AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20037, 19 September 1930, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL TALKIES. BIG DOUBLE BILL TO-DAY. Finished performances on the part of Basil Rothbone, Kay Johnson, and Louise Dressor and a knowledge of good theatre upon the part of William de Mille, director, contribute to the success of Metro-Goldwyu-Mayer's alltalking picture, "This Mad World," opening to-day at the Theatre lioyal. A less competent cast and a less experienced director might easily havo made a botch of this production, which depicts in a single opisode occurring between four o'clock of an afternoon and ton ot the next morning the age-old conflict between love and patriotism. Tho action takes place during the German occupation of Alsace in tho recent World W3r. Victoria, wifo of a German general, is billeted in the home of a French woman, and discovers from a photograph that Paul, the woman's aon, is a French spy. When the son returns to visit his mother, Victoria attempts to notify the German headquarter*, but is thwarted by the plana of mother and son, the latter succeeding in luring her to a desered chateau where he expects to put her out of the way. Here fate takes a hand, and Paul, finding himself desperately in love with the beautiful German woman, releases her on obtaining her promise of secrecy. When, subsequently, Victoria calls to Emlle, whom she believes to ba her countryman, but who Is Paul'* co-conspirator, her falthressness is again revealed to mother and son, who resort to a startling climax which hinges on the force of patriotism. Also on the same programme is a sparkling comedy entitled "Be Yourself," in 'which the RflliUillatin? star, Fannie Brice. has ample opportunity of showing her versatility.