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Show The Firefly' Wins Triumph At Paramount Making a strong bid for top honors hon-ors aa the year's best musical. "The Firefly," which haa attracted capacity ca-pacity audiences at the Paramount theater on its week-end opening, offers Jeanette MacDonald in what may be her most popular role, even should the film as . a whole fall short of the "beat" award. To begin with, of course, makers of "The Firefly" had Rudolf Friml's time-tested operetta with Its tm-mortal tm-mortal tunes, "Gianninl Mia." 'The Donkey Serenade," "Sympathy" and others, to which have been added the excellent ainging and acting of Miss MacDonald and Allan Jones, and a atriking character portrayal by Warren William. The story is laid In the turbulent days of 1808 in France and Spain, when the legions of Napoleon were knocking with rifle and cannon at the doors of Seville. . Miss MacDonald plays the role of "The Firefly," Spanish singer-spy whose risks to secure information for the Spanish troops leads her into a lovs affair with Mr. Jones, then to prison when aha la unmasked un-masked by the French. The denouement is a matter of Ffiml hmeeri bus the ending way be sufficiently new to many Salt Lakers to justify assurance that beautiful Jeanette, in best voice, saves Spain when she dispatches a pigeon carrying the French attack plans.. The French, knowing the plan have been sent, change their strategy, an eventuality which allows al-lows Wellington, with the British on the side of Spain, to win a victory- "The Firefly" appears to have everything that makes a successful musical, from the inspired music hitherto mentioned to and Including gorgeous costuming, fast action and a plot with a smashing climax. A color cartoon. "Little Red Walking Walk-ing Hood." helps complete a bill crammed with entertainment values. |