Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 41, 18 February 1938, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE-10.30 TO-NIGHT 41 MAYTIME ** Splendid in every sense of the word is Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s first lavish musical offering of 1938, “Maytime,” with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy in the starring roles, which opens at the Regent Theatre at 10.30 to-night. A description of the original theme would be superfluous, to veterans of the theatre, but it may be .written here without fear of contradiction that the studio has gone far and beyond any beauty which the stage attained. “Maytime” was a musical piece of gorgeous proportions when Rida Johnson Young’s play was on the boards and it closely approaches the status of a musical masterpiece on the screen. The skilful adaptation was made by Noel Langley. The songs were written by Sigmund Romberg, composer of the original Broadway score, and also by Herbert Stothart, who has composed the first film operetta,

“Czaritza,” which provides a lovely sequence in the picture. Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy have not been seen together on the screen for a year. They rose to a unique dual stardom in “Naughty Marietta” and then in “Rose Marie.” In the supporting cast of “Maytime,” John Barrymore plays a picturesque role as the temperamental impressario. his first since the memorable “Romeo and Juliet,” which was one of the sensational pictures of 1936. There is a newcomer in the cast Lynne Carver, a delicately beautiful young singer from the Kentucky Blue Grass regions who sings and acts unusually well. She and Tom Brown provide the juvenile romance in the story. In love with Nelson Eddy, a young singer, Jeanette MacDonald, an opera star, actuated by a mistaken sense of duty, marries John Barrymore, tli© impressario, to whom she owes her career. When circumstances bring her and the singer together again, they realise that their love is stronger than before. Mad with insane jealousy, the husband kills the singer. The tragedy answers the problem of the younger girl Who is drawn between a choice of love and a career. MAYFAIR THEATRE “ MY DEAR MISS ALDRICH ” If there is any serious doubt as to woman’s ability In with man, there is amusing argument for the fair sex in the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, “My Dear Miss Aldrich,” which opens at the Mayfair Theatre to-morrow. This is the story of a school teacher who inherits a newspaper. The managing editor is one of those males who refuses to believe that women are fitted for Work beyond the home. He won’t even hire a girl reporter. The new owner not only changes his views, but makes him love her. Maureen O’Sullivan, that charming Irish girl who is about to co-star with Robert Taylor in England in “A Yank at Oxford,” plays the owner, with Walter Pidgeon, the Broadway star, as the managing editor. As a result of his superior work in this role, Pidgeon has just been signed on a long-term contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Edna May Oliver is a puzzle addict who provides hilarious comedy in the most humorous role of her long career. J. Farrell MacDonald, veteran character star, Is the city editor, with ready wit and keen understanding. Janet Beecher, another stage and screen veteran, appears as a militant feminist. Others in the cast include Rita Johnson, Roger Converse, Brent Sargent, Charles Waldron, Guinn Williams and Paul Harvey. George Seitz was the director. The picture has good newspaper atmosphere, and is rich with comedy throughout. It is evident that the little Irish star and her colleague, Walter Pidgeon, amply merit the honours which have been accorded them by the studio. Others in the cast are individually expert. “My Dear Miss Aidrich” should please a vast majority of theatre-goers. In addition to the above. Laurel and Hardy in “A Perfect Day,” together with a Pete Smith oddity, a delightful musical entitled “Annie Laurie,” and the latest Metro News Reel, complete a high-class programme. KOSY THEATRE. “ WHO’S YOUR LADY FRIEND.” “Who’s Your Lady Friend,” now showat the Kosy Theatre, is one of those happy-go-lucky adventures in farce which presents a comedy of errors as its pivotal situation. The secretarial Fred of plastic surgeon Dr. Mangold is detailed to escort an important client from the station. Fred, alas, makes a hash of it, and returns with. Lulu, a French-speaking cabaret siren. Despite the doctor’s protestations, Lulu makes romantic play with him, even in the course of her cabaret act later, and in the presence of his scandalised wife. Meanwhile the remorseful Fred, who has been estranged from his fiancee, Mimi, because she saw him with Lulu, goes off into some wine gardens. Dr. Mangold has blamed him for everything and Mimi is angry with him, so he gets drunk. But during the evening he walks off with the doctor’s coat in his hurry to get out of their presence. He ends up in the doctor’s flat, and is found in Mrs Mangold’s room with his trousers off. Divorce then appears to loom largely, but vivacious Yvonne, the original client, clears things up by admitting that he might well have been after herself, as she knew so many young men. Outstanding in this lively tale are the spaciously staged cabaret, a song or two, and piquant situations in Lulu’s pretty persistence in vamping the doctor, Fred’s whimsical romance with the adoring Mimi, and the hilarious detail of Fred’s glorious night out. Incidentally, Romney Brent presents a sparkling portrait of this character, and he must be voted a good percentage of acting honours. Frances Day gives, of course, the best feminine performance, but she is closely followed by Betty Stockfield, as Dr. Mangold’s wife, Vic Oliver as Dr. Mangold, the humourously bemused surgeon, and Mimi is well portrayed by Margaret Lockwood. “Paid to Dance.”

“Paid to Dance,” the associate feature, is a Columbia picture starring Don Terry and Jacqueline Wells, depicting the life of a dance hall racketeer. Get ready for the thrill of your life when you see this daring expose.

STATE THEATRE. “ THIN ICE ” Dazzling in itjs undreamed-of crystaltipped spectacle, snow-drenched with shimmering Alpine beauty, exhilarating in its fresh, gay out-of-doors romance that will fill your eyes with delight and open them wide in wonder, “Thin ice,” Twentieth Century-Fox gay and magnificent musical starring Sonja Henie. more radiantly exciting than ever before, and Tyrone Power, handsome young screen star who soared to fame in “Lloyds of London,” shows to-day at the State Theatre. A star in her first picture, Miss Henie tops “Oho in a Million” with new miracles of grace never before revealed, Alpine slopes, with Tyrone Power, as she skates and skiis along the silvery romance following close behind. Arthur Treacher, Raymond Walburn and Joan Davis are featured In the notable supporting cast, which also includes Sig Rumann, Alan Hale, Leah Ray, Melville Cooper, Maurice Cass and George Givot. The story is sw:.ftly paced, exhilaratingly exciting, and hilariously funny. It gets off to a fast start when Tyrone, a prince who has come to an Alpine winter resort to escape the bickering of two agents (Alan Hale and Maurice Cass) over a •neutrality pact, accidentally meets Miss Henie while skating, and introduces himself as a newspaper reporter. A case of mistaken identity sends rumours apout the village that Sonja is being favoured by the prince. The two agents, hearing the rumours, attempt to win her to their side in order to get close to Tyrone. When she refuse s tney dangle huge offers before her worthless uncle (Raymond Walburn), who is unarne to refuse. Although Sonja is still unmindful of the rumours she con tinues to meet Tyrone. At the same time, the agents discover trickery on the part of Walburn. and through sympathy for each other become friends. This makes the situation more complicated than ever, until the ideal solution to the entire affair is found to be what all concerned hoped for—the marriage of Sonja and Tyrone. Interspersed throughout the romantio story are three elaborate skating numbers, which are the Prince Igor Russian ballet, a beautiful Venetian waltz, and the Foxtrot Fantasy. In these ice innovations, Miss Henie executes her most intricate ioe designs. Hundreds of gorgeous girls ar e also in the sensational ice revels set against the dazzling and breath-taking beauty of the Swiss Alps. These innovations on ice are more elaborate and intricate than anything ever before attempted on the screen.