" VARIETY."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18927, 16 February 1927, Page 6

" VARIETY."

THE ACME OF PERFECTION. This is. the picture which has set fonguM a-wagging and pens a-flying; this is the picturo which has stirred our .linguists to expletive and emotional acts of faith; the picture whoso advent has delighted serious students and men and women of vision and fine common tense: tho pieturo which lias set a new standard more in film technique than in actual mumming and direction, although both of those aspects are marvellous enough. "Variety," from the world-famed U.F.A. Studios in Berlin, released by Paramount, commences its season at tho Grand Theatre on: Monday next, and is unquestionably not only the greatest picture, in every possible way, which has ever graced the screen, but the finest attraction to he exhibited at that theatre. Continental, and American critics havo thrown reticence to the winds when making their 'reports upon "Variety," and no one can accuse the Americans or the British of a very touching affection for the Teutons. These writers have recognised in this German film nil that other productions havo so palpably lacked: its sure, steady march towards pre-ordained facts: its almost living drama; its life-like emotion: its courage and truth in painting the human wreckage of life iu its natural colours of grey. These men have also recognised that art has no nationality. These critics are unanimous in voting "Variety" the greatest motion picture ever made. Even the "National Board of Review Magazine," a conservative journal which is not given to extravagance, says: "Once in a while a picture so unusual, so strictly a motion picture, comes along that the critical eye is opened wide, or it seems to be seeing for the first time that the praise that has been bestowed on films in the past seems then to have been overwrought and ill-considered. ..." There is nothing sordid in "Variety," though it lias taken a triangle out of the music-hall and followed ruthlessly as they tread the primroso path of dalliance. The story builds in typical Teutonic fashion, marching inexorably to its pre-desttned tragic climax. The director. Herr Dnpont, has not missed one single point in fashioning the story as an impressive study of realism, and his figures stalk life-like across the screen. It is told in the flashback style, with Janninga facing the Court as the bitter memories unfold. Cne is not amused by "Variety." not "quite thrilled, my dear!" nor even faseinated against one's wish. It is difficult to say what would be for it affects one according to one's temperament and psychology, and it should affect Britons powerfully and poignantly, as the creation, the racially typical creation, of Teutonio brothers. There is a fatalism about the whole thing that grips immediately, and does not release its hold until the last tremulous flicker, a perspective of waving branches and the blue skies of freedom. One thing instantly impresses about this picture. .'lt il the small number of subtitle* in the film. The screen is not flooded with sentimental and obvious captions, but the drama tells itself, in musical and subdued vones, in its peerless technique, in its superb acting. Emit Jannings, he of "Quo Vadlsf" "Passion." and "The Last Laugh" feme, plays-the leading-role, certainly his best effort to date, and sot far behind him in the conception of what she represents is Lya de Putti. Jannings is a.giant, a giant of physical strength, a giant in his emotions: everything he does is large' and big and greet—childlike is his constant effort to show off, terrible when zaeed by treachery, magnificent in hi* silence, pitiable in his fall, great In hia Testtxreetloß. As "Variety" is great. so i* Its liar. The box plans open at The ißristol- Piano Company to-morrow morning, where patrons are specially invited to book Iheir