Cosy Theatre, Woodville

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 149, 25 June 1937, Page 2

Cosy Theatre, Woodville

"SAN FRANCISCO" THIS SATURDAY AND MONDAY It is not every day that critics of film entertainment are unanimous in their opinions, but at least in 4 ‘ San Francisco" they are tremendously so. This super picture is screening at the Cosy Theatre, Woodville, this Saturday afternoon, evening, and Monday evening. Combining tremendous human appeal with gorgeous spectacle, this story sweeps up among tho record-breakers. All the world becomes strangely stilJ. Tho very air is oppressive. Animals cowei from some invisible Fear. Only man, absorbed in tho tasks which civilisation has laid upon him, is unaware. And then the floor slides away beneath his feet. Ceilings fall. Walla crack and crumble. Iu a devil’s pandemonium the World goes crazy. Ancient Earth has become tired of supporting its gigantic burden of ocean. Its broad shoulders have sagged ever so slightly. I And a thousand mi es away that shrug becomes a shudder, and thousands die as <x great city is shattered. That is how an e«rthquakc strikes. But the picture is uo c-az> parade of destruction; Jeanette MacDonald’s arias aro an unforgettable delight. The audience is swept along by a screen play which is so cleverly contrived that almost always it is convincing. It allows Miss MacDonald to sing a galaxy of song;* ranging from music-hall dities to hymns —from 4 4 The Battle Hymn of the Re public” to the Jewel Bong from "Faust"; never do you feel that a song has been injected into the play juot for the sake of allowing the MacDonald to K’Dg. Gable’s study of tho dive ownci, iu love with the beautiful songstress Without quite realising it, is thrown into stronger relief by a magnificent piece of acting by Spencer Tracy. He is Father, Muliin, the parish priest, who joyfully knocks down in tho gynasium his boyhood pal, Blackie, but j who can't in tho leas; impress upon him ' the tremendous gulf that lies between things spirituous and things spiritual.

"San Francisco" will live for ever in the ininda of all who see it.