STATE THEATRE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 78, 24 December 1937, Page 12

STATE THEATRE

"SHE SHALL HAVE MUSIC" AND "THE LADY ESCAPES." "Sho Sliall Have Music" and "The Lady Eseapes" screen finally to-night at 8 o'clock at the State Theatre. Commencing at a special 10.30 session to-night, the State Theatre presents Paul Roheson in "Big Fella." "Big Fclla" presents Paul Robeson as Joe, a dockside worker in Marseilles, wlio is called in to lielp trace a young boy who has mysteriously vanished from a vessel in port. It is suspected that the youth has been kidnapped, but police officials are unable to do anything. Joe eventually diseovers the lad, who. threatens to say that Joe kidnapped him if he is taken back ti the

ship. The lad, a misehievous 14-year-old, has read too many adventure stories and wants excitement. Joe realises that it wouldn't do for officials to thiulc he' had kidnapped the child, and so, with the help of Manda, a cafe singer, he looks after him, only to have the child really kidnapped by a wharf loiterer who wants' the reward. The story builds up to an effective climax, leaving oue with ihe impression of liaving seen a thoroughly enjoyable, liuman film, filled with haunting melody and acted by an entiroly capable cast. Robeson sings six songs in the film. Theso range from the lighter number in whicli he captures such lightness of touch, to the serious songs whicli cliaracterise his dramatic powers. Among these numbers, which were composed by Eric Ansell, are "Lazin," "River Steals Ma Follcs From Me." "You Didn't Oughta Do Such Things," and "I Got a Robe." These will assuredly become big hits.