AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19451, 28 March 1933, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS

“SLEEPLESS NIGHTS” AT MAJESTIC. FINAL SCREENINGS TO-DAY. The bright musical comedy romance. "Sleepless Nights,” starring the popular comedian, Stanley Lupino, will be having its final screenings at the Majestic Theatre to-day. “Once In a Lifetime.” “Once in a which opens to-morrow, is said to be a riotous comedy, with Jack Oakie at his funniest. Sidney Fox is a charming little figure as the screen-struck Susan Walker, and Jack Oakie is perfect as the vaudeville actor, who is finally acclaimed as the outstanding genius of Hollywood. The cast of principal players is a long one, and all do good work in helping to make of “Once in a Lifetime” a virtual comedy gem. The story begins in New York City with the three members of a vaudeville team hastening to Hollywood coincident with the advent of the talkies, intent on securing some of the large and easily obtained salaries being paid out by a confused industry in the throes of a great change. They are engaged to conduct a school of elocution within the Glogauer studio, and the succession of fortunate blunders committed by the “dumb” member of the trio (played by Jack Oakie) eventually raise all to positions of power in the film industry.

“IF I HAD A MILLION” AT THE REGENT. “If I Had a Million” will have its final screenings at the Regent Theatre to-day. The cast is a strong one and the story full of interest. “So Big." To-morrow’s attraction will be “So Big,” a screen version of Edna Ferber’s novel, featuring Barbara Stanwyck. The stpry of Selina Peake (Barbara Stanwyck), dramatic and utterly human, is told -as Edna Ferber conceived it; the atmosphere is that of the book itself, the characters of the author’s imagination have taken on flesh and blood. First and foremost is Barbara Stanwyck's portrayal of Selina —And one remembers George Brent, and Dickie, and the rest of the really great cast a great character, typically American, which surrounds one of the most admirable young actresses that the screen has been fortunate enough to find. Admirable direction by William A. Wellman, exquisite photography, whose beauty at times snatches the breath away; above all, acting that is powerful *but restrained and altogether natural—these qualities carry “So Big” to a height rarely attained by any product of the studios.