AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20132, 29 December 1939, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE LAST DAY: JEANETTE MACDONALD IN “BROADWAY SERENADE” “Broadway Serenade," now in its last night at the Regent Theatre, is a worthy successor to those other modern films in which Jeanette Macdonald has appeared. In it she is cast with Lew Ayres. The plot is not remarkable, being the story of a young married couple of vaudeville artists who become separated when Broadway recognises the singing talents of the girl but refuses to listen to the musical offerings of the husband. Estrangements and divorce follow, aided on their way by a young Englishman with plenty of money. Fortunately, being English and very; public school, he is suitably abashed j when he finds that the lady is j married, and later, finding that she; still loves her husband, he beats a! hasty retreat to the fogs of his home- : land. —To-morrow: Deanna Durbin in “First Love” — Deanna Durbin’s sixth picture, “First | Love,” comes to the Regent Theatre j to-morrow. Presenting the young j star in a more mature role than any j she has ever attempted, “First Love"; finds her experiencing her first romance. The film was produced by Joe Pasternak, who has been responsible for all of Deanna’s offerings, and directed by Henry Roster, who directed her in “Three Smart Girls,” ‘TOO Men and a Girl,” and “Three Smart Girls Grow Up.” The picture is an original screenplay and wasj made at Universal studios by the same I staff which produced all of the former i Deanna Durbin successes, beginningj with the memorable “Three Smart Girls.” Deanna will be seen as an orphan girl who is forced to live with an aunt, an uncle, and two cousins of her own age. They are rich and i snobbish and look upon Deanna as a j poor relation. The star’s personality, | consideration and kindness win over j the servants and finally bring about; an upheaval in the family. In the picture Deanna encounters her first love affair, a boy-and-girl romance be- ■ tween herself and Robert Stack, a screen newcomer in the role of a! young bachelor who is the object of i tlie affections of Deanna and of Helen Parrish, who plays one of the snobbish cousins. In the romance, Deanna receives her first screen kiss—and her first proposal of marriage. “First Love” presents a supporting cast which includes, in addition to Deanna, Miss Parrish, and Stack, a roster of fine players. Lewis Howard, from the \ New York stage, is in the role of j Deanna’s lazy cousin; former screen j star Lcatrice Joy is her astrology- \ mad aunt; Eugene Pallelte is the self- j concerned uncle; Charles Coleman is j the understanding butler; Frank Jenks I is a policeman-brother of the cook, i Lucille Ward, and Dorothy Vaughn | and Mary Treen arc other houseservants. Marcia Mae Jones, June j Storey and Jack Mulhall also will be j seen in prominent roles. Included in ! Deanna’s songs are "One Fine Day,” j from Puccini’s opera, “Madame But- j terfiy,” “Amapola,” “Home, Sweet | Home,” and “Spring In My rfeart,” a j medley of Strauss waltzes. j