MAJESTIC THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 290, 8 December 1939, Page 9

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“BROADWAY SERENADE" Packed with musical and romantic thrills, “Broadway Serenade,” starring i JeantJ-le MacDonald, commences today at the Majestic Theatre. Definitely one lor the “must-see" list, “Broadway Serenade” hasn’t missed a trick in including all ol the elements ot top-flight entertainment. Unlike most films in the musical category, this one contains a story which holds interest from the first scene until the fade-out. In brief, it is the tale of a young married couple, she a singer, he a composer-pianist. As a team they play most of New York’s cheap night clubs until a lucky break starts the girl climbing high on the ladder of musical-comedy success. The boy is left behind to battle for recognition as a composer and to master the jealousy which eventually breaks up the marriage. The story moves in two extremes of locale, the glittering show-world of which the girl becomes a part and the garret-room where her husband is struggling to bring himself a success of which she may be proud. Seldom has Jeanette MacDonald had a better opportunity for both her dramatic and vocal abilities. For the first time since “San Francisco" she carries the vocal honours singly. Her songs have been wisely selected to please diversified audiences. There are favourites of the Gay Nineties, grand opera selections, and a dash of the day’s hit tunes. In each case the songs are set against colourful backgrounds. Lew Ayres, as Miss MacDonald’s composer-pianist husband, gets his best role to date. He is ideally suited for the part and turns in an outstanding performance. lan Hunter forms an interesting third point to the romantic triangles and comedy is split three ways between the always hilarious Frank Morgan as a Broadway theatrical producer, and his two chorus-girl shadows, Virginia Grey and Rita Johnson, who battle to the death for his affections. Mirrophonic Sound Plant That there is something new in sound film mechanics, and a wonderful advance on anything yet disclosed, will be apparent to patrons of the Majestic Theatre from to-day, when the new Western Electric Mirrophonic sound equipment will be demonstrated during the screening of “Broadw’ay Serenade.” In addition to the feature film and a “short” showing the submarine volcano Krakatoa in eruption, with striking sound effects, there will be a special test film at the conclusion demonstrating the potentialities of the talking film’s latest and greatest allj. The Mirrophonic equipment, it is claimed, gives new life and beauty to singing and musical instruments.