“ROBERTA" AT PLAZA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 168, 20 July 1935, Page 14

“ROBERTA" AT PLAZA

| MUSICAL ROMANCE. IDELIGHTFUL PARISIAN SETTING. | ‘‘Roberta,’’ which is drawing largo crowds to the Plaza Theatre, i s one of the gayest, ami most colourful musical romances ever seen in Wanganui. The talents of three star.*, said tu be most ideally .*uited to musical comedy, are combined in this picture. They are Irene Dunne. Fred staire, and Ginger Rogers. With Al iss Dunne singing Astaire .ami Miss Rogers dancing, ami a bevy of beautiful girls displaying the latest in feminine style creations, the film moves .swiftly and tunefully through a most intriguing story. An American football player falls heir to a lashinable Paris gown sitlun. The heru ami his band leader pal set the world of fashion agog, the hearts of the mademoiselles afluttcring, and the feet of the Parisians aflame during the course of their hectic ad venture’.*. Irene Dun ne’s role is that of'a European countess who i s the fashion expert oi the glamorous “Roberta” establishment. am! hers is the chief heart interest of the film, as the romance contrOis around her and the new owner of the salon. Among the musical highlights of the picture are “The Pipe Organ Number,’ “Let's Begin,” “Yesterday,” “I'Ll be Hard to Handle.” “Lovely to Look At,” “Smoke Gets iu Your Eyes,” “Russian Refrain.” and “Touch of Your Hand.” Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, th.' two dancing stars, almost talk with their feet in some of the numbers. Playing the romantic lead opposite Irene Dunne in the role of tllo football hero is Randolph fcJcott. As the fastest, merriest farce in many a moon, with laughs galore, ‘‘Lightning Strikes Twice.” coming to the Plaza Theatre next Wednesday, is claimed to be a peak Hollywood comedy of the »eai‘. The story is an unusual combination of the comic and melodramatic. It deals with the day’s experiences of a wealthy chap, having one last fling with a pal before his fiancee and aunt arrive on the scene, and vvhu>e butler has a' horror of cats. To this last point is keyed the laughingly exciting “murder mystery” in terwovon with the main theme. When the butler, unnerved by the, meowing of a cat —black at that—shoots into the darkness, things begin to happen. Police arrive, and another bullet accidentally knocks the cap from an officer, who drops through a manhole cover. Between this episode and its consequence, plus the fact that the butler disappears giving rise to the conviction that he, too has been slain, and the complications when aunt and fiancee arrive—separately—“ Lightning Strikes Twice” develops an exciting twist, of plat and sub plot. A fan dancer an<l her male accomplice get tangled in the skein of happenings, and are mistaken by the aunt for the fiancee and her father. As the aunt, Lama Hop-c Crows turns in a splendid characterisation. Thelma Todd is fine ‘as the sweetheart, with “Skeets” Gallagher scoring as the hero’s pal, and Ben Lyon shining as the hero liimselt. Walter Catlett and Perl Kelton, as the ‘‘mistaken identities,” furnish some grand fun. On the same programme is • ‘ Temptation. ’ ’ Presenting William Powell an I Ginger Ruger.*, two of the screen’s outstanding favourites, and telling a stor} replete with mystery, suspense, romance and comedy, “Star of Midnight,” K KO- Rudin’s thrilling sequel to “ I. hv Thin Man.” cc-nics to lhe Plaza Theatre next, Saturday. It is a delightfully entertaining and completely absorbing picture. Powell and Miss Kogers, teamed for the first time m this production, are absolutely at home in roles made to order ic-r their talents. As a modern Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson combination, they work to solve a murder mystery. Their detective teamwork is unique, to say the ivast, with the delectahie Miss Rogers prov tiling more laughs and heart throb-, than dikes, although she does inadvertently manage Io provide Powell with the key Io the whole mystery, '1 Ihj well-conceived, clc-svly-knit plot moves gaily at times and at other times with blark tensity towards a hair-raising climax. The romantic theme is subtly woven into the main story. Supporting performances by Ralph Morgan, Gene Lockhart, Leslie Fenton, Paul K'Ully, Russell lit.-plon. J. Farrell MacDonald, and a long array of other capable performers, are excellent.