“THE NIGHT IS YOUNG”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 69, 23 March 1935, Page 14

“THE NIGHT IS YOUNG”

comedy-romance at majestic. EVELYN LA YE, RAMON NOVAR RO. Evelyn Laye and Ramon Novarro are ■artists of distinction; and the musical love story, ‘‘The Night is Young,” commencing to-day at the Majestic Theatre, gains much from the vocal ability and the personality of two such stars, whose voices as well as the quality of their acting enable them to blend happily and bring out brilliantly ■the romance and lyrical charm of the picture. A good deal of their story is in dialogue, but it is dialogue against a musical background. Of the love lyrics, “The Night is Young” and ‘•When I Grow too Old to Dream” are about the pick, but this happily-chosen pair of artists are also heard in a remarkable duet improvised from the newspaper headlines. So much for the 'romance and the lyrics. On the comedy side this musical play is more ■than usually strong, having Edward Everett Horton, Charles Butterworth (who sings “My Old Mare”) and Una •Merkel. Jt is the job of Everett (as a mock diplomat of the Austrian Court) to prevent Novarro (as the heir •to the throne) from making a mesalliance with a beautiful dancing girl

•< who is of course Evelyn Laye) ; and : in the finish the mesalliance docs not take place, as the dancing girl refuses to wreck her lover’s career as monarch. Judged as romance, drama, comedy, musicale, and spectacle. “The 'Night is Young’’ grips strongly, and should attract all those who love beauty and harmony. Commencing on Wednesday next the Majestic Theatre will screen “Smiling •Through.” with Norma Shearer featured, this being a welcome return season of what is considered to be one of the best vehicles of this brilliant screen star. The combination of Joan Crawford. Clark Gable, and Robert Montgomery acting together in the same film for the •first time, plus the discerning direction of W. S. Van Dyke, of “The Thin Man” fame, makes “ Forsaking All Others,” the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer special, which commences at the Majestic next Saturday, one of the hit productions of the year. .The triumvirate of Crawford-Gable-Montgomery is perfectly cast in the new comedy which has been adapted from the stage hit of the same name without loss of a single bright line of dialogue. The scene is Park Avenue, which has given the art directors an opportunity to create, some of the most beautiful settings ever seen on the motion-pic-ture screen. As a light comedienne, left standing at the altar one minute and pursued by two handsome men the next, Joan Crawford is at her best. This is the first time she has attempted pure comedy. Gable and Montgomery are both well known as masters of light comedy and they vie with one another in the many hilarious situations of the story. The supporting cast is excellent. Billie Burke appears as the flibbertigibbet society matron. Charles Butterworth is at his awkward best as Gable’s friend, and Frances IDrake gives us another of those dark-haired siren interpretations which she has “made famous. Charlotte Henry, who came into prominence as Alice in “Alice in Wonderland.” has been given the leading feminine part in “Laddie,” opposite John Beal. General S. Savitsky, once a Cossack commander, plays a‘Russian doorman role in RKO Radio’s “Roberta,” which stars Irene Dunne. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Anatole France’s “The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard.” has been bought by Radio to provide a vehicle for Anne Shirley (formerly Dawn O’Day). Here is a new way to use a monogram. Irene Dunne, RKO Radio. Pictures’ star, has had her initials made into a coin-shaped piece about the size of a quarter dollar and attached to the zipper fastener of a handbag! Striking Costumes. In addition to the colourful Eastern costumes worn by Lupe Velez in the first scenes of “The Morals of Marcus,” Louis Brooks, the famous West End dress designer has created some delightful new fashions for Miss Velez. She has taken a great interest in the choosing of her dresses in conjunction with Mrs. Julius Hagen, who acts as costume supervisor for all Mr. Hagen’s films. For her first appearance in London in “The Morals of Marcus” Miss Velez wears a charming two-piece suit of pale blue, w’ith an entirely novel frilled front of palest pink ruchling. 5