COSY THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1940, Page 2

COSY THEATRE

“HARD TO GET.” Dick Powell and Olivia de Haviland, an entirely new romantic duo, are teamed in the leading roles of “Hard To Get,” a breezy, fast-moving comedy with many farcical complications, produced by Warner Brothers, which will be shown tonight at the Cosy Theatre. The name of Dick Powell means, of course, that there is some music in the production, but it is far from being a musical picture of the routine type, for he sings only two songs and they are both introduced plausibly into the action of the piece. He is an ambitious and aggressive young business man who, at the outset, is shown as the manager of a combined gas station and auto camp, and most- of the interest — as well as the farcical complications — arises from his efforts to interest some capitalists in his plan to establish a chain of auto camps across the country. Olivia de Haviland is a spoiled and petulant heiress who buys gas and oil at Powell’s place and then finds she is without a cent to pay for it. Whereupon Powell, who doesn’t know who she is, uses physical force to compel her to work out her bill by sweeping out and making the beds in the ten bungalows of his auto camp. Other important members of the cast include Charles Winninger, Allen Jenkins, Bonita Granville, Melville Cooper, Isabel Jeans, Penny Singleton, Grady Sutton and Thurston Hall. The supporting feature is “Whispering Enemies.” Expertly blending action, drama, comedy and romance, Columbias “Whispering Enemies” reveals itself not only as thoroughly satisfactory entertainment, but as a blasting expose of the most vicious racket America has ever known. This latest Jack Holt vehicle brings to light the scandal syndicate which ruins the reputations of industries and individuals. All of the players are superb. Holt’s ability is matched by that of Miss Costello, who has an exacting, meaty role that she plays to the hilt. Other good performances are contributed by Addison Richards, Pert Kelton, Donald Briggs and Joseph Crehan.