GAY "EVERGREEN”

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 20 (Supplement)

GAY "EVERGREEN”

HOW THE PICTURE WAS BORN. The idea of making the picture was bom when Jessie and -her husband, Sonnie Hale, together with Victor Saville, the director, were travelling from London to the Midlands 'for a provincial prerniere of “The Good Companions.” That excellent production was already little riipre than a mellow memory to them liecause busy stars and directors live not in the cinematic present, like you and me, but away.on the horizon of pictures-to-be. AH three knew that “I Was a Spy,” “Friday the 13th” and “Waltzes front Vienna” were coming near, on the Gaumont-British production schedule, each signifying important work for one or other of them. But whatthey, wanted to know was what was likely to come afterwards. “Why,” wondered Jessie aloud, “don’t we make a picture of ‘Evergreen’?” “By Jove, yes,” exclaimed Saville. “Why don’t we? It had a grand theme.” And that’s how it all began, as soon as Saville • got back to London and had a talk with Michael Balcon, the Gaumont-British production chief. ' ' The “grand theme” of the Cochrane ahow was the great “C.B’s” own excellent, thoroughly cynical idea. He commissioned Ben Levy, in conjunction with Rodgers and Hart, the American song-writers, to work it out. The idea was that a young actress, in order to become famous, impersonates her mother, ' a famous variety,artist of 30 years before, who had suddenly disappeared and •« suddenly returns. In spite of her supposed 60 odd years, the apparently evergreen old-timer once again has London at her feet. The public sit and marvel at the wonder of it all. Under Victor Saville’s direction, Jes•fa Matthews, Sonnie Hale, Betty Balfour, and Barry Mackay, an accomplished young actor who makes his ■creen debut, head a splendid cast. Clever direction and development of the Original story have lifted it right out of the ordinary musical-comedy class into the realm of spectacular musical plays. It Is romantic, and in the unfolding of its plot there are, beside a wealth of sparkling comedy, many / strong dramatic touches. In the development of the theatre scenes the director has not interpolated, but has deftly woven into the fabric of the story spectacular features wholly in keeping with its atmosphere, which is of the sweeping march of time. Thus, one very apt musical sequence presents a review of dance fashions, swinging . back from present-day measures to the Charleston vogue, thence to dances of the war year, and so to the favourites of 1909, the year in which the picture story opens. Another spectacle is of periods of the machine age; and the whole production is one of which Gaumont-British has every reason to be proud, since it presents a fresh phase of musical-screen , entertainment from l an entirely original angle. Moreover, tho picture registers a distant advance on the high standard Gaumont-British had already achieved in production quality. It is coming to the Everybody’s Theatre next Saturday.