REVELS OF FANNIE BRICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1053, 18 August 1930, Page 15

REVELS OF FANNIE BRICE

“BE YOURSELF" SHOWING AT NATIONAL

ALSO “PARIS BOUND” During recent weeks the National Theatre has established a refutation for providing distinctive high-quality film entertainment, and that policy was seen at its best in the programme submitted on Saturday evening rpHE audience, which filled the house, enjoyed a programme of such outstanding merit and well-balanced variety that the two and a-half hours passed far two rapidly, and the frequent applause showed that both the musical comedy and the dramatic film were instantly popular. In the chief talking attraction, the management has been singularly fortunate. “Be Yourself" is of the type that has swept into popularity everywhere since the advent of the talkies. It is a fascinating story of the entertainment world plentifully interspersed with tuneful songs, dances and music, all of which have been specially written for the piece. But best of all, there is Fanny Brice. Miss Brice has personality—radiant high spirits, is vivacious, and is withal a clever dancer and singer. She is a newcomer to the screen, but is one of America’s leading musical comedy and vaudeville players, and her arrival isa distinct gain. Although quite unknown to Saturday’s audience, she soon had them thoroughly amused with her lively joyousness and undoubted ability. To see Fannie Brice give a skit on Galli-Curci’s. singing is a rare treat. To see the lavishly spectacular dancingensembles and glamorous cabaret scenes and to hear the tuneful new songs is to enjoy the best that is available of this kind of film. The story is an interesting one centring around the career of a boxer. Miss Brice as a New York night-club entertainer befriends this young fellow, down on his luck, and has him trained to meet some of the foremost boxers. Throughout the story, and indeed part of it, there is a considerable amount of humour, as well as melody and dancing. Robert Armstrong is at all times convincing .as the boxer, and Harry Green provides a generous amount of wholesome humour. “PARIS BOUND” Entertainment of a completely different type is presented in the second big talkie feature on the same programme. This is “Paris Bound," an ultra-modern tale of marriage and divorce among a fashionable New York set. It is in a way a problem play, telling the story, leaving one to form one’s own conclu-

sions, but suggesting a possible sola- j tion. Mary and James Hutton were married with all the pomp and ceremony of a gorgeous floral wedding. Jimmie’s father and mother were divorced, so the young couple had full experience of matrimonial troubles. After their marriage they promised one another that whatever happened they would stick to each other, even although other persons may claim their interest. How this novel pact worked is most interestingly told. Judging by the laughter from Saturday’s audience they very much enjoyed the telling. Ann Harding gives a wonderful por- ! trayal in the leading role, and is ably | supported by Frederic March, as her I husband. Carmelita Geraghty and : Leslie Fenton are the two intruders. I All In all, the National's new programme offers a thoroughly amusing [and entertaining evening, . .