PLAZA THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 66, 19 March 1937, Page 12

PLAZA THEATRE

“HOPALONG CASSIDY RETURNS.” Hopalong Cassidy returns to a life of adventure as a two-gun peacemaker —forced to match his wits with a woman—in the Paramount film, “Hopalong Cassidy Returns,” which concludes to-day at the Plaza Theatre. Cassidy is the marshal of a lawless Western town in the picture, and he finds that most of the community’s crime stems from one source —Evelyn Brent, proprietress of the Crystal Slipper Bar. “Banjo on My Knee.” The Mississippi boat-dwellers, with their rugged, happy-go-lucky personalities and their inherent love of melody. make a story rich with romance and action and flavoured with whimsical humour in “Banjo on my Knee,” coming to-morrow to the Plaza Theatre. To the shanty boat of his father (Walter Brennan) Joel McCrea brings his land-girl bride (Barbara Stanwyck). The triangle is completed by Katherine de Mille, a rivergirl who makes no secret of her devotion to the bridegroom. After an unpleasant encounter with a land-man who has been unduly attentive to his young wife. McCrea sends the offender into the river. Thinking him drowned and anxious to avoid the police, McCrea leaves immediately for foreign parts and returns in six months, when the matter is cleared up. only to quarrel with his wife, who this time runs away also. In New • Orleans she mets with adventure and

success in a cafe and is later joined by her old father-in-law, who, with his strange river music is an immediate success. Many of the old Mississippi songs are introduced in new settings. Among them are “St. Louis Woman,” “St. Louis Blues,” and the newer melodies, “Banjo on My Knee” (a song and dance number by Buddy Ebsen), “Where the Lazy River Goes By.” sung by Barbara Stanwyck, and “There’s Something in the Air,” sung by Anthony Martin, a find among screen voices. Comedy is provided by Buddy Ebsen and Walter Brennan, whose Jne-man band is an amazing novelty item.