AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20244, 23 May 1931, Page 21

AMUSEMENTS.

ST. JAMES* THEATRE. "KISMET." "Greatest cast" is a familiar phrase in connexion with fiUa offerings, but the term teems to fit the aggregation found in First National's most ambitious film of the year, "Kismet/" commencing to-day at St. James' Theatre. It is the story of a plausible and quickwitted rogue who in one short day saw himself transformed from a beggar at the mosque doors to a confidant of the Graud Viaier, wjo grasped only too eagerly at the opportunities presented to him, and after a series of amazing adventures found himself at dusk toe same day back on tho mosque step;* in the advantageous he had "in iierited from his father and had defended against all upstart beggars for 20 years. Of course, the cast begins with tho glamorous name of Otis Skinner, pluying the role he has made famous on stage and screen throughout the world, Hnjj, the beggar. Loretta Young enacts the daughter role, and David Manners that of the Caliph. Both lha young stars paused in their own programme of films to appear together in the romantic leads of this particularly important screen play.

Sidney Blackmer 13 Mansur 5n this Vitaphone version of "Kismet," and Mary Duucan has the role of hig wife* Theodore von Eltz is Nazir, the guide, and Kdmund Breese, of stage fame, Jawan. The settings, representing Bagdad, most colourful and exotic of cities at a time when it was the crossroads, of the world of caravan routes, are extraordinary in art and lavish* 11088. Box plans are at The Bristol.