Pleasant is the word for "The First Hundred Years," now playing at the Paramount and Fenway Theatres. Burdened with a plot which has taken up thousands of magazine pages and miles of movie film, the picture has nevertheless been well enough seasoned by Virginia Bruce, Robert Montgomery, and Director Richard Thorpe to be palatable.

Built around the time-honored angle of home versus career, the story concerns a very loving couple who go through the usual round of quarrels, separations, kindly old uncles trying to intervene, and inevitable reconciliations--brought about this time by a coming blessed event. Any romantic school girl knows it all by heart. Yet, its presentation here is at all times amusing, at some times even appealing.

The double bill is excellent for those who have not yet seen "A Slight Case of Murder," now in its second run. Full of uproariously funny murders, lovable gangsters, Damon Runyon's English, and bad, bad beer, this finds Edward G. Robinson at his best.