AT THE PICTURES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 13 April 1945, Page 4

AT THE PICTURES

Majestic: Finally to-night, Susanna Foster and Ronald O’Connor in “Top Man,’* and Fritz Kortner in “Purple V.” Commencing Saturday. Robertson Hare and Alfred Drayton in the British comedy farce “Women s Aren’t Angels” and “The Irish Question” (March of Time). In "Women Aren’t Angels” that fine actor Hare is partnered by Alfred Drayton, who is very nearly big enough in body and good enough in acting to make up for the defection of the old favourites in British farce. The plot is up-to-date, with Home Guard. A.T.S. (the British equivalent of the W.A.A.C.’s). and fifth columnists adding to the complications. Drayton and Hare are business partners, whose wives are senior officers in the A.T.S. Drayton’s wife, with some reason, is suspicious of her husband, but. of course, the quiet Robertson Hare has never given his wife cause for a moment’s anxiety in his life. However, he very speedily does when he moves in to stay with Drayton during the absence of their wives on duty. Lovely girls practically drop from the skies, and of course, the wives return at the most difficult moment. Robertson Hare has made himself master of his own special brand of farce. His characterisations may be always the same, but they are always very, very funny, and he gets the best possible support from Alfred Drayton, who rivals Tom Walls in his ability to “put across” a line capable of two, three or more meanings. “Women Aren't Angels” is a British farce, typical of the genre, always amusing, and at time genuinely sidesplittingly funny. “The Irish Question” is a to questions about Ireland. , State Theatre: Now screening. Samuel Goldwyn’s musical comedy “Up in Arms,” featuring the new comedy sensation. Danny Kaye, with Dinah Shore, Dana Andrews. Constance Dowling and the Goldwyn Girls. The story, adorned with catchy new song numbers, deals with the adventures of a hypochondriac who, with his pal. is drafted into uniform and sent to the South Pacific, along with the pair's nurse girl friends. Danny's mythical ailments and his frantic efforts to keep his girl out of trouble lead to piuch of the hilarious action. A spectacular dream sequence with the Goldwyn Girls. Danny’s side-splitting experiences as a prisoner of the Japs, and his heroic capture of a whole platoon, are among the many ■ novelties which maintain the sparkling amusement values of the picture. Kaye himself turns in a remarkable performance in a part that reveals his versatility to the full, and Miss Shore's portrayal is delightful. Andrews and Miss Dowling as the other couple furnish perfect cooperation. Elliott Nugent's smooth direction and the tw6 sets of songs by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler and by Sylvia Fine and Max Liebman help to make “Up in Arms” a delightful entertainment for every pictu regoer. Richmond Theatre: To-morrow at 2.15 and 8 p.m. Laurel and Hardy in “A Haunting We Will Go." Supports include coloured Cartoon "Flying Fever.” British Information “Watchers.” A.N.C. “Men of the Fleet.” and British Ind. “Over the Downs.”