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MOVIEGOER

At Loew's Orpheum

Melvyn Douglas and Norma Shearer should have shared some of their fun with the audience. Dancing through the hearts, not to mention the pocketbooks, of the befuddled rich must have been a lot of fun; it couldn't have been as dull in life as it was in film. The featured stars didn't seem to have much trouble supporting themselves by entertaining society, but if their real life subsistence depends on the popularity of "We Were Dancing" Mr. Douglas better keep his next government job and Miss Shearer better get married.

The general excellence of Alexander Hall's "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" automatically handicaps his subsequent productions. But judged by its cofeature, "Bed Time Story" rates as an above average comedy. Frederick March, in the role of Lucius Drake, a Broadway playwright, gives a well-rounded performance that pleases everyone except Jane, the first lady of his public and private life. Jane, played by Loretta Young, can't stand being double-crossed for her own good, divorces Lucius, and marries a banker. The highlight of the picture concerns Lucius' efforts at appeasement, in which he sends everything from plumbers to chicken dinners to his recalcitrant ex. When all his efforts go for naught, the law provides a happy ending. The divorce wasn't legal.

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