Daily News from New York, New York • 144

DAILY NEWS, THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1939 40 Jitterbugs Swarm At the Paramount Henry Arthur Stars In His Movie Debut By DOROTHY MASTERS. "Road Demon" 20th Century-Fox picture directed by Otto Brower from screen play by Robert Ellis and presented at the RKO Albee Theatre. 3 THE CAST: Jiromr BUkeHenr7 Arthur Jean Hvty'r lftaB Valerie Papa GaDibuti-. Ted Rogers Anderxou Skid Miller Hetu? Armetta Tom Beck Robinson Jonathan Hale Murray Aloer Edward Marr Xon Chancy Jr. Tne Palanee Pironne EJeanor Virsei Betty Greco Bud Casey.

Mama Gambini. Tony Gambitii Bosa Gambini. Maria Gambiiuu create a scene, but when a child walks into the room unexpectedly, the actress succumbs to the little one's appeal, and she walks out without disclosing her identity. After one tearful scene the lovers part forever, and Zaza returns to the stage and becomes famous as the most glamorous entertainer in Paris. Claudette Colbert is an interesting but not an inspired Zaza.

The abandon associated with that historic lady of the French stage is missing from her performance. There is only one scene that suggests the naughtiness that gave "Zaza" its reputation as a shocker. Herbert Marshall plays the lover in his usual repressed fashion. Bert Lahr forgets his clowning temporarily to turn in a good dramatic performance in the role of Zaza's disappointed partner. Helen West-ley and Constance Collier are both good in the supporting roles, and Rex O'Malley, Genevieve Tobin and Walter Catlett add interesting touches tc some of the back-stage scenes, -v George Cukor, in directing the picture, has preserved the atmosphere of the times, but he seems to have left out its especially Gallic flavor, probably in deference to the censors.

Gloria Day and Shea and Raymond were the featured entertainers of the stage show, but it was Benny Goodman and his band that tKe boys and girls came out to hear. (Other pictures on page 27) trarily saddled with a horse which turned out to be a champion on the track. In "Road Demon," without quite realizing1 how it has ctwe about, they become part owners of a fast racing car. 1 There are complications, some of them very funny, a little of the traditional skulduggery and several thrilling sequences before Jimmy Blake and Ted Rogers race around the Indianapolis Speedway to victory. Armetta Furnishes Fan.

Henry Armetta, who plays the role of Papa Gambini for a second time, provides the film with mont of its fun, with Joan Valerie for dash of romance, and such villainy as can be mustered by Jonath-m Hale, Murray Alper, Edward Marr and Lon Chaney Jr. behind soma of the thrills. Bill Robinson has an arousing characterization and a too-short dance sequence. With "Road Demon" Albee presents "The Duke of West Twentieth Century-Fox lifts an option on the volatile Gambini family for a second on the Sports Adventure series. But Albee's "Road Demon" proves far more significant than either the Gam-binis or the series because it introduces Henry Arthur, the likes of whom are pretty scarce, even in a cinemaland where potential stars are a dime a dozen.

The lad has an amazing affinity for the sound track as well as the camera, plus a personality that bounces right off the screen. In their last film, "Speed to Born," the Gambinis were arbi Herbert Marshall appears with Claudette Colbert in Paramount's MZaza, film version of the play of the same name. By KATE CAMERON. Zaza, Paramount picture, screen play by Zoe Akins from play by Pierre Berton and Charles Simon, directed by George Cukor and presented at the Paramount Theatre. THE CAST: RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Showpiece of the Nation Rockefeller Center Dutrevtit- the actors on the screen in shouts and yells to each other.

It is a good thing for "Zaza" that it isn't the sort of picture that needs to be taken very seriously. Its principal attraction is its theatrical history. Colbert Marshall Bert Lahr Helen Westlry Cmittance CoIImt Genevieve Tolin Waller Catleit Bex O'M alley Rex Evan Florin nnt Malardut When it was first produced on the STARTS TODAY Doors Open 11:30 A. stage in Pans, and later in New York its exhibition of the can-can shocked the ladies of the nineties. The story is innocuous enough.

But then, it probably was whitewashed for the films. Zaza. a Comedy that cleverly combines mystery and suspense laughter the misadventures of a gay, engaging detective played with zest and delightful humor. FVpnfh mtiai hall n-i t-1 i tkA nrA. With "Zaza" as the screen attraction at the Paramount Theatre and Benny Goodman and his za-zu-za piping on the stage, the 1939 variety of jitterburg, which is very little different from the 1938 and '37 of the species, turned out in force.

They jammed the theatre for Goodman's jam session and by the time the stage show ended those rhythmic alligators were in such a highly hysterical state that they swarmed onto the stage and began climbing over Goodman and up the microphone. They were in no mood to be entertained by "Zaza and her unhappy love affair. They worked off their excitement by drowning out V. vinces, falls desperately in love with an admirer who lingers in the small town where Zaza and her partner, Caseart, are playing, when he should be off to his home and business in Paris. Dufresne, the admirer, finally parts from Zaza with -a promise to return shortly, and while he is away Caseart tries to get Zaza to go back to the stage.

When she tells her partner that she intends to marry Dufresne, Caseart informs her that her lover is mar ried and living with his wife. Zaza, in a rage, rushes up to Paris to see Dufresne's wife and DOUGLAS VIRGINIA BRUCE "C3 rjr.anrj ncsnnn with MARGARET UNDSAY STANLEY RIDGES A Calumbio) Picur Skx DICK POWELl K0y wi" cniTf i WAXINt SUUIVAN -Sj ON THE GREAT STAGE "HAPPY TIMES" a sprightly revue lively, beguiling songs and by Russell Markerf--oy featuring nui on jih vnouace onaw, KODerr vveeae, uook GILL TV LOUIS AU'V-o iVV HND HIS FArAOUS iQ prown, Charles Master, with the Music Hall Rockettes, Corps de Ballet and Glee Club. Sym- phony Orchestra, under the direction of Erno Rapee, playing Rimsky-Korsakoff's "Caprfecio Espagnol" Hcuf ah 12:00, 2.25. ilO. 7 Si, 1029 Sfoge Show ott hU, 3:59, 44 FIRST MEZZANINE SEATS' RESERVED Phone Circle 6-4600 ROGERS 'v-' csvrtiir .11 i.dl.TOdTll.BL..