AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21051, 1 June 1938, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

"SHE MARRIED AN ARTIST" MAJESTIC'S NEW COMEDY With clowning provided by John Boles, Luli Deste, Hollywood's new glamour-import from Vienna, Frances Drake, Helen Westley, Alexander D’Arcy and other stalwarts, “She Mairied an Artist.” the Majestic’s new film is a racy comedy, full of hilarious situations. Toni Bonnet (Miss Deste/, famous French fashion designer, and Lee Thornwood (Boles), equally famous American commercial artist, were thick friends in Paris before the story opens. Toni decides to come over and see how Lee is getting along without her. On her arrival, in a mischievous attempt to attract Lee’s attention, she issues to ship news reporters a biting statement against American fashions and the Thornwood girl, Lee’s noted conception of his beautiful model Sally Dennis (Miss Drake) Lee storms over to Toms fashion show to ask her how come. The battle between the artist and the designer reaches such heights that they simply get married. In no time things are worse—especially after they spend their honeymoon on a liner that never leaves port. Sally happens to be in love with Lee, and Lee happens to kiss Saliy one day just as Toni happens to walk in. And so things happen, in thoroughly insane fashion. Boles has never been in better form, and Miss Deste is a delightful personality. “Mad About Music” For the third time in her short career, 15-year-old Deanna Durbin triumphs. “Mad About Music” proves beyond a doubt that Miss Durbin is a genuine star, firmly established in her niche of screen fame. “Mad About Music” is a delightful picture. It presents Deanna in a different characterisation from those of her previous pictures, and in a mood and tempo entirely different. It is a comedy drama. Only a few tears —and those in the most effective manner—intrude into the story of the little girl with the make-believe father and whose dreams come true. Deanna sing, as beautifully as ever. With the exception of Gounod’s “Ave Maria,” her selections are lighter, more in the popular ballad vein, than those of “100 Men and a Girl.” She sings three songs, “I Love to Whistle,” “Serenade to the Stars,” and “Chapel Bells,” in addition to “Ave Maria.” The cast, including Herbert Marshall, Gail Patrick and Arthur Treacher, turn in fine performances.

FAMOUS IMPERSONATOR LORRE IN “THINK FAST, MR MOTO” Internationally famous as a character actor, Peter Lorre has his most difficult part in the title role of “Think Fast, Mr Moto,” now at the Stale Theatre. In a few sequences he is called upon for a triple impersonation. A Hungarian by birth, Lorre as Mr Moto must impersonate a Japanese, and in the character of Mr Moto he must impersonate an Armenian. This subtle triple play of characterisation, as a Hungarian impersonates a Japanese impersonating an Armenian, adds new acclaim to the star’s reputation for remarkable versatility in his portrayals. Virginia Field and Thomas Beck are featured in thu romantic roles, and it is due only to Mr Moto’s tireless persistence and sense of timing that the mystery and danger which threatens their romance is cleared up. Victims of an international smuggling ring headed by Sig Rumann, the couple are in a precarious position in Rumann’s Shanghai cafe until their Japanese friend doffs his timid demeanour for the exciting climax. Mr Moto is a character not entirely above suspicion himself, for, as created by J. P. Marquand, he is neither sinner nor saint exclusively, in which spirit Howard Ellis Smith and Norman Foster skilfully adapted the screen Play.

REGENT’S DOUBLE BILL WESTERN DRAMA AND COMEDY One of the most popular male stars the silent screen ever knew has a featured part in “Bom to the West,” Paramount’s Zane Grey’s action romance, which opens to-day at the Regent Theatre. He’s stalwart Monte Blue, who has only recently returned to pictures and is working his way up rapidly as a featured player. The cast of “Born to the West” is headed by John Wayne and Marsha Hunt, and includes John Mack Brown, John Patterson, Lucien Littlefield, and many others. The efforts of a soup company to sell soup by running a contest to find the handsomest man in the country forms the background of “Love on Toast,” Paramount’s hilarious farce

comedy, which also opens to-day at the Regent. The contest is engineered by Stella Ardler and is won, unwittingly, by John Payne. The fun starts when Payne, a soda fountain attendant, refuses to keep up the nonsense and Miss Ardler insists that he must, and finishes in a wild free-for-all in which pies, whipped cream and custards are used as weapons. Grant Richards, Katherine “Sugar” Kane, Benny Baker, Isabel Jewell and Luis Alberni are among the fun-makers assembled to play this story. DOUBLE PROGRAMME ROYAL'S VARIED ENTERTAINMENT Fast-moving action, excitement and plenty of comedy fill "Florida Special," which heads the Royal’s double bill. Jack Oakie, a reporter, is accompanying Kent Taylor, a wealthy playboy whose every move is news, on a trip to Miami where he hopes to forget about his thwarted romance. They meet Claude Gillingwater. the millionaire, whose secretary is murdered and jewels stolen. Rival gangs get things mixed up. however, and Oakie helps to recover the stolen gems for Gillingwater and patch up Taylor’s heart by introducing him to Sally Eilers, hostess on the train. The associate film, “Millions in the Air” is concerned mainly with the romance of a young ice-cream salesman and the daughter of a radio programme's sponsor. Wendy Barrie and John Howard, the two principals, are among the contestants on the “Kello” hour. Miss Barrie, who goes on the programme under an assumed name, seeks to establish herself as a singer because she is bored by the society life she leads. Howard who plays a saxophone, wants to win the first prize of 500 dollars so that he may buy a better “stand” for his ice-cream truck. Tl-e parade of amateur performers to the microphone reveals not only the inner workings of the am ateur-hour broadcases, but serves to indicate the emotional range that is packed into an hour’s variety show.