PLAZA THEATRE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20920, 29 July 1933, Page 6

PLAZA THEATRE.

"THE WOMAN IN HIS HOUSE." "The Woman in His House," a talking screen adaptation of Philip Barry's famous stage play, "The Animal Kingdom," has proved so popular that it will continue for another week at the Plaza. A film so new in conception that it is not comparable with any other picture, so subtly acted and so faultlessly directed that it creates an illusion of reality until the spectator feels that he is sharing the emotions of the characters—such is "The Woman in His House." Its appeal lies in its simplicity and restraint, for this is no mere "catchpenny" production. It is an artistic masterpiece so convincingly portrayed that one wonders whether the screen for once has not done better than the stage could hope to do. A great deal of its success is due to the accomplished acting of Ann Harding and Leslie Howard, that pleasing duo who have won a high place in the esteem of the theatregoing public. Much of the interest of the film centres in the doings of Tom Collier, principal of a printing firm, whose trade contracts include anything but the' best of literature. As Collier, Leslie Howard gives one of the best interpretations of his career, and his interviews with the jovial and homely butler are highly amusing. Ann Harding is well suited for her part as the loveable woman whose . regard for a man challenges the justice of the inexorable conventions which through centuries have gradually been built up in the social structure. Her sweetness of nature, as compared with the almost unmoral coldness of the woman who, through a chain of unfortunate circumstances is installed as the wife of the leading male character, is at once a challenge to the conventions. She is superb as the struggling artist who is ready to sacrifice all her joys for the sake of the marj she loved, and her battle of wits with the conventionallyrecognised wife is remarkable. Her sweet influence gradually causes a new outlook in the home, and the ending is c-.; human and satisfying as one could wish, resulting in the re-

generation of the man who made the fatal mistake of marrying a woman to whom warmheartedness was an apparent stranger, and of whom convention was a god to be slavishly worshipped. Myrna Loy has the part of the wife by marriage, and her acting is up to the standard set by the others. Theatre Royal—"Hallelujah, I'm a Tramp," 2.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Regent Theatre—"The White Sister." 2.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Crystal Palace Theatre—"The,Medicine Man," 12, 2.30 pjn., and 8 fc.ml Everybody's Theatre—"Horse Feathers," 12, 2.30 p.m., and 8 p.m. Liberty Theatre—"The Monkey's Paw," and "Easy Street," 2.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Majestic Theatre—"Hot Pepper," 12, 2.30 p.m., and 8 p.m. Grand Theatre—"The Santa Fe Trail," continuously from 11 ajn.