STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1938, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

GRACIE FIELDS AT HER BEST.

The State Theatre was packed last night when Gracie Fields was seen at her best with Victor McLaglen in one of the funniest comedies of the year, “We’re Going to be Rich.” It was a picture that the audience thoroughly enjoyed, rich with comedy and highclass acting, and providing scenes - in which Gracie Fields, Victor McLaglen and Brian Donlevy had plenty of scope for their talent. With Victor McLaglen, one of the favourite film stars, in his finest roie as a somewhat irresponsible devotee of the “get-rich-quick” idea of getting on in the world, and with Gracie Fields as his devoted showgirl wife, “We’re Going to be Rich,” presents a broad, lusty story of life in Australia and South Africa. These two stars, Victor and Miss Fields, are set in two points of a triangle which is completed by Brian Donlevy in the principal featured role. Add to this the capable work of a child actor, Ted Smith, and some new faces in the supporting roles, and life during the “Eighties” in the Boer, country is vividly paraded before the audience to the accompaniment of six new song hits and a stirring “Trek” song of the Veldt'territory. As fast as Gracie can save money to “go back 'ome to England,” McLaglen manages to lose it in swindles. She meets Donlevy who runs a dance and gambling hall in Johannesburg while Victor is cooling his temper in jail. The Mc-Laglen-Donlevy feuds are well enough known to their thousands of admirers and for once there is a different twist to this one. Miss Fields demonstrates a remarkable ability for changing her moods from hilarious music hall fun to absorbing dramatic scenes. “We’re Going to be Rich” will close its Masterton season on Monday night and will be followed on Tuesday by that outstanding picture, “Kentucky Moonshine,” featuring the Ritz Bros. “KENTUCKY MOONSHINE.” “Kentucky Moonshine” will open with a matinee at 2.15 p.m. Aside from all the mad antics, the picture contains three new songs by the same team which made the college picture a tuneful sensation. Lew Pollack and Sidney Mitchell wrote “Moonshine Over Kentucky,” “Reuben, Reuben, I’ve Been Swingin’ ”' and “Sing a Song of Harvest.” To make sure these melodies are properly sung, producer Darryl F. Zanuck placed the vocalisation in the capable throats of popular Tony Martin and marvelous Marjorie Weaver, the romantic interest of the otherwise mad movie. A radio company sends its talent scout, Tony Martin, down to Kentucky to get some real hillbillies. Marjorie Weaver, waiting for an audition, overhears the plans and rushes' back to her theatrical boarding house to tell the Ritz Brothers. They go down to the hills, disguise themselves as mountaineers, get mixed up in an old feud. The film includes Slim Summerville, John Carradine, Wally Vernon, Berton Churchill and Eddie Collins in the cast.