The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-25
Tiny French
Miss Is Find
of Industry
Film Debut at Circle Has
Weak Plot, but Singer
Does Good Work.
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON

Dark eyes sparkling, hair tousled
Lily PonS makes her debut to movie
patrons at the Circle today in Il
Dream Too Much" The tiny French
miss demonstrates that she is one
OF the most valuable finds made by
the picture industry this year.
AS for the picture itself. we can't
say so much. 1t seems a bit scatter
Drained, grabbing up it's skirts now
and then, to keep from dragging
them in the puddles of sentiment, or
from dropping into the muddiness
OF harsh unreality.
Most important of all is Miss
Pons' singing, which, to us, is the
best the screen has offered from
any soprano. Most of Miss Pons'
best work is coloratura, but she is
condescendingly versatile, a trait al
most unknown among operate So
pranos, and sings several popular
numbers elegantly.
And She Can Act
But Miss Pons is not only eXcit-
ingly refreshing from a vocal stand
point, she is one of the very, very
few good singers who can act. Her
acting, It's true, is limited in II
Dream Too Much" to comedy and
semi-emoting, but it is we'll done
The only drawback to her complete
success is the fact that her speaking
voice tends to be shrill and grating
at times; as if the actress were on
tension, hurriedly shouting her
lines. 1t would be much more of a
fault If the picture were more Sc
rious.
Il Dream Too Much" is the tale
OF young singer, depressed by con-
slant practice, who jumps over her
fathers wall into the arms of a
young American composer. Togeth-
er they enjoy street carnival. He
drinks too much, marrieS her. Next
morning trouble begins. 1t ends
when she wins him over and be-
comes his maid-of -all-work.
When she tries to sell his music,
she sells her own voice, and be-
comes an outstanding success. The
background is not suitable for her
hubby, he mopes and smirks. Sepa-
rated from him, Lily sells his songs
as musical comedy, finally wins him
back.
Opens With Song
When the picture opens, Miss
Pons is singing N"Cara Nome" from
Verdi's "Rigoletto." 1t gives her
the best chance in the picture to dis
play her talents for vocal acrobatics,
performed with the ease of swal-
lowing an oyster.
Although Miss Pons sings Justify
the Bell Song" and My Fury Doth
O'erwhelm Me" from the opera
"Lakme" as well as one could wish
it done, her most personable songs
are Jockey On The Carrousel" and
Il Dream Too Much" both COM
posed by Jerome Kern and Dorothy
Fields.
The first of the two latter songs is
presented by Miss Pons from
merry go-round in Paris park, as
she takes a little lad for a ride.
1t is tunefully backed up by chorus
of males who quit their various
trades when Lily starts to sing,
gather around her at the park. The
song is catching, Miss Pons more so.
Theme Song Is Lovely Tune
Our favorite is the last melody,
II Dream Too Much" 1t is a lovelv
tune, gives Miss Pons all she could
ask for, and she has done it ex-
cellently. 1t is sung in a London
theater setting, where Miss Pons
has produced her husbands music
in a musical comedy. The song
number is accompanied by a very
interesting mannequin parade.
CT the cast, Miss Pons, of course
is outstanding. She has a grand
future if she can calm her speaking
voice. She has a natural knack
for comedy, an unusually lovely fig
ure and an expressive face. Wait
until you see her prowling, Charlie
Chaplin-like, about her room in her
husbands siX-sizes- too-big pajamas
and slippers.
Eric Blore is a large addition to
the picture as the sympathetic
neighbor, owner of trained seal,
although what he had to do with
the plot is beyond our puerile imagi-
nation. Mr.. Blore versus Seal is one
reason why you won't sleep through
II Dream Too Much"
Henry Fonda is sufficient as the
ompoSer-husband of Miss Pon;,
whose inflated ego is ccnSta 1T
menace to their happiness. Os-
good Perkins, villain of the piece, is
convincing.
The cream of opera music, sung by
the most entertaining of the opera
stars. makes Il Dream Too Much"
on the something new and differ
ent" side as a picture.