OLDWYN DARES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 33, 9 February 1937, Page 8

OLDWYN DARES.

IRISH REBELLION STORY. Samuel G-oldwyn is a Jew and has all hie race's ability to see other people's points of view. He instances this propensity in "Beloved Enemy," which was privately screened at the Regent Theatre yegterday. It is a tragic romance of the Irish Rebellion ami, although it does not worry iteelf over-much about historical accuracy—history's a dull subject as the school books give it, anyway!—it succeeds in conveying very thoroughly the depth of feeling on the one side and the attitude of mind behind the actions of the other. Goldwyn delights in rewriting history to make it more palatable, and this time he has achieved an hors d'oeuvre.

He has Brian Aherne, one of Hollywood's Irish colony, as a good-looking young rebel leader, cycling openly and undisguised through the streets of troubled Dublin, giving secret orders for .sabotage and murder, with the whole of the" British force on a wild gocee chase after ham. He is arrested several times, but bluffs his way out each time. Then he falls in love. Of course she is the daughter of Lord Athleigh. commissioner sent .from Westminster to report on the "Trish situation." She aluo goes unafraid through Dublin streets, but the influence of Dennis Riordan protects her.' <!he betrays him to her father's men. but rejoices at his escape." She returns to London, but Riordan heads an Trish delegation. She ie instrumental in securing his waiving of complete independence for a compromise to avert the certain alternative of war. His radical friends regard this as betrayal and plot his death. The heroine fights them, but her weapons are as knives against guns, and therein lies the tragedy. Goldwyn givee the_ film a magnificent climax to cap the actjon, thrills and interrupted love-making which he spreads abundantly through the earlier reels. Merle Oberon, who her studio would have us believe has an ancestry that involves Ireland. England, France. India and Tasmania is, as was inevitable, completely fascinating in the role of Lady Helen. Her amazing' features, full-face and profile, are made good use of, and in epite of this she is allowed to act. It would be superfluous to say she doe* very well in this resnect. Brian Aherne loses roiich of hie stiffness in the hero's role. He gives a most pleasant accent, or is it brogue? to his voice—but let Trishmen jndsre that. Merle'* reallife boy friend is David Xiven. who a s h Pr var>«l Ensr'ieh admirer. n~-,],\ prpston But CrisVs Tim BiirVe stands out. This unbending Radical w one of ; the forces of destiny through the story.