ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 24 June 1939, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS | MAJESTIC: "SWEETHEARTS,” A ] MAGNIFICENT FILM. HUGE BOOKINGS FOR SEASON The Majestic was packed out last night for the opening of “Sweethearts,” and only a very limited number of seats was left for to-night when "The Mail” went to press. Plans for the remaining four days of the season are filling quickly, and the advice to get in early is not without good reason. A new Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy and a new warmth, colour and comedy spirit in musicals are manifest in "Sweethearts,” fifth costarring musical of the famous singing team, which opened to-day at the Majestic Theatre. Technicolour has given both singers a more vivid personality, while the up-to-the-minute story devised for them by Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell from the Victor Herbert operetta provides the stars with comedy characterisations which should win them legions of new followers. In J “Sweethearts” Miss MacDonalcJ and j Eddy portray two Broadway musical comedy stars who are husband and wife in private life. Their quarrels, temperamental outbursts, and jealousies, together with their joint attempt to outwit a producer who wants to prevent them from accepting an offer from Hollywood, make for a comedy which is rich in laughter and at the same time replete with beautiful and original song and

danc-i presentations. Miss MacDonald and Eddy prove themselves as skilful ir modern roles as in their past costume successes and offer a musical feast in their singing of the lovely Victor Herbert songs, amongst them “Sweethearts,” "Every Lover Must Meet His Fate,” “Pretty as a Picture,” and “On Parade.” The supporting cast is one of the best, including such wellknown performers as Frank Morgan in the role of the scheming but laughable producer. Ray Bolger who dances with Miss MacDonald, and also in solo numbers, Florence Rice as Miss MacDonald’s secretary, Mischa Auer, Herman Bing and Reginald Gardiner. Director W. S. Van Dyke II has done a magnificent job of blending a sparkling script and spectacular song and dance numbers to make one of the most entertaining musicals of the new movie season. REGENT: TO-NIGHT. "DAREDEVIL DRIVERS” AND "STATE POLICE” The feature attraction on the programme commencing at the Regent tonight is "Daredevil Drivers,” a film of fast action and many thrills, and includes highspots racing scenes, a runaway bus incident, and some wild, thrilling driving through thick city traffic. Dick Purcell is a racing car profesisonal, who has his car wrecked by a bus and who instigates a lawsuit against the company owning the bus. It chances that Beverly Roberts is owner of the line, and though automatically becoming his enemy, this does not prevent him from falling in love with her. He engages himself as driver in a rival line of buses which puts him wise to the fact that it is endeavouring to drive Beverly’s company ofE the road. This gives him a chance to pit his wits against the crooked ones. An interest- , ing feature of the film is the appearance i of Gloria Blondell, reminiscent in her I personality of her sister Joan. She plays opposite Charley Foy who endears himself to the lovers of light comedy as the side-kick of Purcell, and he really is very funny at times, making rapid advance on his own lines. Purcell’s forthright acting shows an improved ease in his technique. The associate attraction, "State Police,” is a dramatic action picture with John King and Constance Moore in the leading roles. Supporting King and Miss Moore are J. Farrell MacDonald, Larry Blake, William Dundigan. David Oliver, Ted Osborne Pierre Watkin. Joseph Crehan and numerous others| It tells of King’s efforts, as sergeant in a detachment of State Police, to "wipe out” racketeering of a previously known type. "State Police” contains a tender romance between King and Miss Moore. The picture reaches a surprise climax when Larry Blake, as a killer, and one of his henchmen endeavour to escape through a cordon of State Police radio cars and embattled coal miners.

STATE: NOW SHOWING, SHIRLEY TEMPLE IN ANOTHER DELIGHTFUL STORY, "JUST AROUND THE CORNER.”

There’s so much to laugh at, so much to love, so many things to take away and remember in Shirley Temple's new picture, "Just Around the Corner,” that even the most glowing comment can hardly do justice either to Shirley or to the delighted show which 20th CenturyFox has fashioned around its Number Cne star. For "Just Around the Corner” is not only the best picture Shirley Temple has ever appeared in, but also one of the most entertaining hits ever produced by the studio that has given us so many great pictures in the past. And it finds Shirley in her happiest role, one which allows her an occasional outburst of that mischievous humour which is said to be characteristic of her irresponsible spirit outside the studio. Aino"'- those who share in all this fun are Charles Farrell, as Shirley’s Dad; Joan Davis, as lady-in-waiting to o kennel-full of Park Avenue pooches; Amanda Duff (a promising young newcomer to films) as the girl with whom Farrell is in love; Bert Lahr, as Joan’s chauffeur-sweetheart; and the inimitable Bill Robinson, who does a new dance routine with Shirley that surpasses even their sensational “Toy Trumpet” number in "Rebecca.”

Again the State announces that an excellent array of diversified shorts appear on this programme consisting of Fox Movietone News, containing present world-wide news, two excellent cartoons, one in technicolour, a camera thrill of thrilling outdoor sports, an interesting short on "Our Normal Day” and the popular weekly issue of the Fox Aussie News. The entire programme, therefore, is one of excellence and can truly be recommended as being of excellent entertainment to all.