APPEALS TO ALL TASTES

Evening Star, Issue 21748, 16 June 1934, Page 20

APPEALS TO ALL TASTES

STATE’S ATTRACTION FULL DF INCIDENT After seeing 1 Plying Down to Rip.' with its lavish settings, its beautiful young ladies, some of whom are seen posed gracefully on the wings of flying aeroplanes, its entertaining plot, and lastly its splendid acting, there is no doubt that this is the best picture of its type that has yet been shown at the State Theatre, which is being crowded at every session. Handsome Gene Raymond takes (us American jazz band to Rio de Janeiro to open a show in a new hotel. Ho falls in love with Dolores del Rio, daughter of tbo hotel owner, and a hot rivalry develops between Raymond and Raul Roulien, a situation complicated by the fact that Roulien has been engaged to Del Rio for years. When the “ heavies,” a syndicate of Greek gamblers, try to spoil the deal and ruin Dolores’ dad by getting city officials to prohibit Gene’s show that young man foils them all by taking his band and his 200 beauties aloft. In full view of thousands of awed Brazilians girls sing and dance on the wings of airplanes, adagio dancers burl their fair partners from one piano to another, and ballet dancers trip the light fantastic while fluttering earthward in parachutes. •Dolores and Gene are then married by an airplane pilot, and everybody lives happily ever afterward. Any attempt to list the delightful and thrilling innovations introduced in this production is futile. ‘ Flying Down to Rio ’ is one of those films that has to be seen to be appreciated. Del Rio, as a Latin-American beauty, gives the performance of her life, as does Raul Roulien, celebrated Spanish and South American star, whoso beautiful tenor voice lends enchantment to many of the romantic melodies written for the production by Vincent Youmans, with lyrics by Edward Eliscu and Gus Kahn. The picture also marks the film debut of Fred Astaire in a stellar role. Astaire, idol of Now York and London musical comedies, and one of the best character comedians on the stage today, is paired with Ginger Rogers in a humorous romance. Their exaggerated tangos come close to stealing the show, while Ginger’s cowgirl ride on the tail of a plane is one of the production’s high spots. The film is elaborately staged against the tropical and architectural beauty of Rio do Janeiro. Native instruments and orchestras are heard. Chorus routines, featuring 150 dark beauties said to have been selected from 10,000 California girls, enact many daring tcrpsichoroan novelties. One of these is the presentation of the tango by sixteen couples dancing in unison and perfect formation. Of tho sets one in particular merits special mention. Representing a night club of the' future, it is built to re* somblo tho interior of a dirigible. _ llio tables, of glass edged with polished silver, are shaped like tho tail of an airplane, while the orchestra, in a balloon basket, soars above over the heads

of the dancers. Credits go to Lou Brook, associate producer and author of the original story, the man who, made ‘ Melody Cruise ’; Thornton Freeland, of 4 Whoopee ’ fame, for direction; Vincent Youmans, author of 4 Tea for Two ’ and many other hits, for tho music. A most original comedy, savouring strongly of the famous Gilbert and Sullivan Savoy operas and ‘ Trial by Jury ’ in particular, heads the supporting programme. which includes all the latest topical gazettes.