GRIPPING CARD DRAMA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22336, 25 February 1938, Page 7

GRIPPING CARD DRAMA

' Clive Brook, one of the screen’s finest players, makes a welcome return in “Action for Slander,” the next attraction at the State Theatre, beginning on March 4. The story, of. the, film gives Brook. ample opportunities to reveal his powerful personality,; a personality that his made' him for years one of the screen’s outstanding actors. “Action for Slander” is one of the best films England has produced, and not only Brook, but . two others, Ann Todd, as the wife of Brook, and, Morten Selten, the presiding Judge at the trial of the action, are responsible, for wonderful portrayals in their re-; epective roles. Well produced, well acted, and with a tensely interesting theme,_ “Action for Slander” will grip any audience from the outset, and hold to the end, critics have stated. The story begins at the home of Major George Daviot (Clive Brook); where a card party is in full swing, among those playing being Grant, a stockbroker, and Captain Bradford (Arthur Margetson). Daviot has an “affair” with the wife of Bradford, and Daviot’s wife is about to leave him because of his association with the woman. During the card game Daviot Is accused of cheating, but he feels that because of his affair with Mrs Bradford (Margaretta Scott). and for the sake of his regiment, he. cannot take action, as it would mean losing his wife and friends; ■ He goes to an obscure boarding-house, but the scandalmongers continue their whisperings until his friends realise that they should not have advised him to go into obscurity. They discover his whereabouts, inform him of what is going on. and induce him to bring an action for slander. His wife, Ann,

‘ ‘Action for Slander-’ ’ for the State

realises she has been hasty in leaving him, and returns to help him give the. lie‘to those who have been his accusers. The final scene is bne of thrills when the Court, orders the game of cards to be : re-enacted. It is an .exciting picture and first-class entertainment.

An excellently performed and thoroughly English picture, “Action for Slander,” the latest of the London Film productions to be released in New Zealand, was produced by Victor ' Saville, under arrangement with Alexander Korda, at the Denham studios. It is best described as a Strong-drama, brilliantly directed and sctcd. « ' Tim Whelan, who at one time worked with Harold. Lloyd, was the director. The brilliant drama of the life of .England’s great Queen, “Victoria the Great,” will continue this week at the State, after three successful weeks of pleasing big audiences in the city.

Samuel Goldwyn sent a telegram to the Egyptian Legation in Washington on October 22 asking rates and conditions for using, sides of the Pyramids for advertising purposes. If successful in making a deal, the producer will erect neon signs on the Pyramids to advertise his production, “The Adventures of Marco Polo,” and use the showmanship stunt in his publicity throughout the world. Goldwyn’s idea of using the Pyramids as -billboards is not as far-fetched as might seem at first glance. The “Topics of the Times” column on the editorial page of the “New York Times” of Septemsays the Egyptian Ministry of the Interior has announced that electric advertising space on the Pyramids is to belet.