CIVIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1016, 5 July 1930, Page 15

CIVIC

“HOT FOR PARIS” More good Americans will go to Paris this summer than ever before. That’s an easy prediction after a visit to the Civic Theatre, where “Hot for Paris” is holding forth and should continue there indefinitely. And, as you no doubt know, this lusty, all-talking Fox Movietone concerns the amorous adventures of doughty Victor 11cLaglen. To our notion “The Cock Eyed World.” contained more rich and racy humour than any other film of its kind. It called a spade a shovel—and was the better for it. But by comparison, even this great hit of Raoul Walsh’s is dimmed by this obstreperous brain child. The story is simple enough. Perhaps that is why it is so replete with slightly extraneous incidents which keep the audience in gales of laughter. The marines are salty sailors now, McLaglen’s man Friday is El Brendel. as funny a comedian as ever frolicked. You’ll recall he was the Olsen of “The Cock Eyed World.” Fifi Dorsay is the roguish mam’selle; and Polly Moran also is featured. While on shore leave and in his cups McEaglen buys a ticket in the Calcutta Sweepstakes. Suffice say he '‘ins a, million dollars and, mistaking tho lottery’s representative for a police prefect, proceeds to run away from his fortune. In the course of the chase he meets Fifi, a dancer, saves her from the unwelcome attentions of another, goes with her to a neighbouring wedding, makes whoopee and gets into moro trouble. A ludicrous climax is furnished when Brendel and the bride to be tilt too many wine bottles into their throats. Several catchy songs are contributed by Edgar Eeslie and * Walter Donaldson, most of which are sung by Miss Dorsay. The supporting cast includes Eddie Dillon, Lennox Pawle, August Tollaire, C?eorge Fawcett, Charles Judels and many others. The players are uniformly excellent. The remainder of the Civic’s programme includes a comedy, “Haunted,” two sound gazettes, selections from the classics by Fred Scholl at the organ, and the delightful overture “Merry Wives of Windsor,” by Ted Henkel’s Civic Concert Orchestra.