GINGER ROGERS AS SOLO STAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 2 October 1936, Page 3

GINGER ROGERS AS SOLO STAR

AT STATE TO-MORROW

Ginger Rogers, the titian-liaired partner of Fred Astaire in “Top Hat,"

“Roberta.” and others, achieves the goal of every Hollywood player—solo stardom in a vehicle ideally suited to her distinctive talents, “In Person.’ Her opportunity to star alone comes as a climax to an extraordinarily rapid rise from modest featured dramatic and dancing roles through costardom with William Poweil in "Star of Midnight,” with Francis Lederer in “Romance in Manhattan,” and with Astaire in the sensational film musicals. In all, she displayed dramatic skill and a penchant for comedy. “In Person” provides Ginger with a rich light comedy-drama role, and enables her to sing three original popular songs and to execute several striking dance routines. She portrays a temperamental screen celebrity who falls in love with a gentleman, annoying him so thoroughly that he determines to take the egotism out of her. forcing her to go to extraordinary lengths to trap him into marriage. The romantic difficulties culminate in what has been adjudged one of the funniest climaxes to come to the screen this season.

The three popular melodies are “Got a New Lease on Life,” “Don’t Mention Love to Me,” and “Out of Sight, Out of Mind.” The music finds logical introduction in the story, as do the two dances which Miss Rogers performs. The final musical scene is an ensemble number created by Hermes Pan (who worked on the dance numbers in “Top Hat”), in which a chorus of twelve men forms a background for Ginger’s routines.

George Brent, who has won hi? popularity appearing as leading man for some of the most important feminine stars on the screen, among whom are Kay Francis, Bette Davis and Greta Garbo, has the featured male lead opposite Miss Rogers. Pie is said to be at his best in “In Person,” light comedy being his forte. Alan Mowbray, who played lead in “Becky Sharp,” has a prominent role, as have the capable veterans, Grant Mitchell, Samuel Hinds and Louis Mason.

■Worthy of note is Miss Rogers’ wardrobe, consisting of nineteen outfits created by the nationally fam- < us designer, Bernard Newman, couturier for “Top Hat,” “Roberta” and other pictures.