AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1930, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYBODYS PICTURES. “LITTLE JOHNNY JONES.” One of George M. Cohan’s greatest musical comedy hits forms the plot basis for “Little Johnny Jones,” a very elaborate and punchy “special” .talking picture at the Princess Theatre, to-night (Saturday).. For “Em a Yankee. Poodle I>andy” and “Give My Regards to Broadway” have •been retained from the famous musical show and Buz/,ell, who takes the title, role of the jcfckey, also sevnew ones. The two old song hits promise to be popular all over again, and several of the new numbers, writI , ten especially for the picture, are > sure-fire. Director Mervyn, Le Roy, , who played the- jockey in “Little Johnny Jones” on the stage in San Francisco years ago at the Aleazai. and, directed the big film for First National and Vitaphone, is enthusi.astib’ over the Cohan material for screen plots. “Cohan’s, whole success, is based on his ..extreme humannesis, ’’ Le Roy declares. “His musical comedies had real, plots, and ' yei ? always .good mption picture material, even in the sildpt" days, but of course they are even better'now that the music and dialogue can be given. “This Cohan hupianness gives a sort of universal entertainment basis. That is why ‘Little Johnny Jones,’ with its race track thrills,, night life, slum life, isn’t ‘hokum” or melodrama at all, but is just human, logical, dramatic, and, as a. love story, altogether natural and charming.” “Little Johnny Jones,” as .it is appearing on the screen, is modernised to the- minute. It'deals with three thrilling races, one of the “punchiest” being a smalltown bush track affair, another being on a big New York track, and the climatic race being at Epsom Downs. England. It, shows the famous English Derby, in' which the hero wins the race and the girl of Ids heart. Alice Day, Edna Murphy, Donald Reed, Robert Edeson and Raymond Turner are some of the well-known players in the cast. Prices 2s and Is 6d, phis tax, children 6d.