STIRRING DRAMA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1939, Page 9

STIRRING DRAMA

IN NEW PICTURE. With Jascha Heifetz, the world's most renowned violinist starred. Samuel Goldwyn’s new major production. “They Shall Have Music,” unfolds a gripping story of human interest, highlighted by tense and thrilling action. The principal romantic roles are played by Andrea Leeds and Joel McCrea. "They Shall Have Music” draws its characters and plot from the wealth of material found on New York's East Side. Briefly, the story revolves around Professor Lawson, portrayed by Walter Brennan, and his music school settlement, composed of ragged youngsters who are musical prodigies. Into- this school comes Frankie, who inherited a talent for the violin from his dead father and has run away from home to escape the hate of his stepfather. The boy is taken in tow by the

professor, and blossoms into a tine musician. How he tries to repay his debt and how he lures the great Heifetz to the aid of the financially bankrupt school provides the climax to the story. To portray the pupils in the school, Mr Goldwyn hired the California Junior Symphony Orchestra, composed of 45 youngsters whose ages ranged from 8 to 14. They represent a crosssection of American life with few if any of their parents in the brackets of more than moderate means. The picture also introduces to the screen for the first time a nine-year-old opera singer. Jacqueline Nash, whose voice is said to be ieminiscent of Galli Curci.