Cinema Reviews

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22509, 17 September 1938, Page 9

Cinema Reviews

AVON

««THE PERFECT SPECIMEN"

The brilliance of the best of the modem comedies is maintained in the latest presentation at the Avon Theatre. "The Perfect Specimen," which commenced a season yesterday. This is polished, witty entertainment from start to iinish. The story has that spice of variety so necessary to give the appeal of novelty, its action never flags, and all the important members of are established favouritesAt the head of the cast are Errol Flynn r.r;d Joan Blondell, and supporting them excellently are Edward Everett Horton. Hugh Herbert, May Kobson, and Allen Jenkins. The "perfect specimen" is Gerald Beresford Wicks, brought up in seclusion by his multi-millionaire grandmother, and the fun of the story is provided by his reactions, when he comes abruptly out of his -seclusion Gcralfl surprises everyone. For contrary to expectations he is no nambypamby, but a husky, athletic feliow with a surprising talent for fisticuffs, and many other desirable attributes. It would be hard to find an actor more suited to this part than Errol Flynn "•

It is to the credit of those who made this picture, too, that the casting of the other characters is equall.v sound. Joan Blondell is the girl who tempts Gerald from his seclusion and leads him into a series of amusing adventures; Hugh Herbert is the eccentric poet at whose house the "perfect specimen" and his new-found friend stay: May Robson is the grandmother/ and Edward Everett Horton is her secretary. Ail of them make" great play with the material that is given them in this picture. There is action all the time, for when the "perfect specimen': disappears in his search for freedom the police forces of three countries are brought into action to find him. ..-•„.

Mixed up with this are the exploits of the "perfect specimen" during the moments he is not concerned about eluding the police. He becomes embroiled in a roadside fight, then - deputises for his opponent in this fight in a bcxing contest, and in the end tomes to a complete realisation that the dominance of his grandmother must be broken. In all these stages of his education there is very bright comedy indeed. - .

CRYSTAL PALACE

"THE JONES FAMILY" AND "HAPPY LANDING"

There is the same bright gaiety in Sonja Henie's film,*"Happy Landing,' which began a return season at the Crystal Palace last evening, as has become well known in all its predecessors. A flashing humour an( * happy strain run through the whole picture, and the music is the best. This triumphant star has hardly had time enough for her career to be called a career, and yet she has hurled herself to the foremost position' in the musical comedy film world with the same grace and speed with which Jhe is seen pirouetting on the ice in huge ballet scenes in "Happy Landing." The show is well produced, for which Darryl F. Zanuck must be given the credit and the high standard which has made popular all Twentieth Century musicals has been maintained. The suave Don Ameche plays opposite Sonja again, and his efforts to tgach. her to skate are rewarded with. the % humiliating situation ; of the "novice" skater spinning round him as he* sprawls on the ice. But for the rest of the.storjj, he plays his part with a skill that makes the picture well worth seeing. Cesar Romero ("I'm an impulsive guy. I create") is a song-writing band leader with flashing teeth and .a mobile passion. He other' in the ro--mance. Song is provided by. two ofj America's best-known radio singing stars, Ethel Merman and Leah Ray, and the new style of music of Ray-, mond, Scott's quintet fills up the rest of the musical programme. Jean Hersholt once again plays the happy, timple father. The first presentation in Christef "The Jones Family in Paris" comes ■with "Happy Landing," and this comedy takes up nearly all-the first half of the' programme. These players depict a family of not very wise Americans and their misfortunes in Paris. While mama and papa are celebrating their silver wedding, "son" is involved with a "dame" who in turn is involved with a "spy' racket.' "Junior" and his sister are packed off to the pictures, and grandma wags her umbrella in disapproval.

* CIVIC

, "WISE GIRL»>

The Bohemian life of artists usually

provides amusement for those who are used to a more prosaic type of existence, and this, combined with plenty of action, romance, and comedy, makes "Wise Girl," the new attraction at the Civic Theatre, a film which should appeal to most types of picturegoers. Miriam Hopkins, who plays 51 the leading role, is an actress who undoubtedly brings colour and freshness to the films in which she acts, and Ray Milland, who plays opposite her, ably supports her in these respects. The story has amusing situations and sparkling dialogue. Although three Russian princes are courting her, Susan Fletcher (Miriam is wore concerned with the efforts of »er father (Henry Stephenson) towards getting the custody of her dead ttster's two girls, Joan (Betty Phil■on* and Katie (Marianne Strelby), in Greenwich village under tne guardianship of their uncle. John O'Halloran (Ray Milland), a penniless ■rtift O'Halloran has scornfully refused Fletcher's financial assistance. Susan, who does not know John, v/eays her oldest clothes and plansJ? get the girls. John works as a clerk lor Dermot O'Neal (Alec Craig), in a combination rooming hcuse and art shop, where Susan gets a room, meets the;girls, and later, with John arid , Mike Malloy (Guinn Williams), a sculptor, who makes a living as a Wjsefighter, dons Bohemian garb and acts, as "atmosphere" in a cafe. She accompanies John and Mike to Mike's •' Jh e^ cly nt anci disconcerts Mike so Wat he fouls his opponent and is disqualified, ..The story takes a new turn when i ™ e Children's Aid Society takes the children from John, who discovers ausan's identity, and although shp Pleads that she thought she was doing •£e right thing, she fails to move him. *ne children are placed under- the care r of their grandfather, at whose «ome they spurn Susan's and * * e «*er's advances. But Susan tells "}»m that she loves John and wants £jm to be free to paint. John refuses jo talk to Susan, so she tells him Joan- « HI. and offers to drive him out to "■2? * cnild - John, at the wheel, is wrested for speeding, and thrown into woi. New situations arise as the film Progresses, and it reaches a good

