Cinema Snapshots

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21199, 23 August 1940, Page 8

Cinema Snapshots

The Great Victor Herbert New Musical Romance Victor Herbert, the man who ruled Broadway during its most colourful era and taught the world to sing of love, is dealt with on the screen for the rst time in Paramount’s elaborate new musical romance, “The Great Victor Herbert.” Herbert, in his initial appearance before motion picture audiences, is portrayed by an actor whose resemblance to the famed IrishAmerian composer is so remarkable that friends of the late composer insisted he play the role. He is the popular Walter Connolly, who shares the leading spot with a pair of the theatre world's best-liked young lingers, Allan Jones and Mary Martin. Miss Martin's film debut would be a big occasion under any circumstances, but now in a dramatic role, it is a doubly important event! Mary, is the Texas girl who was wafted to fame on a single successful song, the catchy “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” which she made an American sensation in last season’s musical comedy, “Leave it to Me.” Jones has long been a favourite of filmgoers. A perfect voice, combined with acting ability and good looks, made him a hit in such pictures as “Rose Marie,” “Show Boat,” “A Day at the Races,” and “The Firefly.” More concerned with Victor Herbert’s influence over Broadway and the Broadwayites of his day than with the composer’s own life, “The Great Victor Herbert” tells a romantic story of a young actor and actress, played of course by Jones and Miss Martin, who rise to fame as the :i£ars of Herbert’s operettas and find their greatest happiness through their friendship with the song-writer and producer. Herbert’s songs in the picture hold a place of prominence Jfccond only to that of the cast. With Jones and Miss Martin doing most of the singing, dozens of the master’s bestloved numbers will be heard, among them such favourites as “A Kiss in the Dar.k.” “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life,” “Kiss Me Again” and “I’m Falling in Love With Someone.” The already famous Miss Martin is not the only feminine singer who makes her film debut in “The Great Victor Herbert.” Paramount expects much of its fourteen-year-old discovery. Susanna Foster, who plays Miss Martin’s daughter in the latter part of the story. A talented newcomer. Miss Foster accomplishes the musical feat of ascending to B flat above high C. Also prominent in the supporting cast, under the direction of Producer-Director Andrew Stone, are Lee Bowman, cast as Miss Martin’s unsuccessful home-tome suitor, and Judith Barrett. New Broadway Melody When the two great dancers of the contemporary stage and screen get together in a single production, it’s news. Such news is verified in “ Broadway Melody of 1940,” and starring Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell. Spectacular in all of its departments, these two stars are given a suitable send-off for their first costarring feature. Nine dances, ranging in type from tap to ballet, six Cole Porter song hits, gigantic sets, a notable cast, Norman Taurog as director, all add up to the prediction that “ Broadway Melody of 1840 ” is due to take its place as the year’s most entertaining and eye-filling film. The story strikes a novel note from the very beginning. Astaire and George Murphy, a dance team temporarily unemployed are working as professional hosts in a ballroom. Through a novel set of circumstances, Murphy is mistaken for Astaire and given a try-out as leading man for the dance darling of Broadway, portrayed by Eleanor Powell. When s he wins the assignment things begin ►to happen, notably among them a badly swelled head which eventually leads to Murphy’s downfall and Astaire’s triumph. The cast, in addition to the three dance stars, Astaire, Powell and Murphy, features Frank Morgan, lan Hunter, Florence Hice, and Lynne Carver. Morgan finds new vent for his comedy as the show’s author who battles two shortcomings, a bad memory and blondes. Hunter plays the Broadway producer of Powell’s musical shows. Florence Rice is the secretary to Morgan who has her hands full untangling his many affairs of the heart. Rich in production value, with sets topping in size and spectacular qualities those of any previous production, “Broadway Melody of 1940 ” brings every conceivable type of dancing to the screen. The most pretentious number, which forms the finale, is Cole Porter’s “ Begin the Beguine.” The set, which covered an entire sound stage, introduces something new in the form of a sixty-foot mirror which swings to constantly change the background behind the dancers.

FLASHES FORMBY will play a war reserve policeman in his new comedy, “ Spare a Copper,” at Ealing. John Paddy Carstairs directs. J)OROTHY LLOYD, who is appearing in “ Garrison Follies,” is the grand-daughter of David Lloyd George. JYRNA LOY and William Powell * have started work on “ I Love You Again.” \EVILLE BROOK, brother of Clive, *■ has a role in the same film.