PLAZA THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 110, 12 May 1938, Page 9

PLAZA THEATRE

“STAND-LN” Hollywood has been the satirical target of experts. Now Hollywood goes in for fooling itself, and the cinema ci:y proves it has a sense of humour. Walter Wanger is that brilliant young producer whose pictures have a way of being off the beaten track, and as was to be expected his “Stand-in,” the screen version of the “Saturday Evening Post” story, which is being screened at the Plaza ■'Theatre, makes all the previous efforts look meek and mild. Leslie Howard and Joan Blondell head as handsome a roster of players as ever Hashed on a screen, including Humphrey Bogart, Alan Mowbray, Marla Shelton, C. Henry Gordon and Jack Carson. The story, which was prepared for the screen in the best style of that madcap writing team Gene' Towne and Graham Baker, burlesques all the familiar Hollywood foibles and fallacies. The glamour star, the temperamental foreign director, the genius producer, the sharp-shooting Press agent-they’re all here. The hitherto very romantic Leslie Howard lakes to comedy—and like a duck to water —as Atterbury Dodd, the shy, I humourless, bespectacled young I banker who is sent to Hollywood to take over the 10,000,000-dollar Colossal studio and run it according to the science of mathematics. Joan Blondell is at her best in the title role as Lester “Sugar" Plum, the “standin” who helps Howard figure out Hollywood. “Dinner at the Ritz.” The beautiful Continental actress Annabella has the leading role in! “Dinner at the Ritz,” the principal at-j traction at the Plaza Theatre to-mor-* row. Romance, mystery, and lavish; settings are features which make the; picture a most enjoyable entertainment. The story tells of a young, girl’s efforts to discover the murderer, of her father, her adventurous mission ! taking her from the brilliant salons of, Paris, through the gaming rooms of; Monte Carlo, and on to a luxurious yacht in the Mediterranean. She isj accompanied th|Dughout by a humor-i ous American reporter - detective. Romney Brent, whose quest coincides! with her own, while also playing opposite her are David Niven and Paul 1 Lukas.