TWO COMEDIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1023, 14 July 1930, Page 14

TWO COMEDIES

LAUGHS AT THE NATIONAL “THIS THING CALLED LOVE” Since the advent of the talkies there seems to have been relatively fewer big screen comedies than we used to have. But that has been remedied by the new programme of two comedies at the National Theatre. A UDIEXCES at the National Theatre on Saturday laughed heartily and frequently. The two comedies shown were of quite a different style from each other, but together they made up a rare night of laughter. The first attraction is ‘ Sailors’ Holidays,” a happy tale of the numerous misfortunes into which two sailors fall in record time. Adam Pike, of the United States Navy, and his pal Shorty, were always at daggers drawn, with 7t certain naval policeman. No sooner did they engage in a little private quarrel with anyone, anywhere, than he appeared to arrest them. After a particularly long trip, Adam returned with a parrot for his mother, and secured 48 hours’ leave to deliver it. No sooner were they ashore than unfortunate incidents arose which, without them wishing it, put them “offside” with the police. First they were nearly robbed, then they lost the parrot in a cafe, then they had to defend a girl who was accused of theft. Quite unconsciously other troubles followed, such as running up a huge bill for a waiting taxi, and the breakdown

of a ferris wheel while they were on it. until all the naval police in port were looking for them. All these misadventures are so well ! told that the audience follows them with much laughter. Alan Hale is a splendid “Adam.” bui the roles of “Shorty” and the policeman were especially well played. A noticeable feature of the film was the way it had captured the carnival atmosphere of excitement and fast fun which accompanied the visit to port of a big fleet BRILLIANT SOCIETY TALE Much more subtle, but raising as J many if not more laughs, was the second picture, entitled. “This Thing Called Love.” This picture is some-' what hard to define. It is not a society drama, nor is it merely a burlesque on the society drama. Actually there is a moral, but it is told so cleverly and so wittily that the audience enjoys every minute of it. The story centres around Mr. Robert Colling, an American who had made a ; fortune in Peru. On his first trip home in 15 years he met and fell violently in love with Ann Marvin, and proposed to her right away. Ann was wise in the troubles that beset married life and proposed a business arrangement—a sort of trial wife and secretary, at a good salary, terminable at short notice on either side. But this thing called love could not be forgotten, and all ends well. The laughter the wit were always to the fore, and the story’ is one of the most enjoyable in a long time. The acting was of an exceptional high standard. Edmund Lowe and Constance Bennett were brilliant in the leading roles. and Zasu Pitts was most entertaining as an unhappy wife. An interesting Pathe Sound News completed the programme.