MAGNIFICENT BILL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 956, 28 December 1933, Page 3

MAGNIFICENT BILL.

“ Mama Loves Papa ” and “ The Working Man.” “ Whoopee,” the delightful musical comedy in colour starring Eddie Cantor, the goggle-eyed comedian, will conclude its season at the Theatre Royal on Saturday afternoon. A magnificent double-feature programme will start at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening. The major attraction will be an excellent comedy en. titled “ Mama Loves Papa.” This film will be supported by “ The Working Man,” the most popular George Arliss picture of the year. “Mama Loves Papa ” deals with the lives of a hap-pily-married couple, the husband being a confirmed humor-

ist. The wife, however, has no sense of humour at all. Two such temperaments under the same roof may be ordinary enough with some people; but when the husband i s Charles Ruggles, and the wife is Mary Boland, the case is different. Mary is determined that her husband should be a gentleman, and the simple fact of his

arriving at work one morning in frock coat and striped situations that keep the beholder roaring with laughter. First of all Kuggles’s chief thinks that his employee’s attire indicates a bereavement in the family, so Ruggles is told to take the day off. He wanders into a park, and, getting mixed up with a dedication ceremony, finds himself appointed park commissioner in record time. Even there the fun does not stop, and it is not long before the couple combine. to show the really laughable side of married life. At a sedate party Ruggles exceeds the limits of conventional insobriety. Ruggles is undoubtedly one of the best natural comedians on the screen. Mary Boland's part is made more amusing by lier attempts to persuade her husband to live up to standards of “ culture ” dictated by popular lectures. She plays the part of a middle class wife excel, lently. A further attraction is the presence of the popular Lilyan Tashman as the wife of a park equipment supplier. Her husband is played by Morgan Wallace, who tries to bludgeon Ruggles into questionable business deals. George Arliss, who already has been responsible for some of the most likeable characterisations of the talking screen, has his best role to date in “ The Working Man.” In this splendid film Arliss has a part which is somewhat reminiscent of “ The Millionaire,” but he is given far greater scope, not only for high dramatic acting, but also for his inimitable quiet humour and kindly philosophy. Moreover, he is assisted by a strong cast of juvenile actors, all of whom give sterling characterisations.