REGENT THEATRE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21116, 17 March 1934, Page 9

REGENT THEATRE

♦ "I WAS A SI'Y»» There is sufhcicnl excitement and griaping realism to entertain the most sophisticated in the Gaumont-British production. "I Was a Spy," which will be featured at the Regent Theatre toReviewing this splendid dramatic offering, a northern critic says: "The splendid acting carries one away from the first moments of the play, and the principals—Madelainc Carroll, Conrad Veidt, and Herbert Marshall—create a lasting impression of excellence in the minds of the audience. Madeleine Carroll is the central figure in the stoiy, plnving the part of Martha Cnockaert, a young woman of Roulers. a town m Belgium which is occupied by the Germans during :he war. Herbert Marshall plays a no less important part as the German orderly attached to the same hospital in which Marthe serves. Others who enhance the vivid interpretation of this drama are Sir Gc™"» duMaurier. Edmund Gwcnn. and Nigel Bruce. The producer. Victor Savilio, has considered the dramatic force or the realistic incidents with great insight, as only those can realise who have actually seen the film and been moved by its intensity. The setting of the first scene, a typical Belgian square in war time, with stretchers ol wounded laid out waiting for admission to the hospital, is the background for the theme which runs through the P '-Madeleine Carroll is so moved by the sight of the suffering men that she becomes a nurse. This occupies her during the day, and a special order issued by the German commandant allows her to be at her parents cate. until midnight. The idea of acting as a spv ri suggested to her by a woman, and "the various subtleties of the work explained. Gradually she is drawn into the network organisation m the town, and from receiving notes slie takes to carrying and issuing them. She receives a warning from the commandant, who really admires her, but Madeleine carries on with her deception The orderly is found to be a member of the organisation as well, and they work in league. "Movements of troops, the preparation for a massed attack, and important visits are relayed by means of the secret messages. The mystery of a dump of cylinders is solved, and an attempt is made to blow it up wita an explosive. A special service for the massed troops is held in the open field, but. owing to the leakage of mfoimation beforehand, two aeroplanes fiv over and drop a deadly lot ol bombs. The whole story is a succession of very exciting moments, terminating with a tense trial and a wonderful sacrifice." Box plans are at the D.I.C.