"THE MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER."

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19815, 31 December 1929, Page 13

"THE MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER."

A ROMANTIC STORY. EXCELLENT BILL AT LIBERTY'. Here is the glamour of romance, if, indeed, it is not the actual thing itself! "The Mississippi Gambler," the principal offering at the Liberty Theatre last night, measures up S3tisfyingly in respect of most of those essentials which go to the making of a story that breathes of the romantic. When the final fade out ends the story it leaves nothing to be desired as a work of art. The story takes us back to the days of feminine frills and flounces, and of masculine white top hats, and cravats, and knobby canes. The glass of fashion on the palatial river steamer. La Riviere Belle, is undoubtedly John Askland, the Mississippi gambler to the life —suave, debonnaire, and wickedly, dangerously fascinating. Joseph Schildkraut is the character, and it fits him like the proverbial glove. His art is so well concealed that he hardly gives a hint that he is acting. Equally so is the art of Joan Bennett, as Lucy Blackburn, the heroine, whose every movement is grace personified, and whose voice is like rippling music. The Mississippi, and moonlight, and the pulsation of dance music, and two human beings who have fallen victims to love at first sight, provide all that is necessary for the skilful weaver of romance to produce a story of many thrills. Though the handsome villain is denounced not only as a gambler and a card sharper, though he has ruined the fair Lucy's father, he is able to discount these devastating disabilities, and win through by pure nobility of character. The •whole story is finely staged, and holds the interest and attention right through. The speaking voices of the principals are pleasing, and the total effect is pleasurable m the extreme. , The supports were excellent. uutstanaing in the Movietone Record was the final in the Davis Cup. In "Lacquer and Pearls, the manner in which the Japanese 'cultivate" ovsters to produce pearls is full of interest. " In "The Delicatessen Kid and "The Rooneys' Marking Time" there is some excellent dancing and singing, intermixed with much humour An instrumental tr io—harp, 'cello, and flute! —by ladies is another noteworthy item.

"BROADWAY." Broadway is one of the most famous thoroughfares in the world. It is the gjeat theatrical street of the .New World, where beauty and talent are everyday affairs, and where there is more hidden drama, staged in agents' offices, or in cheap boardinghouses crowding round it, than there is on the Broadway stage itself. The film "Broadwav" will be presented at Liberty Theatre next week. This picture, besides being of interest in that it really doea give a real insight into the lives of the people who entertain the world, is also of interest in that it is Glenn Tryon's first "talkie." Merna Kennedv is his leading lady, and besides bein°- an excellent little screen actress, she can also dance and sing. Evelyn Brent and Leslie Fenton are two other popular players in the cast. Some of the songs are "Sing a Little Love Song,"* "Hitting the Ceiling," "Hot-Footing It," and "The Chicken or the Egg." All r.re tuneful, and more lasting than the usual. Another feature that will be remembered about this brilliant talkie is the dancing of Glenn Tryon; it ie at once clever and a comedy turn on its own. The box plans lor '"Broadway" open on Friday at The Bristol Piano Company, There seats may be reserved.