JJ* supporting programme is .very SJ"?- Besides a comedy with a very "Hjinal story, there is a brilliant silly •ymphony by Walt Disney, -and a short on Wellington, the pic-j a** 0 * which are from the air. L. * feature of the programme is a ' «i * 3 ci the second ■ semi-finalists in" ! * ai 'ty contest,- the contestants r toeing seen in the latest style of bath- 1 «uits and evening dresses. __

MAYFAIR

"KENTUCKY. MOONSHINE"

entertainment is provided in "Kentucky Moonshine," a hil™lo*s - co J£ edy wnich opened at the Mayfair Theatre yesterday. The Ritz brothers are at the top of their form and in- their inimitable manner they practically take charge in'a rollicking series of events-that"make up the story in the, opening scenes the organisers ot a sponsored; radio programme are at their wits' end to find some new feature that will appeal. to the public. The Ritz brothers and Marjorie Weaver who have failed in repeated attempts to get contracts with the radio organisation, are in equally difficult strait; because they have not earned enough to pay their board. Tony Martin, the programme organiser, suddenly decides: that the public would like to hear real hillbillies on the air. The three comedians and the girl hear about il and act quickly. The scene here changes from New York to the backblocks where the brothers have" established themselves in t a shack "as hillbillies, with their sister as house keeper. They are eventually discovered by Tony Martin, who is greatly impressed. -A 1-elayed transmission frorr tne wilds is arranged, but fails because of static-, The radio directors become nearly frantic, Martin's last hope is to get his troupe into New York and after much persuasion his principals consent.

.The acting of the Ritz brothers ashillbillies transported to a city hote' is splendid: but a hitch occurs when it is discovered that they are wearing raise beards. A panic ensues and the brothers succeed in locking the officials in a sound-proof room. From then on a first-class variety entertainment is provided by the hillbillies Marjorie Weaver, and Tony Martin on tho. radio stage. Apart from its place in the sequence of events the concerl is real entertainment in . itself and brings, the story to a grand climax.

PLAZA

"THE GREAT BARRIER" AND "PEPPER"

"Pepper," starring Jane Withers, and "The Great Barrier," a story of the finding of a pass through the Canadian Rockies through which to run the Canadian Pacific Railway, are widely icontrasting films which go to make a programme that should suit all tastes. Pepper, played by Jane Withers, is the undisputed leader of a gang «*ff children in the lower streets of New York. She stops at nothing when she makes up her mind to get some money to help a friend. After persistent attempts to get help from a millionaire, who .with, the assistance of her gang she pelts with fruit, she at last gains access to his room, where, after "holding 'him up" with a tomato, and extracting the necessary money from 'him, he is won over to her side, and then.the fun begins. She takes him away from the clutches of his doctor and introduces him to her world, and to her Uncle Ben. Uncle Ben, played by Slim Summerville, recognises the "Baron" who is to marry the daughter of Wilkes, the millionaire, as an imposter, but he cannot remember where tie saw him before or'what his name was. The story winds up to an exciting finish as Uncle Ben tries to prove his supposition before the marriage. • "We spent 15 weeks in Canada," said Milton Rosmer, the director -of "The Great Barrier," "and we had an excitirig" race 'to get the picture finished bsP fore the snowy season. We went to such .tricky places in the mountains that.we,-;had to shoot -some of the sequences with a small hand camera." Hickey, Richard Arlen,' and Steve, Barry.Mackay, arrive in a construction camp of the Canadian Pacific Railway in search of, adventure,:': but because they- cannot pay a fine for being involved in a brawl they have ,to work on the railroad. Hickey falls in love with the boss's daughter and makes good at his work, and soon becomes a foreman. When a small party is sent to find a pass through the mountains, Hickey and Steve go with it, encountering great dangers and hardshipsi" -Decimated by accidents and desertion, the band is reduced to three; food is scarce; Steve is injured and he sacrifices his life for the sake of his mates. Down in the construction camp the. men strike because of the stoppage of pay. The work cannot go on until the pass is found. The men are desperate when they see a smoke from a beacon signifying that the pass has been found. Hammers and pickaxes swing again—and the picture continues to a delightful climax.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS LIMITED

An exciting story of romance and adventure, "Test Pilot," with Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and Spencer Tracy, is in its second week at the Regent. The season of "On Our Selection." th"e Australian classic, starring Bert Bailey and Fred Mac Donald, at the Majestic, has been extended for another week. "Aussie,*' the boxing kangaroo, is appearing on the stage. At the TiVoli, -'"fhe Awful Truth," starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, is the current attraction. The film is an entertaining romantic comedy. 'At the Liberty "Dark Journey," starring Conrad Veidt and Vivien Leigh, and "Love From, a Stranger.'" starring Ann Harding, are being shown.

At the Grand, this, week's programme presents "The princess Comes Across," starring Carole Lombard and Fred Mac Murray, and "Fatal Lady," starring ,Mary .Ellis.

REX THEATRE, RICCARTON

Two outstanding pictures and a "March of Time" film will be shown at the Rex Theatre, Riccarton, tonight on Monday, and Tuesday. Claudette Colbert m "I Met Him in Paris" and "Reported Missing," a thriller of the air (William Gargan and Jean Rogers) are the two features. The programme will begin at 7.30,, p.m.