AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1931, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

£VERYBDDYB PICTURES.

TO-NIGHT AND SATURDAY.

“THE BIG POND.” Maurice Chevalier and Claudette Colbert Perfectly Cast in Hilarious Romance. Claudette Colbert, who recently portrayed the role of the charming and courageous heroine in that well-re-membered screen play, “The Lady Lies,” is Maurice Chevalier’s leading lady in his latest starring Paramount picture, “The Big Pond.” And it can be said that Miss Colbert proves ideal as the wealthy girl who causes poor Malurice’s heart to go pitter-patter. For Miss Colbert, it must be remembered, is of French descent and as a child was educated in French, schools. The background 'undoubtedly works in her favour, for in some undescriliable fashion she manages to reject the Chevalier personality to the best possible advantage. Of course, whether she is able to do this because of her knowledge of the French temperament or whether it is because she is so fine an actress remains an open question. Perhaps the best answer is to say that she combines the best points of each and moulds them effectively to suit the needs of the situation. Whatever it is, Miss Colbert proves more than equal to the really versatile task of being an ideal leading lady for the incomparable Maurice. In “The Big Pond,” Miss Colbert is cast as an American girl who, while in Venice, meets and falls in love with an impoverished French nobleman, Maurice Chevalier. But their romance is neraly disrupted by Claudette’s irrate father, who merely objects to Maurice on the grounds that he is too lazy to work. So Maurice, in an effort to show Claudette and her father that he is made of the sterner stuff, sails with them for America with the avowed purpose of becoming a rip-roaring success. And that is just what h e becomes, and in the best approved manner, too. However, there is a hitch to all this. For in his efforts to become a real success Chevalier forgets to make ardent love to Claudette, and to put it mildly, Claudette doesn’t like it. .But Cheva-

lier, despite various and sundry obstacles, sets out to prove that love and business do mix. And if you know your Chevalier, you can be sure he succeeds. This popular French star also sings two new song hits, “You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me” and “Livin’ in the Sunlight—Lovin' in the Moonlight.” Both Miss Colbert and Chevalier are perfect in this hilarious romance, which will be screened alt the Princess Theatre to-night and Saturday. Also Gazette, Cartoon and Serial. Prices 2/6, 1/6, children 6d downstairs.