Southern Roses

Pretty obviously based on a play. After a prologue set in Barcelona this typical studio-bound thirties trifle is confined largely to the palatial home of paint magnate George Robey, who although billed over the title is generally confined to serving as a wry chorus to a standard farcical storyline about whirlwind romance, impersonation and mistaken identity.

In the role of a hot-blooded Spanish nightclub entertainer Chili Bouchier shouts a lot and cavorts in camiknickers and a fur coat. Sarah Allgood and a relatively young and glamorous Athene Seyler stand out in supporting roles.

This a rather indifferent musical comedy whose main point of interest

Is the appearance of George Toney.He is top billed but appears mainly in the second half of the film.In truth you would not know his pre eminence in the music hall where he was known as The Prime minister of mirth.He is rather more of a character actor,and not really a comedian.There are also featured two leading ladies of the 1930s,Gina Mall and Chilli Bouchier.The story as such is a piece of fluff which is really there to fill in the brief bits between the numerous musical numbers.The numbers are well staged but alas there are no catchy numbers.The film was made at Denham film studios and it is noticeable how much larger and lavish are the sets when compared to most British films of the era.

For purposes of the plot, George Robey thinks Gina Malo is Chili Bouchier and wishes to marry his son, Richard Dolman. In reality they're already married -- Miss Bouchier and Dolman, and it's Neil Hamilton who wants to marry Miss Malo, who likes the idea. Got it? Good, now forget it. It makes no difference to what's going on, which is a couple of dance spectacles, Vera Pearce toting around a cannon-ball, and Robey preparing his first speech to Parliament and trying to get out of a lawsuit being pressed on him by.... well, some one or other.

The purpose of this movie is to let the Prime Minister of Mirth make one of his occasional forays into film. He does so. His material is not of his highest mark, and I doubt if he felt it necessary to command the movie audiences "Desist!" He certainly not on long enough to tire himself or them.