A FINE PROGRAMME.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 296, 14 December 1931, Page 3

A FINE PROGRAMME.

Comedy is the main attraction at the Theatre Royal this w*eek, for two pictures in lighter vein, though both different in the treatment of their subject, are showing therte. They are “ Too Many Cooks ” and “ Smart Woman, both Radio productions. The titles explain the plots. The first picture is straight comedy, but the other is humour of the sophisticated type.

In the hands of Bert Wheeler and Dorothy Lee, a good story becomes an excellent picture in “ Too Many Cooks.” A young pair of sweethearts are making a good start before they get married by building a house. To inspect the dwelling, a horde of relatives arrive and at once begin to pick the scheme to pieces. This leads to a severing of relations between the two famili'es, and the boy and his fiancee are drawn into the melee, with the result that their views, too, differ, and the girl hands back the engagement ring with cold disdain. To make things worse, the boy loses his job with his uncle, and is left with an incubus in the form of a halfcompleted house, and no money to pay for its completion. With the prospect of having no one to share it if it were completed, life seems to hold no promise for the jiltted lover. But kind friends gather round, and by their aid he is able to finish the house. Then it occurs to him that it would be better off his hands, so he advertises it for sale. Uncle sees the notice, and the ex-fiancee, too. She thinks it would be nice to have another look at the house which she might have occupied had all gone well. Uncle arrives first and buys the house to share with his bride, whom he has just married. The girl arrives shortly after to discover that the house has been sold and already tenanted. The ending.is not disappointing, for the final scene lehves everybody satisfied and happy. Bert Wheeler and Miss Lee are an admirable comedy team, and have appeared in all the Wheeler-Woolsey farces. Wheeler has a stage experience which has stood him in good stead in the talkies. This is his first starring vehicle, and he proves himself well worthy of the distinction. He is a different Wheeler in “Too Many Cooks”— a whimsical fellow, who makes the part romantic and convincing. There seems to be no end to this comedian’s possibilities, for in each of his pictures his role has differed in its requirements. Dorothy Lee ably abets him in providing the humour. She is vivacious, petite and pretty, and her rise in the talkies, following a stage career, was meteoric. Others who' share the acting honours in

“ Too Many Cooks ” are Roscoe Ates, Sharon Lynn, Robert M’Wade, and Hallam Cooley. The direction, in the hands of William Seiter, has combined acting ability and finesse to give a worth-while film in every respect.

“ Smart Woman,” as its title would infer, is a sophisticated comedy of New York's " upper ten.” Coming home from abroad, Nancy Gibson finds that her husband is having an affair with the blonde and beautiful Peggy Preston. Divorce from her husband seems to be the only course open to Nancy, and to this end she invites Peggy and her grasping mother to spend the week-end with her, so that they may discuss the matter. The week-end party is added to by the arrival of Sir Guy, a friend Nancy made on the boat. To make her husband jealous, she makes amorous advances to the Englishman, but he, wanting to help Nancy win back her husband, carries on with Peggv. Nancv decides that she loves Sir Guy, and persuades him to go with her and secure a quick divorce at Reno. The denouement, however, finds Nancy repentant and willing to return to her husband, who is feeling thoroughly repentant. Alary Astor plays the part of Nancy with skill which becomes her long stage and screen experience. She is an adept m the presentation of smart comedy such as is the quality of the picture. The male lead is taken by Robert Ames. Edward Everett Horton made a name for himself years ago, and he strengthens his standing with “ Smart Woman Other players are John Halliday, Noel Francis and Ruth Weston, as the most notable. This is a talented cast, and handles ably the many clever situations which develop in the film.