THE MAJESTIC THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 133, 8 June 1931, Page 11

THE MAJESTIC THEATRE

••REDUCING” PROVIDES LAUGHS History does not furnish the name of the man who first advised people to "laugh and grow fat," but Mario Dressier and Polly Moran are busy showing Majestic audiences how to laugh at "Reducing" which is their latest co-starring vehicle. The season opened to capacity houses Saturday afternoon and night, the "house full" sign being hung out at a very early hour for the evening session. Everyone came away full satisfied that these two stars make the neatest laughterraising team seen for many a year. Yet it is not all laughter in this story of a New York beauty parlour, which business establishment gives the picture its title. There is love interest in tho film, with tears and laughter intermingling jus* beneath* the surface, and Marie Dressier herself shows how tho two may be combined without spoiling the effect. But mainly' it is fun, and such fun as to make Saturday night’s audience rock with laughter time and again during the hour and a-half that "Reducing" hold" the screen. When Marie Dressier holds up the queue at the railway station while she searches for her purse, well cached away inside her blouse, merriment reigns, only to be renewed when she and the family' climb aboard the Pullman and proceed to settle down for the night in two "uppers." Then comes the uproarious arrival at their destination, New York, on a visit to her sister, she is running a beauty parlour as "Madame Rochay." Further humour is provided when Mario pays a visit to the beauty parlour, where Polly Moran introduces her to the many devices used by the well-to-do clients who go in for slimming exercises—tho reducing belt, the reducing bath, tho steam showers, the mud bath and other adjuncts of the up-to-date parlour. It is all hilarious fun. Then the quarrel between the two sister-,, and tho final understanding between them before the Thanksgiving Day dinner—these are scenes which will long bo remembered for their well-painted touches of domes, tic life. They are excellent vignettes of life in any and every home. "Reducing" is a talkie that will long be remembered by those who have the foresight to reserve their seats at Emmett’s or attend early at the Majestic to-day or to-morrow, and the supporting programme fully maintains the Majestic standard.