ANOTHER COCONUT!

Radio Record, 22 July 1938, Page 25

ANOTHER COCONUT!

Columbia Knocks A Juicy One Down Again At The Fun Fair

["There’s Always a Woman." Columbia, Directed by Alexander Hall. Starring Melvyn Douglas, Joan Blondell. First release: Christchurch, July 22.]

N noticing this advance review of a new Columbia picture, readers are_ kindly requested to register surprise. Most of you probably know that the "Record’s" film critic and Mr. B. Vinsen, New Zealand manager of Columbia Pictures, have been on only the tersest speaking terms lately over our review of the Grace Moore film "I’ll Take Romnace." Does this mean, then, that the rift has now been repaired in the lute, the fly extracted from the ointment, and the hatchet decently interred? Has Gordon Mirams been re-admitted to that select brotherhood which is privileged to gaze upon Columbia Pictures before the general public pays its shil- : lings to see them? Is he back on equal terms with those who have never criticised Miss Moore unkindly in public? No, I’m afraiu he hasn’t and isn’t. The ban has not been lifted by Colum-

bia. But all the same, he saw an advance preview of "There’s Always & Woman." How? Ah-ha! A secret! Perhaps I disguised myself as a cigarette butt and lay un(ler a seat in the theaterette. .. I’m not telling, But I did see the picture; and, having seen it, I wouldn’t be doing the fair thing by the public if I didn’t admit that "There’s Always a Woman" gaye me nearly as much fun as "The Awful Truth" itself. Suecess Story HVERAL years ago, Frank Capra produced a film called "It Happened One Night," which was to make sereen history. Although it had such stars as Olark Gable and Olaudette Colbert, it opened at first to audiences of quite inauspicious proportions, and it seemed on its way to being just another "average box-office" production. Then something hit the American public-and, being Americans, they took it hard, Someone found out that "It Happened Jne Night" was firstrate comedy ; and after that the Amerieans just couldn’t stop laughing. Naturally, the studio’s publicity men wouldn’t let the world stop either. Thus "It Happened One Night" brought fame to Director Capra, the pick of comedy roles for its two stars, and whole ton loads of bullion to the

coffers of a hitherto rather obscure film studio-Columbia Pictures, After that-in the realm of comedy -Columbia never cracked a chestnut. It was coconuts with them, and every time. "Mr, Deeds Goés to Town" was followed by "Theodora Goes Wild," and then "The Awful Truth." Now comes "There’s Always a Woman," in the same tradition. ot Thawed Out [N this comedy, Melvyn Douglas has thawed out again after his freeze with Grace Moore, and he is back in my affections as the — glib-speaking, smooth-moving bully of women_ that he was in "Theodora.". In fact, he’s even better than usual, for there is a warmth of humanity about this latest role that Douglas often lacks. Maybe the softening is due -to his partner in laughter, Joan Blondell, for whom I am rapidly beginning to have a deep respect. In earlier films with Glenda Farrell and Hugh Herbert, she used to irritate me thoroughly But since her fun and games with Leslie Howard in "Stand-In," and now with Melvyn Douglas, I’m inclined to think she is almost the neatest comedienne of them all. She never fails to bring out her lines; but above all she has, in her antics, a zestful spontaneity that is matched only by Gracie Fields. .Watch that Blondell, she’s on the up! I’m only ‘ sorry she had to do her: hair in such a silly and unflattering way in the cabaret sequence, (Contd. next. page.)

Familiar But Funny N comparison with the performance of the two stars, the film itself need not bother the memory long. The dialogue is excellent, crisp and amusing, and some of the situations are quite as funny as those we saw in "Theodora" and "The Awful Truth’-parti-cularly that glorious surprise when the wall-safe becomes a radio in full blast. Plot is the weakest link-a direct descendant of "The Thin Man," with murder and thrills flung among the giggles. Jerome Cowan does some of the flinging very well indeed; and Mary Astor comes to light with another of her very nicely restrained performances. To give the film its credit, you are hardly annoyed at all by its similarity to the Powell-Loy classic. And when Joan Blondell turns amateur detective in opposition to her husband, picking up clues as quickly as other women do

possibly begrudge her the fun she’s having. A Silly Title ‘'THERE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN" is a sillier title after you have seen the picture than it sounded before. But otherwise, this film has pace, wit and coherence out of the ordinary. Because the theme is not new, it will hardly be as popular as M-G-M’s "Thin Man" or as some other Columbia comedies. But there will be plenty of people, like me, who will enjoy it almost as much. Mr. Vinsen, I’d prefer to preview your films in the proper way, but we can at least shake on this one!