PLAZA

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21412, 2 March 1935, Page 9

PLAZA

"TRANSATLANTIC MERRY- ! GO-ROUND" A compound of melodrama with a full range of card-sharpcrs, gunmen, confidence tricksters, unfaithful women, and the modern theatre revue, "TransAtlantic Merry-go-round," which will commence at the Plaza Theatre today, is as entertaining and exciting a drama as anyone would wish to see. The scene of the action throughout the story is laid on board a trans-Atlantic liner, and the story itself bears a marked resemblance in parts to "Grand Hotel," of which it is largely an unashamed and most enjoyable burlesque. The burlesque, however, is not allowed to go too far and spoil the dramatic qualities of the production As a dramatic situation is evolved in "Grand Hotel" when people of diverse temperaments are thrown into constant and close contact with one another, so arises the drama in "Trans-Atlantic Merry-Go-Round. The story begins on the palatial liner Progress, with two resounding pistol shots and the ship's officers trying to breaK into a cabin. Then the hands of the clock go back 48 hours, the time of the ship's departure from New York. It shows Anyu Rosson's departure from her husband, after which he quietly steals on board to sec his own and her disgrace, as this society woman is in love with Lee Lother, a smoothfaced crook, whose proficiency at poker is very unfortunate for others in the game. Then there is Chad Denby and his troupe of revue players, headed by Sally Marsh, whom Lee desires, and who also fascinates Jimmie Brett, another cheerful crook with the manners of an Oxford undergraduate; and there is Dan Campbell, _ who meanders through the voyage in an advanced stage on intoxication. It seems that Lee Loiher has one of Denby's company in '- : power for having at one time forged his unworthy name to a cheque. Sally gets to know of this, and begs Lee to release the boy from this thraldom. Lee promises to return the forged cheque to Sally in her cabin after a revue show, and here the two shots are fired, and Loiher ceases to live. Who has fired the shots? The examination of all those possibly involved in the murder is being conducted by a police inspector, when there is another shot, and Mrs Rosson falls dead. Her husband, fully alive to her infidelity, has done what he went on board to do. So there are thrills up to the last minute. Gene Raymond, Nancy Carroll, Jack Benny, Sydney Howard, Mitsi Green, Sidney Blackmer, Ralph Morgan, and Shirley Gray all do good work, while the Boston Sisters croon harmoniously, in the revue, which is marked by some extremely clever ballets. The girl who mimics Georee Arliss is also one to be seen. „. "Peculiar Penguins," Walt Disney s latest Silly Symphony, which will be screened in the supporting programme, is based on the customary practice, whereby, it is said, a penguin, after strutting about his lady love, lays a small pebble at her feet, and if she

accepts it, hey are engaged. In "Peculiar Penguins." however, Disney has Peter present Polly Penguin with an ice-cream cone made from an icicle and a handful of snow, instead of the customary pebble. GRAND "MANHATTAN MELODRAMA" "Manhattan Melodrama," which provides first-class entertainment in its compelling love story studded with dramatic and intensely emotional scenes and a generous sprinkling of comedy incidents and characters, will begin a return season at the Grand Theatre to-day. The galaxy of screen stars assembled in its action to support the powerfully-acted studies of American motive forces, presented by Clark Gable William Powell, and Myrna Loy, is bound to delight regular picture patrons, but it goes further than that In the alternations of thrill, amusement, and gripping emotion that go to the making of the story s fascination and in the presentment of typical high-lights of American gaiety and politics is ever present the national problem of keeping the balance between the power of the dollar and that of social probity. The supports will include Chapter 11 of the serial, ' Gordon of Ghost City," starring the popular Buck Jones. Box plans are now open at the D.i.U