"BROADWAY SERENADE"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23505, 16 November 1939, Page 12

"BROADWAY SERENADE"

ATTRACTION FOR ST. JAMES' A series of lavish spectacles, tlio glorious singing of Jennctte MacDonnld and an appealing; romantic story are the main elements of Metro-Goldwyn-Maver's outstanding musical picture "Broadway Serenade," which will head the new programme at. St. James' Theatre to-morrow. Although .Teanotte Mar-Donald's songs are naturally the loading feature, the story has a dramatie force. Tlio popular soprano is cast as a night dub singer who suddenly seizes an opportunity to become a leading actress on New York's famed Broadway. Her husband is left, to lament in an obscure garret, desperately struggling to succeed as a composer and fiercely jealous of his wife's good fortune. Lew Ayres is always convincing in this latter role, acting with his usual sincerity and an obvious enthusiasm for his part in the film. Joanctte Mac-Don ild's career on the stage enables colourful dancing scenes to be introduced without interrupting the even tenor of the plot. ]n "Broadwav Serenade" sluj d.in cos for the first time since the successful film "The Firefly." Among the many pleasing numbers which she sings with her accustomed clarity and jierfect expression are excerpts from the operas "Madame Butterfly" and "La Boheme," tho classical song For Every Lonely Heart," and several modem ballads.