FUN IN THE ’NINETIES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20456, 8 November 1934, Page 3

FUN IN THE ’NINETIES.

** Those the Days” for Plaza. “ The House of Rothschild ” will conclude its successful run at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow night. “ Those Were the Days,” which is acclaimed by leading critics as one of the most entertaining films presented for some time, will head the new programme at the Plaza Theatre on Saturday. It is the screen adaptation of Sir Arthur Pinero’s famous play “ The Magistrate.” in which is depicted not only the behaviour but the rather ugly dress styles of the period when grandma was a modern miss. The comedy is ingenious, and throughout the screening the audience is kept in roars of laughter. Will Hay, the famous “ schoolmaster ” comedian of the English stage, makes his screen debut as Mr Posket, a kindly and sometimes misguided magistrate. His wife was a widow before she remariied, and it is her constant dread that he should find out the real age of her son Bob, who is made to appear as a boy of fifteen, whereas he is a young man of twenty-one. This deception leads the characters of the story on a merry dance through scandalous happenings in a typical musical hall to a police court, where Mr Posket finds himself in the position of having to pass judgment on his wife as a disturber of the peace! The acting of all the cast is excellent. It includes Claude Allister, Angela Baddeley, Jimmy Godden a::d other favourites. The gay atmosphere of the naughty ’nineties has been recaptured perfectly, especially in the music hall sequences, when popular acts and songs of the past are revived. An excellent supporting programme will include “ Not To-night, Josephine,” a clever musical novelty in colour; “ Caledonia, Stern and Wild,” a scenic of Scottish Highlands; “Grey Owls, Strange Guests,” a fascinating nature study; and a Paramount Pictorial News incorporating scenes of the Centenary Thousand cycling classic in which 11. G. Watson, of Christchurch, secured second place. Box plans at the D.I.C.