Cosy Theatre, Woodville

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 115, 16 May 1941, Page 10

Cosy Theatre, Woodville

“BROADWAY SERENADE” Packed with musical, romantic and eye-llTliug thrills, “Broadway Serenade,” starring Jeanette MacDonald, screens to-night and to-morrow at the Cosy Theatre, Woodville. Unlike most films in the musical category, this one contains a story which holds interest from the first scene until the fade-out. In brief, jit is the tale of a young married couple, she a singer, he a composer-pianist. As o. team they play most of New York’s cheap nightclubs until a lucky break starts the 1 girl climbing high on the ladder of musicalcomedy success. The boy is left behind to battle for recognition as a composer and to master the jealousy which eventually breaks up the marriage. The story moves in two extremes of locale, the ‘glittering show-world of which the girl becomes a part and the garret-room where her husband is struggling to bring himself a success of which she may be proud. Seldom has Jeanette MacDonald had a bettor opportunity for both her dramatic and vocal abilities. For the first time since “San Francisco’’ she carries tho vocal honours singly. Lew Ayres, as Miss MacDonald’s composer pianist husband, gets his best role to date. lan Hunter forms an interesting third point to tho romantic triangles and comedy is split three ways between the always hilarious Frank Morgan, as a Broadway theatrical producer, and his two chorusgirl shadows, Virginia Grey and Rita Johnson who battle to the death for his affections. Included in an excellent first is ft short of topical interest, “Ash Can Fleet,” showing how tho Navy deals with U-boats.