AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 447, 1 June 1937, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

Plaza Theatre. < Merle Oberon In “Beloved Enemy” To-day she is one of flltndom’s first stars. The demand for her services is so great that she must reconcile herself to spending half her time in Hollywood, where she is under contract to Samuel Goldwyn, and the other half of London working for Alexander Korda. But glamorous Merle Oberon, who sailed for England the moment she finished "Beloved Enemy,” her latest Goldwyn production which stars her with Brian Aherne and screens at the Plaza Theatre, Stratford. to-night, still remembers the days when doors did not fly open ati her knock and “getting started” seems an unnecessarily difficult process. Before her seventeenth birthday dawned, fate offered her an opportunity to accompany an army officer uncle on a trip to England. When it was time for him to return, however, she insisted upon remaining in London to carve out. a stage career. Blit jobs in the theatre were not to be had. Her money went quickly. Soon her small capital was gone. London was a cold discouraging .place. For want of something better she took a job as a hostess. She found she was able to obtain some extra work and for two years worked obscurely in the British film studios. Then, one lucky day, Alexander Korda "discovered” her eating in the studio commissary and signed her. Her run of luck had changed. The actress who was to play the lead in “Wedding Rehearsal” fell ill and Merle got the part. A lead in “Men of To-morrow” followed. Then came the role of Anne Boleyn in “The Private Life of Henry VIII,” which made the beauty and talent of Merle Oberon a topic of international discussion. “Thunder in the East,” ‘Broken Melody,’ and ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel” added to her fame. Then came Hollywood. She appeared opposite Maurice Chevalier in “Follies Bergere” and was signed to a starring contract with Samuel Goldwyn, for whom she made “The Dark Angel,” "These Three” and the current "Beloved Enemy,” all ot which were released through United Artists.

The story of “Beloved Enemy” casts Brian Aherne and Merle Oberon as a man and woman from two warring worlds who fall madly in love and follows their roriiance, carried on under fire, with both risking their lives to snatch a few hours together. Against shifting backgrounds the story proceeds to a thrilling climax.

“It Isn’t Done” Cinesound pioneered Australian sound motion pictures in 1931 with the production of “On Our Selection,” and has continued to set the standard in local films. Now, Cinesound. continuing their world production policy, presents, in their latest release, “It Isn’t Done,” the first genuine all-star cast ever assembled in an Australian picture. And what a brilliant cast it is. Sterling favourites of stage and screen, including Cecil Keliaway, Frank Harvey, John Longden, Nellie Ferguson, Harvey Adams* Campbell Copelin and Sylvia Keliaway, together with Australia’s new star "discovery," lovely Shirley Ann Richards, in a bright, breezy, modern comedy-romance that sweep you on the magic wings of entertainment from Australia to England. It will screen at the Plaza on Saturday ot next week and the following Monday and Tuesday. Try to imagine the tun when a cheery, big-hearted Australian squatter inherits an Earldom and takes London society by storm, and you’ll have some small idea of the delights in “It Isn’t Done.” He broke every rule in the book of etiquette, while his lovely daughter broke every male heart in the social register. “It Isn’t Done” .... but they did it. And how' you’U enjoy it! Leading English studies co-operated in the overseas sequences of “It Isn’t Done,” which marks another giant step forward in Australian production, with photography, settings, sound .direction, cast performances, and, above all, entertainment value measuring right up to overseas standards.

Directed by Australia’s “ace” director, Ken G. Hall, "It Isn’t Done” is ready and indeed worthy ot the world's applause!