OGRAMME OF LAUGHS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1051, 15 August 1930, Page 15

OGRAMME OF LAUGHS

LOOSE ANKLES” FEATURED ; IN MAJESTIC CHANGE SEEKING FAMILY SCANDAL She was not an old maid trying to find a mate, but a young and pretty heroine endeavouring to obtain a man to cause a scandal, for she did not wish more wealth and a family scandal would void the will that made her a millionairess. *T*HIS is the theme of the novel and comic plot of “Loose Ankles,” the Majestic Theatre’s latest change, which was filmed for the first time last evening before a full house. Unusual circumstances surround the story, but it is a first-class comedy romance. In fact, brightness is the keynote of the whole programme. In "Loose Ankles” a beautiful and wealthy girl considers herself to be "in an awful fix” because she is to inherit a vast sum of money from her grand-, njother’s will. But this is subject to queer conditions, one Of them being that if she does not marry a man approved by her guardian and two maiden aunts, neither she nor the other beneficiaries under the will shall receive anything. She objects strongly to such absurd conditions, especially when those who have to approve are staid and suspicious old maiden aunts. Consequently she plans a family scandal which would sadly upset the terms of the will. She advertises for an unscrupulous young man and soon gets a reply. The attempt to create a scandal then commences and from it is yielded a mass of humour. "The catch” is of rather a shy type and takes some time before he fully understands the position.

But to make a scandal is not left solely to the heroine, for complications set in and under amazing circumstances. The other members of tho family, one by one, become involved in a merry tangle attended by sufficient disgrace to ruin them, socially, for life. One hilarious situation follows another. FARCICAL COMEDY The principal roles are played by Loretta Young and Douglas Fairbanks, junr., while Louise Fazenda, as one of the aunts, is responsible for more than a fair share of the humour. Otis Harlan, as the guardian, who made his presence known on all occasions by an extremely loud blowing of the nose, also provides an abundance of fun.All the laughter, however, is not confined to the feature picture, for in ‘‘Bigtime Charlie,” which is certainly a farcical comedy, the audience has reason for more prolonged laughter. Lew Hearn takes the principal part and makes a "hit.” The Universal News contains a number of most interesting events, including the running of the Kentucky Derby, a remarkable exhibition of massed parachute jumping at America’s greatest airdrome, Roosevelt Field. _ Here, 20 men take part and the showing of still more of this topic would have met with the approval of the audience. The jnanagement of the Majestic has not overlooked music week in Auckland and its contribution last evening was a selection from act IV. of “II Trovatore,” sung by Giacomo Rimini and Rosa Reaina, of the Chicago Opera Company. Other items sufficient to attract full houses throughout the season include an orchestral novelty.