ENGLAND’S FAVOURITE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 23, 27 January 1934, Page 11

ENGLAND’S FAVOURITE

GRACIE FIELDS AT PLAZA. “THIS WEEK OF GRACE.” Undoubtedly England’s greatest entertainer, Graeie Fields is Lancashire’s contribution to the stage and the screen. She was born at Rochdale, Lancashire in 1899, and although she was singing in a juvenile troupe at tho age of 12, she continued, with ihe rest of her family, to work in a cotton mill. She later joined a small revue in which Archie Pitt was principal comedian. The two started together in a new show which Pitt staged, called “It’s A Bargain.” This commenced a stage association which continued througn “Mr Tower of London’’ and ‘‘ By Request. ’ ’ Grade Fields and Archie Pitt were married iu 1923. It was whilst rehearsing for Archie Pitt’s ambitious production, “The Show’s The Thing,” that Grade Fields heard of the dilemua in which the Duncan Sisters were placed, owing to one of the sisters being taken suddenly ill. She immediately offered her services, ami, although only having 24 hours’ notice, she took her part in ‘ ‘ Topsy and Eva,” arid was an instant success. During all these appearances she was making numerous broadcasts and gramophone records. The latter are amongst the most popular issued iu this country. “ This Week of Grace,” showing at the Plaza for a week commencing to-day, is her third film, the others being “Sally in Our Alley” and “Looking on the Brigiht Side.’’ Grade Fields in “This Week of Grace” is seen in the characteristic melodious Lancashire mill lass role so familiar to her admirers, but she also blossoms into society. The family is living in the slums, father and Joe far too much in the “pub,” while the Duchess of Swinford, in a different plane of life, is heartily disgusted with the heir to the title, Clive, and his mother, who have allowed a line old castle in their charge to go to ruin. The old aristocrat determines, as a grim jest, to put Grade, whom she has met accidentally, to run the estate, and then the fun begins. Clive, the lordling, is a feckless bit of Britain until Graeie comes on the scene, but soon the tenants have a better time and iu less than a year the castle, and estate are running like clockwork. There is unending fun in the situations that arise when “ tho Divinity” calls, and more bubbling laughter when there is a harvest festival. Tho sturdy sense of the mill girl wins the countryside in the end, and all is going well, Graeie having been to scihool at the hands of the librarian, but there is a misunderstanding between her and Clive, and the wise old Duchess, as the fairy godmother, puts the family back in the slums and makes Clive go to work. It is hard to say which scenes are the most humorous, Graeie pulling father and Joe out of the pubs, the unblush-i-ng gaucheries she commits in soeietv. or the frequent songs and choruses which she insists upon, whatever the company. Half -i dozen impersonations add to the entertainment, but it is far from being a purely Grade Fields show. Frank Pettingell and Douglas Wakefield, as father and son, are irresistible, Vivian Foster as the vicar is a delight, and Lawrence Hanray, as the family lawyer, needs to be' seen and heard at all costs. Beautiful countryside scenes and a love interest give opportunities for melodics in more serious vein. Screamingly funny burlesque is the keynote of “Falling For You,” the Gainsborough comedy released by Fox Films, which commences at the Plaza Theatre next Saturday. Jack Hulbert, undoubtedly the finest comedian of the English screen, and one of the greatest from an international standpoint, shares the starring honours with his equally famous wife, Cicely Courtneidge. The action of the story is centred in the Swiss Alps, where Jack and Cicely, in the roles of rival reporters are holidaying. Their holiday is combined with business, as they are out to locate a missing heiress, and each is anxious to scoop the other on the story. Much of the comedy comes from snow sports, an ideal subject for burlesque, in which Jack Hulbert proves an expert skater and impossible skier, while Cicely Courtneidge shows the way to luge down a mountainside on a cabin trunk. Scenic beauties of the Alps have not been overlooked by the producers, and the gorgeous natural settings give the story a charm hitherto unknown by any film. Four excellent songs are introduced by this picture, and. sung in the superb HulbertCourtneidge manner, they achieve brilliancy. Jack Hulbert as a sweep, singing the song “Sweep,” and Cicely Courtneidge as a cook singing “Mrs Bartholomew” are delightful, and would make a most interesting short featurette if screened apart from the rest of the picture. “Falling For You” is claimed to be perfect entertainment for young and old. There is said to be absolutely nothing in it that could be distasteful to anyone or unsuited to youth. Marion Gering. Paramount director, has returned to Hollywood after a 15,000 mile vacation jaunt through Europe. Rupert Hughes, prominent novelist, plays his piano when at a loss for a plot. In the den where Hughes wrote “Miss Fane’s Baby is Stolen,’’ which is now being produced by Paramount, is a grand piano that saw as much use as his typewriter. Al Rogoll was signed recently by Charles R. Rogers to direct Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen in “No More Women,” which Rogers will produce for Paramount. The story is a swashbuckling tale of two deep sea divers in search of sunken treasure. Katherine Alexander, prominent actress of the New York theatre, has been signed by Paramount for one of the leading roles opposite Frederick March in “Death Takes a Holiday.” She recently played in “The Vinegar Tree” for M.G.M. » * r. « Alan Hale, Dorothy Burgess and Marcclle Corday, a menacing trio of terrorists, have been added to the cast of Paramount’s “Miss Fane’s Baby is Stolen. ’ ’ They join Dorothea Wieek and Baby Le Roy. Rupert Hughes wrote the story.