“CAT AND THE FIDDLE.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20361, 19 July 1934, Page 3

“CAT AND THE FIDDLE.”

Ramon Novarro and Jeanette MacDonald. “ Flying Down to Rio ” will be screened finally to-morrow night at the Regent Theatre. Ramon Novarro lives right up to his great reputation, and Jeanette MacDonald is certainly not below hers, in the spectacular musical romance, “ The Cat and the Fiddle,” which will begin at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. Novarro combines comedy with lovemaking in proportions that make a recipe of his own; he can be romantic, and he can be awkward, and both romance and awkwardness help equally in advancing his cause as a lover. Jeanette MacDonald also can put into the story just the right sort of hauteur —the reserve that gradually melts; she and he are a real love pair and both sing divinely. Novarro’s gift for singing and for the piano has only lately come to be fully realised, but his costar’s voice is famous. The song

“hits” include “The Night Was Made for Love,” “ Try to Forget.” and “ The Love Parade.” Some of the later scenes are in colour, and help to display the handsome pair and their settings. Frank Morgan is the rich bad man who tries to steal Jeanette from Novarro; Morgan is the actor who played a splendid lead in “ From Broadway to Hollywood.” Charles Butterworth also plays sterling comedy, and the other artists are well up to standard. This musical romance should be popular during its season at the Regent. Box plans at the D.I.C.