ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 135, 8 May 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

. STATE THEATRE. . “ESCAPE TO PARADISE.'": In “Escape to Paradise” I lobby Breen demonstrates ajjain that his is one of the finest voices tiie screen lias to offer'. But in this particular case, the boy, now a husky, young fellow of 12, .also proves that he has learned a great deal about acting in his four-year career and liis portrayal of a light-hearted, mischievous South American lad provides an ingratiating piece of entertainment. Bobby breaks completely with all his former types of characterisations and as “Roberto,” a boy who can’t help exaggerating every time lie opens his mouth, motivates a swift moving and merry story that features ro mance, adventure and hilarity. It le Bobby’s inability to stick to the truth that makes Kent Taylor, an American playboy visiting the South American town of Rosarito, overnight become a hero, of (he community, and which starts his romance with Maroa Shelton. Once a deceit, started by Bobby, has been established it takes all Taylor’s quick wit to maintain it and eventually even that cannot prevent an expose. Interwoven into this activity is a colourful presentation of South American big business. Bobby’s exaggerations finally undo the damage they' have caused in the first place and Taylor, vindicated, gives up his career as a playboy and .settles down to marriage and a life of trade. Taylor gives an excellently paced performance. lie and Miss Shelton, (he latter playing a Latiii-Ainerican senorita, are ideally' cast ns a romanctic team. Joyce Compton, as a dizzy blonde who is after Taylor herself; Robert 0. Davis as a • European business mail, and Pedro De Cordoba .as a plantation owner, give splendid portrayals. MAYFAIR THEATRE. “THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST” Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, co-starred for. the fourth time, introduce eight new and beautiful song numbers, composed and written by Sigmund Romberg and Gus lvalin in “The Girl of the Golden West,” screening to-day at the Mayfair Theatre. The numbers that the world is to first hear from the voices of the singing stars arc “Shadows on the Moon,” “The Wind in the Trees,” “Soldiers of Fortune,’' “Senorita,” “Sunup to Sundown,” “Who Are Wo to Say,” “Mariechie” and “The West Ain’t .Wild Any More,” all by Romberg and Kahn. Miss MacDonald also sings Gounod’s “Ave Maria” and Liszt's “Dream of Love.” Based on David Belasco’s play, “The Girl of the Golden West” is the story of Mary, owner of the Polka Saloon and dance hall in a California mining'. town in 1850. She is loved t>y the sheriff, Jack Ranee, but she falls in love with' Ramerez, a bandit, believing him to be an army officer. Ranee eventually captures Ramerez in Mary’s cabin after wounding him. lie consents to play cards with the girl for the bandit’s life, but the sheriff catches her cheating. She promises to marry Ranee if he frees Ramerez, but shortly before the marriage lie realises that Mary can love no one but Ramarez, and permits them to be reunited. ~ The supporting* cast includes Walter Pid- * geon, Leo Carillo, Buddy Ebsen, Leonard Pen, Priscilla Lawson. Bob Murphy, Olin Howland, Cliff Edwards, Billy Bevan, Brandon Tynan, 11. B. W arner and Monty Woolley. i