AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20126, 20 April 1928, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS

MUNICIPAL THEATRE,

The story of a girl who saerilices her own personality and identity to gain fame, and then wishes desperately to be herself again. Thar, is “The Spotlight,” a Paramount picture starring Esther Ralston, which is showing at the Opera House to-morrow and at the matinee. The action centres about the stage, with the heroine struggling to gain renown behind the footlights. How she finally does win greater success than she had ever dreamed of, and then longs to cast it all aside to obtain happiness. makes the story an exceptionally absorbing one. For the first time Jn her career, Esther Ralston plays a dilai part, or it might better be termed a triple role. is first seen : ■< timid Lizzie Stoke., n New England girl who is too sensitive to give her own na'.ural ability ami potential good looks a chance. Then she blossoms forth as Olga Rostova, the dazzling Russian that Lizzie has been transforined into for «tage purposes. Finally she becomes Lizzie, but a different Lizzie Stokes than she was before having been Olga Rostova. Intimate and authentic scenes of backstage life are given m the picture as much of the action occurs in the star’s dressing room. Boaut’J fiif gowns add their allure, and an able supporting cast, including Neil Hamilton as the leading man, and Nicholas Soussanin ns the theatrical producer, contribute to make what the critics unite in —ising ns one of ihe best filmed in a long time. “Now We’ne in the Air.”

Seldom has a comedy feature—or any other feature—proved so thor oughly satisfying as “Now We’rh in the Air,” now in session at the Opera House. The season, already length ened, has now had to be still further extended, so Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton will show again to-night. Better even than “in “Behind the Front” aud “We’re in t’e Navy Now.” Beery and Hatton go to the top as comedians in their latest essay. They are shown as a couple of boob avaitors, who become such by wandering into a propeller testing room where six propellers ate raoring at once and having their Scotch Highlands, costumes blown off them. Some ou losses them a pair of flying suits a’: they are off. Mistaken idenfity doni’n ates the theme. It docs not end wii: the comedians being mistaken fliers, but Louise Brooks, the charm ing and beautiful leading woman, figures in the mistakes. Bhe plays twi.i sisters, one German and one Frcm b.. Wally loves the German girl, and Rathe French; their problem of tcllim. them apart is a tough one. and leads to no end of amazing situations. Beery and Hatton arc first heroes of the French. Naturally such good “breaks’ don’t last, and they find themselvo. before a firing squad and between th. devil and the deep sea. Gag after gag. sorn o tried and true but nearly a): new, escort this funny pair througl. their adventures. The story has a re freshing resemblance to an actual plot something that is not often found in comedies. The work of the cast is consistently capable. Malcolm Waite is the enemy spy who docs the villainous work; Russell Simpson is the Scotch Lord who hires the team as servants, and others are Emile Chautard and Duke Martin. Frank Strayer directed.