"THE DEVIL DOLL."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 289, 5 December 1936, Page 18

"THE DEVIL DOLL."

MAJESTIC. Prof. Davond Lionel Barrymore Lorraine' Maureen O'Sullivan Toto ... Frank Law ton Coulret Kobert Greig Mine. Lavonil Lucy -Beaumont Marcel Henry B. Walthall Kadin Arthur Holil Director: Tod Browning. M.G.M. "A tale of genius gone wrong" aptli describes the new film, "The Devil Doll,' screening at the Majestic this week Directed by Tod Browning, the directoi of "Dracula" and many of the Lon Chanei silents, one would expect the/story to b( one in which the imagination, is!given ful play. The story is unreal, but well pre sen ted, and there are some intense moments when the action can hardly b< too fast. Lionel Barrymore takes tin main acting part, and gives a characteris tically convincing performance, as ; banker who is sent to Devil's lslan* through the conspiracy of his associates He escapes with a mad scientist, 17 year: later, and with the scientist's wife the; plot revenge. Clever photography am a gripping drama combine to maintaii interest in the working out of this unusua story, in which human beings are reduce< to one-sixth in size, and . are used t< wreak vengeance on the banker's forme associates. Maureen O'Sullivan plays th part of Barrymore's daughter, and i reunited with Frank Lawton, with whoii she played the lover in that memorable film, "David Copperfield." Hers is ai excellent though small part, which sh plays with her customary artistry. Al who appreciate a mystery should not mis this picture. Fantastic in story, bu realistic in presentation, picture-goers wil revel in a drama which makes then believe against their will, and will liv with- the actors in the unusual roles the; portray. The outstanding acting performance i perhaps not given by the principals, bu by the late Henry B. Walthall as tin scientist, and liafaela Ottiano as his wife who are brilliant as mad genuises posses sing the secret of reducing human being, to a fraction of their size, and thus liwlc completely in their power anyone unfor .tunate enough to be the object of theii experiments. It is perhaps sufficient t< say that the unreal theme is handled ver; capably, and results in outstanding enter tainmeht. One of the most remarkabli features of the picture is the portraya by Lionel Barrymore of an old woman and is probably the most bizarre role o his career. It is said that, although In found it hard work to play a woman foi the greater part of the picture, Barry more considered that he had given one o his finest performances to date, and hi will find many to support him in tliii view. The supporting programme include: a colour symphony, which draws a recorc number of laughs and other features full} up to standard. EMBASSY THEATRE. Lovers of music, and especially lovers o tenor singing, should be delighted with thi new film at the Embassy Theatre, "Tin Gay Desperado," with Nino Martini ii the main starring role. Martini is at las given the opportunity to show the powe: of one of the greatest voices in the world and he is not slow to take advantage of it The whole picture is dominated by hi singing, and yet the audience cannot ge enough of it. The story itself is of thi light' and exciting type; it tells of a bandi chief who loved music so much that In captured a young tenor and took him ti his headquarters in order that he migli hear him =)ing whenever he wanted. Thei the bandit ciptures an eloping couple. Id; Lupino and James Blakeley. Martini fall in love with the girl, and at once a serie of highly exciting incidents began to follow in succession as he tries to assist her ii making her escape. The point of the story however, is the way in which it stands a a cutting satire against American method of film production. It ridicules the rutl less methods of underworld lords an makes a mockery of the so-called "ganf ster" stories. Leo Carrillo, who gives wonderful performance as the bandit chie almost steals the picture by his portraya BRITANNIA, PONSONBY. Probably the finest example of colon on the screen to date is the talkie rc make of the famous silent film and plaj "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," whic will show Sylvia Sidney, Fred MacMurra; and Henry Fonda at the Britanni; Theatre. Ponsonby, to-night. A musica film, "Coijonado," is chief supportinj feature. VICTORIA, DEVONPORT. Rene Glair, famous French director made his first production for Alexandei Korda, "The Ghost Goes West," wliicl shares to-night's screening honours witl "Desire" (Marlene Dietrich and Gar} Cooper) at the Victoria Theatre, Devon port. ASTOR, DOMINION ROAD. Fred Astaire and "Ginger" Rogers art at their brightest in the dance musical. "Follow the Fleet," which lias been selected as principal film on to-night's programme at the Astor Cinema, Dominion Road. Byrd's latest Antarctic picture will also be shown. PRINCE EDWARD. Two first-class features are offered at the Prince Edward Theatre, Karangahape Road, in "The Unguarded Hour," with Franchot Tone and Loretta Young, and the Clarence E. Mulford story, "Call of the Prairie," with William Boyd and Jimmy Ellison. The first is an excitine story of the successes and tribulations of a promising English lawyer, a role taken by Tone. He and Miss Young are supported by Lewis Stone and Roland Young. The second is a typical feature. RIALTO, SUNDAY. The British feature "The Man Who Knew Too Much," starring Leslie Banks, well known as Sanders .in "Sanders of the River.," Nova Pilbeam and Peter Lorre, will head the programme to be presented to-morrow evening at the Rialto Theatre, Newmarket. STRAND, SUNDAY. Mr. W. Wood will speak on "The Situation in Spain" at the Strand Theatre to-morrow evening. Supporting features will be followed by a sparkling comedydrama. "A Romance of Paris," featuring Lew Cody and Marion Shilling. STRAND, ONEHUNGA. Edmund.Lowe, Virginia Bruce and Nat Pendleton are the stars of "The Garden Murder Case," chief attraction on the current bill of the Strand Theatre, One[lunga. The film is a mystery of the nost baffling type, with Edmund Lowe playing one of his famous Philo Vance oles. Gladys Swarthout and Jan Kiepura itar in the second attraction, "Give Ls This Night." MAYFAIR, SANDRINGHAM. The famous old Frances Burnett story 'Little Lord Fauntleroy," with Freddy Jartholomew and Dolores Costello Barrynore in the principal parts, is. currently icreening at the Mayfair Theatre, Sand•ingham. Also on the programme is mother of the popular Charlie Chan leries, "Charlie Chan's Secret." GREY LYNN CINEMA. The exciting story of a young Mexican armer who is forced to turn bandit by he cruel treatment he receives from American miners is unfolded in "The *obin Hood of El Dorado," first attracion at the Grey Lynn Cinema. Warner Baxter and Ann Loring are the stars. Uso showing is "Your Uncle Dudley," vith Edward Everett Horton. CAVITOL, BALMORAL. ."Rendezvous," now showing at the capital Theatre, Balmoral, is a dramatic version of the working of the famous American "Black Chamber" during the JX ye . alB - William Powell plays the ppat" B , ea 4 °f the organisation and the farcin*v lnc i udea Rosalind Russell. A ,attractitm° me ' '?;?***," is the second : "