AT THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 23227, 16 June 1937, Page 9

AT THE THEATRES

COMING ATTRACTIONS ’"That Girl From Paris,” which will begin a season at the State Theatre on Friday, features, in vastly different roles, the Metropolitan grand opera star, Lily Pons, an exquisite singer and vivacious actress, Gene Raymond, the handsome Boy Blue of the stage, and that genial merryman, Jack Oakie, who grows more like the traditional brass Buddha every day. The great charm of this extraordinarily amusing comedy is the contrast it embodies in the beautiful singing of the pocket edition prima donna, and the hilarious humour of Mr Oakie. Such are the situations created that one finds oneseH enraptured with the flights of brilliant coloratura song while laughing at the foolery of Oakie and his jazz band friends. It happens in the story that Lily Pons is Niki, a young girl with the promise of a brilliant career, who is about to marry, but decides at the altar to say, “No, I don’t,” instead of “I do/’ Having made a scene before Monsieur le Maire, she dashes into the country in pursuit of a handsome young American. Miss Pons sings delightfully a much befrilled setting of “The Blue Danube” (Strauss), a tarantella by Panofka, the French love song, “Seal it with a Kiss,” and, best of all, the aria, “Una Voce Poco Fa,” from Rossini’s opera, “The Barber of Seville,” which is worth walking miles to hear. Directed by Leigh Jason. R.K.O. Radio Picture.

It would be difficult to imagine a more perfect type of screen comedy than that represented by “Three Smart Girls,” which begins a season at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. It presents a story of an original character which moves at a fast pace from start to finish, but it has many other features to arrest and hold the attention of audiences, not the least of these being the remarkable singing of the new child star, Deanna Durbin. “Three Smkrt Girls” is undoubtedly one of the greatest surprise hits of the screen. Even without the captivating presence and the surprising singing of its youthful star, it would be a picture of exceptional entertainment value, for from beginning to end it is wholesome comedy of a kind that cannot fail to appeal to every class of theatre-goer. The story itself concerns three sisters and their parents, the latter having been divorced for about 10 years. When the girls, whose parts are played exceptionally well by Deanna Durbin, Nan Grey and Barbara Read, learn that their father (Charles Winninger) is about to marry an adventuress, they slip away from their mother in Switzerland, catch the first available steamer for New York, and proceed to do their best to wreck the plans of the “other woman,” a role taken by Binnie Barnes. The plot is made the more interesting by reason of the fact that the father of the girls has a considerable fortune, and that both their mother and his fiancee, Donna, are determined to get their hands on the money. Directed by Henry Koster. A Universal Picture.

“The Gold Diggers of 1937,” which begins a season at the Regent Theatre on Saturday, has been described as the most elaborate picture of a famous series. Profiting by previous experience, the producers have achieved a balance between dance, music, comedy, and narrative. Dick Powell and Joan Blondell are the stars, and they are supported by Osgood Perkins, Lee Dixon, Glenda Farrell, and Victor Moore. The story is to some degree a satire in highpressure salesmanship methods. It tells of a harassed theatrical magnate who, as he is apparently dying, is persuaded by some not over-scrupulous associates to take out a 1,000,000 dollar insurance policy. The success of securing the business falls to Dick Powell, who registers his emotion' in a highly entertaining manner. The magnate’s backers then endeavour to hasten his end in order to secure the capital of the policy, and it becomes Powell’s duty, as the agent of the company, to preserve the valuable life as long as possible. The battle between the opposing sides for the life of the unfortunate man is productive of many delightful scenes. Dick Powell has several new numbers to sing, and he treats them with his usual aplomb. He also shows that he has profited by the past, and is now a thoroughly convincing actor. The ballets, created by that master, Busby Berkeley, are some of the most spectacular he has produced. Directed by Lloyd Bacon. A Warner Bros. Picture.

Now showing in a double-feature programme at the* Majestic Theatre, “The Love Letters of a Star” is a cleverly conceived mystery drama of the kind that keeps an audience guessing until the last scenes. When a girl takes her own life, the discovery is made that she has been the victim of blackmail, and her husband and family set about bringing the culprit to justice. Eventually two men are brought to the house at different times and subjected to much questioning. It is the second man who holds possession of the letters, and unable to control himself, the husband of the dead girl chokes the blackmailer, who is later found to be dead. In the act of disposing of the body the girl’s father and husband are observed and detectives take a hand in the matter. To make events more bewildering a bullet is found in the dead man’s heart after an autopsy has been made. In the meantime, the girl’s husband, and the remainder of the family, go away on a yachting cruise. They are followed in a seaplane by detectives, and when the family is being questioned a guest on board is found stabbed. From this stage exciting events lead up to a totally unexpected climax. Henry Hunter, Polly Rowles and C. Henry Gordon are the featured players. Directed by Lewis K. Foster and Milton Carruth. A Universal Picture. *** . * “Sanders of the River,” now showing at the Regent Theatre, has come to be recognized as one of the best achievements of the screen. Based on the popular Edgar Wallace stories of the same title, it deals skilfully with British rule in Africa. Paul Robeson plays Bosambo, the big, lovable native who helps the miracle-working British Commissioner Sanders (Leslie Banks) maintain peace among the warring tribes of the Congo. Nina Mae McKinney is see as Lilongo, the beautiful slave girl whom Bosambo makes his bride. The picture was almost entirely filmed in the African Congo, where the director led a location unit, and shot many scenes depicting tribal rites, dances and chants never before recorded. Several tribal chiefs and some 20,000 natives took part in the film. Magnificent river and jungle scenery

provides the background for a picture which has many stirring incidents and a story that moves to a dramatic climax. Paul Robeson has never sung better than in the warlike chants and native laments which are a feature of this outstanding film. Directed by Zoltan Korda. A London Films Production.

The Paramount picture version of Barry Benefield’s best-selling novel, “Valiant Is The Word For Carrie,” which opens at the State Theatre next Tuesday, brings to the screen Gladys George, noted dramatic actress, supported by an elaborate cast. Miss George has been a stage actress for many years, and great things are expected of her in Hollywood. “Valiant Is The Word For Carrie” is the story of Carrie Snyder, a woman frowned upon by “respectable” residents of a small Lousiana town, and her friendship with a small boy. When the boy is forsaken by the world, she takes him, together with an orphan girl, and brings them up as her own. The years pass and Carrie becomes a highly successful operator of a dry-cleaning business. The children grow up and when it seems that all is serenity, a situation arises which leads to Carrie’s arrest The children know nothing of her past. To go through with a trial would mean that the whole tawdry story of her former career would be paraded before them. To plead guilty and waive the trial would mean a long jail term. But in that case the children would never know. She makes her decision in a thrilling climax. Directed by Wesley Ruggles. A Paramount Picture.