CRYSTAL PALACE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21243, 15 August 1934, Page 7

CRYSTAL PALACE

"SEARCH FOR BEAUTY" J Laurel and Hardy in "Fra Diavolo" and Lionel Barrymora in "This Side of Heaven" provide the two films making up a well balanced programme at the Crystal Palace Theatre this week. n "This Side of Heaven" is a story of a typical middle-class American family. Lionel Barrymore, as the head of a u family torn in different directions, dominates the picture, but the other * roles are nevertheless capably filled. " "The Search for Beauty," the enter- r prise which took young men and c women from every part of the United t States and the British Empire to £ Hollywood, will be co-screened at the Crystal Palace Theatre on Saturday, e with the thrilling drama, "The Witch- 1 ing Hour." One of the two New Zea- 5 landers appearing in the film is Joyce j Nielsen, now of Auckland, who was 1 described by one Hollywood critic as J having "plenty of Q." But most im- t portant of all, out of this picture < emerges Colin Tapley, who may yet ' prove New Zealand's greatest film ' name. We have had our Lance Fair- : faxes and Shayle Gardners, our Dale < Austins and Marceline Days, but none \ has attained lasting fame built up , through a series of small, invaluable "learning" roles. Tapley has made an excellent beginning via this method in ! Hollywood, having caught the eve of ■ such producers as Samuel Goldwyn ] and other screen magnates, and is < already well on the high road to sue- , cess. Tapley shows a striking degree ; of promise. He is not good-looking : according to camera standards, but he moves well, and his voice and diction rank with those of players who have become famous. Even in this first film he proves that he has undoubted stage sense, a valuable asset which some actors never acquire. "The Search for Beauty" is a wholesome comedy. PLAZA "RED WAGON" "Red Wagon," at the Plaza Theatre, is among the best films British International Pictures have made so far. The story is taken from the novel o£ Lady Eleanor Smith, a book which commended itseli immediately not only by its treatment of the subject —a travelling circus—but also for the graphic detail of life on the road. The book was regarded as an excellent novel, and the film has captured everything in the book that went to make for its success. Looked at from one viewpoint, "Red Wagon" is an exciting picture, but the whole key is pitched so high that there arc few incidents which stand out above the rest as particularly thrilling. It is absorbingly interesting for both the story, and th'e faithfully detailed representation of the lives of circus people, removed in the ordinary course of their occupation as far from normal life as were the sailors in the days of the clipper ships. An additional attraction is that scenically picture is well above the average. Through the eyes of circus performers, one sees something" of the charm of rural England. The story is more a biography than anything 'else. It takes the life of Joe Prince as a child born in a circus, with no other ambition than to become a circus performer, and shows him attain his ambition. Ho becomes :,o outi standing a figure among performers that he is eventually abie to acquire a circus of his own. Joe Prince's life from his 'early times is influenced by cne woman, and later on another ; crosses his path. The rise of Joe | Pr.ince, and. his two love stories, are the theme of the book. Charles Bickford takes the part of Joe Prince, and [ captures admirably the author's pic- ' ture of the virile, loyal, and ambitious ' circus owner. Greta Nissen gives a , fine performance as the trainer of , tigers, but the merit of her acting ; does not lie only in the rather sensational scenes in which she is in the , tigers' cage. She acts with a surencss ' and ease that leave nothing to be de- ; sired. A principal character is Schultz. j original owner of the circus that was ! to become Prince's. The part is taken j by Paul Graetz, with entire satisfac- ' tion. LIBERTY | ■ "SHE MADE HER BED" AND ; "MIDSHIPMAN JACK" t Two thoroughly entertaining films • are being screened at the Liberty this : week. . "Midshipman Jack" is a harmless 1 story of the adventures of a young 1 cadet in a great American naval train- - ing school. He falls into mischief, he 1 falls out again, makes love to his ■ commanding officer's daughter, almost ' wrecks his career by a piece of quixl otic and sentimental generosity, and is saved by good luck in time for the necessary happy ending before the last fade-out. Bruce Cabot and Betty Furness have the leading roles and act as satisfactorily as many far better known stars. There is plenty of romance, comedy, ■ and action in the second film, "She s Made Her Bed." which stars Richard , Arlen, Sally Eilers, Robert Armstrong, and Grace Bradley. The story is • simple enough—that of the girl who > meets the wrong man first and mar- ? ries him. The setting is among cir--1 cus and entertainment people, and } there is a thrilling climax, in which • an enraged tiger takes part. Scenes of the county fair, at which the circus 1 folk are gathered, form an attractive i background to the picture.