COMEDY OF BLUNDERS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22466, 29 July 1938, Page 5

COMEDY OF BLUNDERS

"Aren't Men Beasts" and "Young Fugitives"

Hobertson Hare and Alfred Drayton make a perfect combination for the riotous comedy, "Aren't Men Beasts!" which begins to-day at the Plaza with "Young Fugitives." Great as a play, and even greater as a film, with Robertson Hare and Alfred Drayton fulfilling the roles they made famous on the West End stage for two years. "Aren't Men Beasts" is merry nonsense. The story opens on Roger Holly's wedding morning, and just before father, Herbert Holly (Robertson Hare) leaves his dentist's rooms for the ceremony, a beautiful vamp rusher in and declares she will never let him reach the Registry Office. Tearing her clothes and .disarranging her hair, she screams for the police, and has Herbert arrested. But Herbert escapes from the clutches of the law, and 'Escapes" to his son's flat. Roger believes that the woman in the case is one of his past flames come to mar his marital happiness, as both have sworn that he will never marry another. Louise and Yvette—but whjch one 7 All Herbert knows is that she was dark— very beautiful—spoke with an accent, and had a mole or: her shoulder. But Roger's memory had cone back on him. He knew that both *his" girls were dark and beautiful, both were capable of affecting a foreign accent, but he could not remember which one had the mole, nor whtre the mole was. He had to find out, but bow? Aren't men beasts? "Of they «re—all of them." said Auntie Totter,

I who was ever trying to impress upon her niece, Marie, the folly of marrying, especially the son of Herbert Holly. For Auntie had very old-fashioned ideas about men, and her "old man' (Alfred 1 Drayton) had very young ideas about women. How it all works out is told in 90 minutes of laughter. Although Alfred Drayton has appeared in numerous films, this is the first time he has proved himself a screen comedian of top rank. His mannerisms and his bullying of the pathetically down-trodden Hare is comedy of the most brilliant kind. Hare, too, long-recognised as one of the screen's leading comics, has found in Drayton his ideal screen partner. The spectacle of Hare escaping from the police dressed as a woman- hidden in the grandfather clock, where he has. been hastily pushed by Drayton—running out through fire escapes—anc" selling tomatoes in a coster disguise, which, no matter how much he tries will not camouflage his voice, are just a few of the hilarious situations in this uproarious comedy farce. Imagine, also, the limitless laughs when Billy Milton, .as Hare's son, has to establish a lady's identity by means of a mole. Unfortunately for Billy, there are three ladies in the case and which one has the mole, and where, he could not remember. Supporting the ne.w comedy team, in addition to Billy Milton are June Clyde, vivacious stage and screen player; Judy Kelly, Ruth Ma'tland. Amy Veness. Ellen Pollock, and other well-known players.