AMUSEMENTS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 64, 1 August 1938, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

“ON THE r AVENUE’* Swinging merrily along to the tune of the best songs ever written by the greatest writer' of songs in the world* “On the Avenue,” opening Tuesday at tlie De Luxe Theatre, represents Irving Berlin at his melodious best, in a musical that is full of pep and lilting good spirits. AVitli Dick Powell and Madeleine Carroll making a new and romantic twosome of musical comedy, the lively Twentieth Century-Fox musical presents a real-life romance of New York, ip a show that’s as big as the town. Alice Faye, The Ritz Brothers and George Barbier add both melody and mirth to the production. Madeleine Carroll, noted hitherto for straight dramatic roles, makes a charming sweetheart for Dick Powell. The beginning of “On the Avenue” finds her, as a wealthy debutante, entering a. theatre with her father, George Barbier, and an explorer, Alan Mowbray, at the moment that Dick Powell, Alice Faye and the Ritz Brothers are engaged in a hilarious take-off on, the home Ijfe of “the richest girl in the world.” Infuriated, Madeleine stalks from the theatre, threatens the manager with suit, and brushes past a stage doorman to snatch Alice’s wig from her and to break the window of Dick’s dressing room before she is forcibly ejected. Relenting later, Madeleine apologises for being a poor sport, and invites Dick to dinner. Falling in love with her, Dick promises to revise the skit, and invites her to the next performance. At this, however, Alio , Dick’s partner, horrifies him by adding even more caustic lines to tlie skit.

Madeleine takes her revenge on Dick for the public humiliation, but, in a surprising scene, in Svhieh tlie music of Irving Berlin plays a novel part, Dick finds a way to clear up the misunderstandings that have parted them and to bring a thrilling conclusion to the film.

Swank in its songs, in its romantic- stars, and in its lovely chorines, “On the Avenue” has the added virtue oi presenting some merrily madcap performances by reliable hoilywoocl f unmakers.

Worthy ©f a separate note are the distinctive and lovely melodies Irving Berlin composed for the film, “This Year’s Kisses,” “You’re Laughing at Me.” “Slumming on Park Avenue, ’ “I’ve Clot My Love to Keep Me Warm,” “The Girl on the Police Gazette,” and a novelty number written for the Ritz Brothers, called “He Got Rhythm.”