FRED ASTAIRE, BURNS AND ALLEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1938, Page 2

FRED ASTAIRE, BURNS AND ALLEN

BRILLIANT CAST IN DELIGHTFUL MUSICAL ROMANCE. Sparkling with catchy Gershwin tunes and with one of P. G. Wodehouse’s most hilarious stories of English social life as its basis, RKO Radio’s new “A Damsel in Distress,” comes next weekend to the State Theatre to present Fred Astaire in his first picture with George Burns and Gracie Allen. The film has been planned throughout to afford the wingfooted favourite exceptional opportunities for sensational novelty dances and comedy, and with its brilliant cast, is unique and uproarious plot and its tuneful melodies, the offering is said to be one of the real screen events of the season. Joan Fontaine has the title role and Reginald Gardiner, Ray Noble, zConstance Collier, Montagu Love, Harry Watson and other celebrities head the

cast of the ■ musical romance, which deals with a fantastic love affair between an American dancer and a titled British girl. Astaire sings seven of the eight song numbers in the film and performs five new dance routines that are said to be the most spectacular of his entire career. The songs, written by the late George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, are “A Foggy Day in London” and “Things Are Looking Up” as gay romantic ballads; “I Can’t Be Bothered Now” and “Nice Workjf You Can Get It,” as novelty numbers and two catchy tunes written in oldfashioned madrigal style.

A London hotel and street settings, a country cottage and a village during Fair Week afford many unique backgrounds to the story.

BOOK DRAMA OF “MOUNTAIN JUSTICE” HERE.

The fanaticism and intolerance of certain dwellers in remote hill countries of the United States are revealed in “Mountain Justice,” the First National melodrama which will be the feature attraction at the Cosy Theatre, beginning on Saturday. This thrilling picture, which is not alone a dramatic sociological document, but a tender romance, co-stars Josephine Hutchinson and George Brent, and was directed by that acknowledged master of realism, Michael Curtiz. Miss Hutchinson portrays Ruth Harkins, a young mountaineer girl who has a taste of life and education in the “outside,” and returns to her hamlet eager to bring health and education to at least the children of the backwoods. Her one sympathiser and aide in this is Guy Kibbee, a genial old physician. Her worst enemy and opponent is her own father, played by Robert Barrat, a bitter fanatic who hates everything taught by “furriners.” “Mountain Justice” is a severe indictment of the backwardness of certain parts of the civilised United States. Others in the cast, besides those named, include Mona Barrie, Margaret Hamilton, Robert McWade, Fuzzy Knight, Edward Pawley, Elizabeth Risdon, Granville Bates, Russell Simpson, Sybil Harris and Guy Wilkerson.

The management of the Cosy Theatre have been successful in securing as an additional star attraction for Saturday and Monday next, the celebrated yodelling cowboy, Jack Canter. As a yodeller Jack Canter has no equal, and his singing of Hill-Billy and Western songs is a most enjoyable revelation. As a special treat for the boys and girls of Masterton, Jack Canter will give a free demonstration of his famous stockwhip act in the parking area of the W.F.C.A. tomorrow.