ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 31 January 1939, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS

MAJESTIC NOW SHOWING APPEALING AND REFRESHING MUSICAL “VARSITY SHOW.” “Varsity Show” is much more than the average slick, neatly produced j musical, it is a film of delightful sur- j prises and presents some splendid ■ camera work. The direction by Wil- ' liam Keighley calls for special men-! tion, for it is due to him that the film has such an unusual appeal. “Varsity Show” is a narrative that provides a j constant flow of refreshing humour, and some delightful acting. It piles on the fun with a fervour that occasionally ends in an uproarious climax, and its appeal will find a welcome response from Nelson theatregoers. The film reflects a genuine spirit of youthful reaction to the things that make college life exhilarating. The music of “Varj sity Show” is unusually good for a pic- | ture of this type. The scene where | s6me diners sing “Drink a Health” is iparticularly effective in the way certain bars of this number are repeated in faint echoes that tremble into silence. ! Dick Powell (sincere and well poised in ! the role of the producer) graphically illustrating to the University Musical Club how to get real “pep” out of its orchestra and Into its dance routines, for the annual performance, is an ex- , ample of the vigorour and splendid i pace of the film, just as the hilarious j episode of the interfering professor being infected with the mumps for the purpose of stopping him from supervising the college concert, is an example of the picture’s genuine humour Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians supply a colourful and musically satisfying orchestra background. Another bracket i °f Majestic shorts complete an interesti ing and wholly entertaining programme. I On Friday next Laurel and Hardy apj pear in ninety minutes of hilarity in I “Blockheads.” j STATE: FINAL SCREENING OF “BLOCKADE.” TO-MORROW, YOUNG, AMECHE AND SIMON IN THE COMEDY SPECIAL, “JOSETTE.” Having been held over by reason of enormous crowds, “Blockade” the dramatic triumph dealing with present day happenings of war-torn Spain and incorporating a world wide plea for peace, concludes to-night. The picture has created much interest and those who are conversant through the papers with the European situation should not fail to see this reproduction of the existing position. Madeleine Carroll and Henry Fonda both give outstanding performances. As a special race night attraction the State offers another excellent attraction which will be acclaimed as a laughter hit of the highest order. The sauciest escapade in the history of love, as gay as a Mardi Gras, with three delightful stars and merry with Gordon and Revel tunes, brings Don Ameche, Simone Simon and Robert Young in the comedy hit, “Josette.” It’s vive l amour in New Orleans as Don and Bob chase Simone, who must think faster than one and run faster than the other—but not too much faster. The tantalising little coquette has talked herself into a pretty mix-up, so that there are two Josettes, one for the boys’ Papa and another for the boys themselves. To prevent Papa’s proposed re-marriage with a scheming beauty, Don and Bob pack him off to New York, so naturally he takes his Josette with him. Josette No. 2 remains in the gay city of the South for the most laughing courtship in the annals of romance. Bert Lahr heads the featured cast with Joan Davis, who recently was acclaimed No. 1 comedienne by a New York newspaper’s nation-wide poll. Paul Hurst, William Collier, Sr., and Tala Birell have prominent roles in the film. Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th 6entury-Fox hit-maker, selected Allan Dwan to direct the film, dedicated to

“Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Josette.” Gene Markey served as associate producer. The three new Gordon and Revel numbers are: ‘May I Drop A Petal In Your Glass of Wine?” “In Any Language” and “Where In The World.” REGENT TO-NIGHT, GUEST NIGHT, “SNOWED UNDER,” AND “MAN OF IRON.” “Snowed Under,” a rollicking comedy featuring George Brent, Genevieve Tobin, Glenda Farrell and Patricia Ellies centres about the affairs of a philandering playwright who is besieged in his New England farm house retreat by two ex-wives and a new sweetheart. By a strange prank of fate all three turn up at his home the same afternoon, just prior to a terrific blizzard, which leaves them snowed under in the same house for the night. The troubles that follow, with three jealous women at the man’s throat, lead to hilarious situations. The tangled skein of love is'finally straightened out, however, in a most amazing climax. In the associate feature. “Man of Iron,” Barton Mac Lane plays the role of an untutored and unlettered steel worker, who is rocketted into an executive position. He gets into no end of hot water by mixing with men and women of culture, and his faux pas at a country club and in the homes of the wealthy result in a long succession of riotously funny situations, particularly his insistence on examining occupied shower baths. But all of his acting is not clowning. There is thrilling action aplenty, as well as pathos and romance. In the cast besides Mac Lane are Mary Astor, John Eldredge, Dorothy Peterson. Joseph Crehan, Craig Reynolds and Joseph King. •