AMUSEMENTS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 21, 8 April 1938, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

“THE TOAST OF NEW YORK” Bringing to the screen the romance based upon the' career of Jim Fisk, one of the most colourful and spectacular financiers and high-rollers of the period immediately following the Civil War, “The Toast of New York” which screens at the De Luxe Theatre on Saturday presents Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Fanner, Jack Oakie and a. huge cast in a glittering panorama of American drama. Fisk, beginning as a smaller town pedler in the photoplay, quickly becomes one of the most powerful money barons of Wall Street. Amassing a fortune from ‘the manipulation of the stock of the Erie' Railroad, he lavishes a king’s ransom on Josie Mansfield, an unknown beauty whom he sponsors and makes a, Broadway star, only to lose her amid the wreck of his many ambitions. The picture has been produced upon an elaborate scale.

Forbidden by the courts to- conduct the business of the Erie in New York, the resourceful Fisk moves the .headquarters, of the company to Jersey* City, and when it. seems that Commodore Vandervilt will gain control of the road, Fisk works the printing presses overtime t 0 issue more securities. Colourful and flamquoyant, Ins name is repeatedly on the front pages of the daily newspapers and bis lavish spending is the eighth wonder of the period. His end is equally as sensational as his rise. Fresh from her laurels in “Come and Get It,” in which she also played opposite Arnold, Frances Farmer has the Josie Mansfield role. Cary Grant, zooming to new star honours, is cast as Jim Fisk’s pal “Dandy” Boyd, who finally wins Josie from him. Jack Oakie, as another crony of the meteoric financier,. Inis a side-splitting comedy role. Rare humour, as well as spectacular drama, pervades the action.

Heralded as one of the new singing and dancing sensations of + lie screen, Thelma Leeds, former radio and night club star, makes her film dehut in/'the. role of Fleurilme. a peppery French toubrette. Donald Meek plays the highly important Daniel Drew, favourite foe of Fisk. Clarence Kolb, of' the noted stage team. Kolb and Dill, is- cast as Commodore Vanderbilt, and others in the exceptionally large cast include Paul Guilleyle, Douglas Woods and George Irving.