MERRIEST COMEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 280, 25 November 1937, Page 3

MERRIEST COMEDY

"A DAY AT THE RACES.” MAJESTIC ATTRACTION. “A Day at the Races” brings the Marx Brothers—Groueho, Harpo anti Chico—to the Majestic Theatre to-morrow in what is described as tile maddest, merriest, most amusing piece of Marxmania that these inimitable comedians have ever conceived. Directed by Sam Wood, who filmed the last Marx Brothers triumph, "A Night at the Opera,” the new picture boasts a stellar cast of supporting names, including Maureen O’Sullivan in the feminine lead, and Allan Jones, who sings several new song hits, among them "On Blue Venetian Waters.” "To-morrow Is Another Day,” and "A Message from the Man in the Moon.” The plot of "A Day at the Races,” which shifts from a sanitarium to a race track, introduces Groueho Marx as Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbrush, a horse doctor who takes charge of the sanitarium. Harpo Marx is seen as a jockey, and Chico as a race-track frequenter who sells good ice cream and useless tips on the races. Miss O’Sullivan plays the girl who is trying to keep the deep-dyed villain, Douglass Dumbrille, from foreclosing on her sanitarium. Jones plays the struggling singer who owns a racehorse. Miss Dumont, enacting the type who likes to talk about her operations, is all for Groueho because he has told her that she has double blood pressure. Esther Muir is the slinky vampire who tries to “frame” Groueho but who gets pasted to the wall by Harpo and Chico, posing as paperhangers. The Marx Brothers and a group of writers worked for a year preparing "A Day at the Races.” Laughs were submitted to the fine-tooth-comb test. The comedians are firmly convinced that no comedian who depends on new, original and special material can make more than one picture a year and be sure the picture is a success. Every situation, every laugh line in “A Day at the Races” is new. COMEDY ROMANCE “WIDOW FROM MONTE CARLO.” “The Widow From Monte Carlo,” Warner Bros.’ rollicking comedy romance, based on the gay romance by lan Hay and A. E. W. Mason, is scheduled as the feature attraction at the Majestic Theatre on Wednesday next. The story centres about the unusual adventures of a debonair major and a South American beauty who !s the widow of an English Duke. Through the importunities of her former husband’s relatives, she becomes engaged to a stuffed shirt diplomat who is about as romantic as an iceberg. Warren William has the role of Major Chepstow, who literally and figuratively sweeps the Duchess off her feet and into his arms. The part of the Duchess, known as the widow from Monte Carlo, is played by the exotic Dolores Del Rio. Louise Fazenda has | the part of the wife of a marmalade king, who is trying to crash society. The role of her husband is taken by Herbert Mundin. “Heir to Trouble.” Ken Maynard, daredevil star and king of cowboys, will be featured on the same programme in his latest

Columbia film, “Heir to Trouble.” This new thriller relates the seriocomic adventures of a young ranger who falls heir to a gold mine, a baby —and trouble, trouble, trouble. Joan Perry, Harry Woods and Fern Emmett have the leading featured roles under the direction of Spencer Gordon Bennet. “IT’S ALL YOURS’’ ROMANTIC COMEDY. Madeleine Carroll loves Francis Lederer; Mischa Auer adores Madeleine Carroll, and Francis Lederer abhors Mischa Auer in Columbia’s zestful new romantic comedy, “It’s All Yours,” which will head the new screen bill at the Majestic Theatre, starting on Saturday of next week. Directed by Elliot Nugent from a screen play by Mary C. McCall, junr., the film romps riotously through moie romantic complications than ever floored Cupid with one fatal blow.

Madeleine is a mouse-like secretary to a multi-millionaire who brings his foreign-bred nephew, Francis Lederer, to the States. Five years later Lederer’s escapades are the scandal of the city. On his death bed, Lederer s uncle leaves his entire fortune to Madeleine with instructions for Madeleine to make Lederer fall in love with her and marry the fortune instead of inheriting it. Madeleine goes wild. To prevent her from spending the fortune while he tries to recoup it through the courts, Lederer gies along as her private secretary. Thus begins one of the wildest nusbandhunts in all screen history, with Mischa Auer, a penniless Baron, joining in the fun. Supporting the principals is an imposing cast of fan favour 1 tes, including J .C. Nugent, Grace Braciey, Victor Kilian, George McKay and Charles Waldron.