AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 442, 25 May 1937, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

Plaza Theatre. Lily Pons In “That Girl From Paris” From the opening scene when Lily Pons say “No!” to a marrying minister instead' of the customary “I do,” to her hectic marriage in a racing taxi cab at the climax of the picture, the tiny singer’s new offering, “That Girl From Paris,” shatters all precedents for screen vehicles for opera stars. It screens at the Plaza Theatre, tonight The distinguished little French soprano is supported by one or the most versatile groups of comedians ever assembled for a photoplay, including Herman Bing, Mischa Auer, Frank Jenks and Lucille Ball. Miss Pons plays the role of a French opera star, who jilts her manager at the altar and pursues a handsome American saxophonist to America by stowing away in his cabin. Her troubles as a fugitive from the immigration authorities are manifold, and they increase when two of the members of the orchestra, Gent Raymond and Jack Oakle, fall In love with her.

.Interspersed in the kaleidoscopic picture, with a French grape festival, an ocean liner, gn American roadhouse and the Metropolitan Opera House as backdrops, is a pot pourri of melody climaxing in the rendition by Miss Pons of the beautiful aria from “The Barber of Seville.” The prima donna also sings “Tarantella” and the “Blue Danube Waltz,” in addition to “Call to inns,” “Seal It With a Kiss” and “My Nephew from Nice.”

“THREE SMART GIRLS” Deanna Durbin Is Radio’s Sensational Songbird They smiled encouragingly when she stepped up to sing. “They” were the technical crew on the Universal picture “Three Smart Girls,” screening at the Plaza on Friday, Saturday and Monday—a picture every cinema fan in Stratford has been waiting for. The crew had seen more than one experienced prima donna falter in her first film recording. The girl was 13 year old Deanna Durbin, noted radio soprano, making her screen debut. Instead of suffering from camera fright, which the technicians expected, Deanna sang easily, as if she were just practising. Deanna, an American girl, was born in Winnipeg, Canada, December 4, 1922. When she was a year old, her parents took her to California. Vocal experts marvel that so young a girl should have such a finely developed voice. Deanna portrays the youngest Bister of the “Three Smart Girls.” Possessing a lyric soprano voice that electrifies all who hear it, little Miss Durbin makes her movie debut in one of the gayest comedy dramas eger to come out of Hollywood. “Three Smart Girls” deals with the madcap adventures of three lovely daughters of a New York millionaire who join in a conspiracy to break up their father's romance with a fortune hunting beauty. Just to make the film even more interesting, there is a triple romance woven ipto the narrative. The dialogue is brightly amusing, the situations get funnier by the minute and the songs will steal your heart away. The ravishing Binnle Barnes portrays the huntress of fortunes: Alice Brady is seen as her scheming mother Ray Milland helps the “Three Smart Girls” prevent the marriage and wins the heart of one of the sisters, played by Barbara Read. Charles Winninger is the millionaire. Deanna Durbin is the youngest daughter. The other ope is portrayed by Nan Grey, who is whirled into a romance with John You will be enchanted by the music, thrilled by the romance and convulsed by the humour of “Three Smart Girls.” It is advisable to book early tor this film.

King’s Theatre. “Murder With Pictures” The triumph of the camera over the eyes of forty witnesses to a “perfect crime,” is dramatically depicted in Paramount’s new mystery, “Murder With Pictures,” starring Lew Ayres and Gail Patrick, which screens at the King’s Theatre to-night. “Murder With Pictures” is the story.of a murder perpetrated, in a crowded room during the height of a celebration. A newspaperman, Benny Baker, took a picture of a number of photographers who were making a photographs of the host, Ernest Cossart, and even though he didn’t know it, the entire crime was indelibly recorded on celluloid by the all-seeing eye of his camera. The picture is of additional interest because it features the newly-perfected Wirephoto System, which “telegraphs” pictures over great distances, in actual operation. “Sunset Pass” Two of Hollywood’s best-known Western stars "joined up” with Paramount to play in Zane Grey’s "Sunset Pass,” which Is also on the same programme. They are Tom Keene, who is cast in the leading role, and Harry Carey, one of the menaces of the cast. Keene plays the role of the Cattlemen’s Association deputy, engaged to run down a gang of rustlers, who finds that the brother of the girl he loves is the man he must apprehend. Both Keene and Carey have won outstanding success in Westerns. Keene has been a star in thefh for the past five years. Carey has been in pictures since 1910, when he played his first role for Biograph. “Sunset Pass” follows closely the original story by Zane Grey. It is replete with thrilling incidents—-a raging prairie fire, a mad stampede of am enormous herd of cattle, and plenty of hard riding and breathless gun fighting.

“The Crime Of Dr. Fprbes” Cold-blooded murder for the sake of a guilty love—or an act of compassion beyond human law? Local theatre-goers will have an opportunity to sit in judgment on “The Crime of Dr. Forbes” when the new Fox pictures screens at the King’s on Thursday and Friday. Gloria Stuart, Robert Kent, Henry Armetta, J. Edward Bromberg, Sara Haden and Alan Dinehart are featured in this widely heralded production, the story of which is based on a theme new to the screen. Kent, a young physician, goes to trial for the alleged murder of Bromberg, a noted scientist engaged in research which he hopes will lead io a cure for a fatal spinal disease. The events leading to Kent’s trial begin when Bromberg, hearing of the excavation of some prehistoric skeletons in Arizona bearing unmistakable symptoms of the disease, decides to visit the scene and leaves his laboratory and beautiful young wife, Gloria Stuart, in Kent’s care. The young doctor and Gloria, without knowing it, fall in love. Suddenly word comes that Bromberg has been badly injured in an accident and Kent and Gloria rush to the scene. There they find Bromberg hopelessly enduring angony, for he knows that his injury cannot be cured. Ketit and Bromberg’s other associate realise their helplessness. They know that they can do nothing to lessen the injured man’s terrible pain—and they know he cannot recover. Suddenly Bromberg dies—and unmistakable evidence points to an overdose of narcotics. Circumstantial. evidence points to Kent as the administrator of the drug—and amidst condemning publicity he is brought to trail, where the prosecution points out that the young doctor is in love with Bromberg’s wife. Did this Dr. Forbes violate his sacred oath? The answer, startling and surprising, supplies one of the most unusual climaxes ever filmed.

“Music Is Magic” Bebe Daniels, who is featured in a leading role in the Fox musical romance, “Music Is Magic” (also, on the same programme?), returns? to the screen, after a two-years’ absence. Alice Faye tops the cast in the picture in which Miss Daniels enacts the role of a motion picture star whose popularity is on the wane. In “Music Is Magic” she reveals the charm which made her one of the favourites of . the silent screen. During the course of her great career, she has played almost every conceivable type of rale,