STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1939, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

"INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT.” The programme headed by “International Settlement” will be shown finally tonight at the State Theatre. GRACIE FIELDS IN NEW FILM. Grade Fields has never been seen to greater advantage than in her latest 20th Century production. "Keep Smiling,” which will open on Friday at the State Theatre. Surrounded by a gay and happy cast, in a story bubbling with happiness, the star gives the performance of her career. "Keep Smiling” is the story of a touring vaudeville troupe, led by Gracie Fields, their guide, philosopher, and very true friend. She leads them in revolt against a crooked manager, takes them to her grandfather’s farm where their open-air rehearsals startle even the cows, and eventually lands them in the top spot among seaside carnival shows. A long supporting cast provides uniformly excellent performances. Lovely Mary Maguire, brought from Hollywood to play the part of Avis, the troupe’s soubrette; Roger Livesy London. stage star, who appears as Grade’s devoted admirer and at last, husband; Jack Donohue, tap-dancing star, who plays the role of Denis, conceited partner of Avis; the screen’s most lovable dog star, "Skippy,” as the dog who causes a lot of happiness and almost as much trouble; Peter Coke, rising young star of the West End stage, who plays romantic lead opposite Mary Maguire, and peppery Edward Rigby, remembered as Robert Taylor’s scout in “A Yank at Oxford,” who appears as Gracie’s grandfather. There is a feast of music in this refreshingly happy film tonic. Gracie Fields sings, as only she can, a wide variety of numbers, from “The Holy City,” sung in a village church, to the riotous comedy number “Mrs Binns’s Twins,” which she sings in a concert party sequence. Her other numbers include a haunting melody, which may well equal the phenomenal popularity of Gracie’s hit “The Sweetest Song in the World,” called “Peace of Mind.” Harry Parr-Davies has written two numbers, “Swing Your Way to Happiness” and “Giddy Up.” “May Morning” and “You’ve Got to be Smart in the Army Nowadays” complete the list of musical numbers.