald Gardiner as an ingenious Hollywood agent. The plot, concerning the attempts of two f tme-weary Broadway musical comedy stars who are husband and wile in private life lo get the upper hand over a conniving producer, is replete with action and laughs, together with the original “show within a show, which offers opportunity for the picture’s beautiful song and dance numbers. OPERA HOUSE, TO-NIGHT. CHANG THE MAGICIAN. Tho word “Magician” conjures up a mental image of a somewhat blase individual in evening dress producing rabbits and doves from an apparently empty hat. That is. the magician of the past, but Chang, it is said, lives—and works—in tho future. In tho midst of elaborate Oriental tapestries, beautiful girls and unusual music, he induces ghosts to appear. However terrifying some of the scenes from “A Trip to Hades" may be, beauty finally reigns supreme. Of the ghosts, Chang says: “'While even men believe in them they will appear.” Chang and his company of American dancers and Oriental workers in magic, including the famous Bridges Trio, will appear at the Opera House to-night and to-morrow night with a special matinee on Tuesday afternooon. The box plan is now open at Messrs Collinson and Cunningliamo’s.