“JUST FOR A SONG.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 144, 19 June 1931, Page 3

“JUST FOR A SONG.”

“One Romantic Night” will be screened at the Civic Theatre for the last time this evening. “Just For a Song,” an Ideal-Gain»-borough all-talking, singing and partcolour drama, which will start to-mor-row at the Civic, is a refreshing change in the locale and manner of this type of picture—it is made in Britain, with British scenes, British atmosphere, British director and British artists. If only because it provides that new note it will be welcome. At the same time the picture gives the spectator backstage from a new angle. It Is the Vaudeville and not the “Legitimate’' whose real life is unveiled. The conditions of this branch of the ‘'Profession” have not so far attracted anything like the same amount of camert. attention as those of its sister branch, and it is intensely interesting to watch • the variety artist as he has his being—and his struggles.

The story is a simple one of a singing and dancing team parted through the plot of a rival girl singer who is intent on regaining her lost popularity. The plan to which she reluctantly commits herself provides the dramatic highlights, which glow with great intensity. Romance is provided by the girl and the boy of the team, whose love comes very near to being wrecked. Humour of a delightful kind is supplied by their kindly agent, with one eye on their career and another on his endangered commissions. Interspersed In the story are melodious songs, chiefly sung by Lilian Davies, in what is her first appearance on the screen, while the dancing of Mangan’s Tillerettes and the music of Sid Seymour’s Mad Hatters Rand help the general brightness. Leading roles in the picture are taken by Constance Carpenter and Roy Royston, as the team, Dick Henderson, the well-known music-hall star, and Nick Adams in the part of the agent.