NO, NO, NANETTE
(RKO Radio)
HERE are two main criticisms which I think should be made about No, No, Nanette. First of all, to call
it a musical comedy, as some of the advertisements do, is misleading. My second criticism is in a way a variant of the first-I think the title is misleading, since No, No, Nanette does connote, in the minds of most theatreyoers, musical comedy. The cast do sing a little, it is true, but hardly very musically, and there are only three songs. As in Irene, the musical part of the comedy has been, in the main, quietly shelved-possibly to preserve the prestige of the stars. But as long as you don’t go along solely’ to see the film version of the musical comedy which happens to have the same name, there is no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy yourself,
For there is plenty of comedy in the show, both in dialogue and situation, and the director, Herbert Wilcox, makes the best use both of Roland Young’s faculty for embarrassment and Anna Neagle’s impish vivacity, not to mention Richard Carlson’s naive innocence, Anna Neagle, of course, holds the centre of the screen and certainly justifies her position there. I should say that the object of the director had been to build the picture around her and to show off her talents to best advantage, and I must say I have no fault to find with the result. One thing which appeals to me in Miss Neagle is her grace of movement (and her English accent — not of Oxford, but something fresh from the provinces). Her grace of movement is fully exploited by the camera to produce scenes of real artistic merit, especially those in the "Dream Dance" sequence. For entertainment these blackout nights, you could go pretty far and fare a good deal worse than you would do at No, No, Nanette. It will be escapism on your part of course, but a bit of escape now and then is essential these days.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19410509.2.34.1.2
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 98, 9 May 1941, Page 17
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337NO, NO, NANETTE New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 98, 9 May 1941, Page 17
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
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