"MADAME SANS GENE."

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18670, 20 April 1926, Page 10

"MADAME SANS GENE."

"ENEMIES OF WOMEN." . AT THE QUEEN'S THEATRE. The story of a "devilrmay-care" laundress who became a duchess, and a tale of the glorious days of Napoleon and the famous French Revolution is "Madame Sans Gene," the new leading featuro at the Queen's Theatre. Billed as a Paramount super* special, the picture stars Gloria Swanson in all her beauty and attractiveness. It is Miss Swanson's most ambitious effort for the screen. The brilliant historical drama, | showing the great court life and the following upheaval, make a really powerful and interesting theme. The story is widely known, and the adventures of the little Parisienne, who became a duchess, and im- ! periously ruled the all-powerful Emperor with nothing but a stack of unpaid laundry bills, has been made the subject of countless plays and songs. All those remarkable powers of characterisation which have made Gloria Swanson justly famous as an emotional actress are brought into the limelight, and stand out against a -colourful background. In the piquant role of Sans Gene she makes a strong appeal to all spectators of the film, and plays a part that will not soon be forgotten. The settings to the picture are on a scale of amazing grandeur. Through every scene one sees the pageant of the brilliant soldiers and the beautiful women of the Imperial Court in all their grace and dignity. The makers of the film, Paramount, were given every possible assistance by the French Government in the production of "Madame Sans Gene," with tho result that the leading lady makes an appearance adorned with the jewels and robes of the Empress Josephine. Versailles and the Grand Trianon were also exploited to the fullest advantage. The famous dramatic screen actor, Lionel Barrymore,. heads the second feature, with \Alma Rubens as leading lady. This is "Enemies of Women," and is by the same author of '/The Four Horsemen," a fact which alone is sufficient to guarantee the picture's success. The story contains the romance of Europe's most beautiful woman and a wild, pleasure-loving Prince of Russia. The First National Combination released the picture, a film version of the sensational novel of the Bame name, by Ibanez. All the- exotio Continental atmosphere which gained the book its fame has been retained in the picture, and somewhat added to. In the hands of such a capable cast the story, in its new garb, conveys much that could not bo brought qut in novel form.

Rounding off on excellent programme is the twelfth chapter of the successful serial, "Samson of the Circus," providing still more thrills for Queen's pstrons.