UNUSUAL GANGSTER-WORK

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22804, 1 September 1939, Page 5

UNUSUAL GANGSTER-WORK

Fay Bainter in Dramatic Film For Crystal Palace

Ida Lupino has been given her first good chance to regain popularity in the film “The Lady and the Mob,” coming next week to the Crystal Palace. The young English actress is starred with the famous Fay Bainter, whose name for character-acting has been steadily becoming important. In "The Lady and the Mob,” Miss Bainter possesses a role offering her unique opportunity for a memorable characterisation. She is seen as Mrs Leonard, wealthy, autocratic ruler of her community. When racketeers invade her city, she goes to the police and then to the mayor. Both prove powerless against the incidious menace, and Mrs Leonard decides to take the law into her own hands. Her ■ previous whimsicalities had

taken such a form as ‘having the elm trees that line her driveway moved back. a few inches. But now, as she embarks on a double holiday of selfindulgence, she buys a bullet-proof limousine. She gets herself a mob. Seated in her armoured car, backed up by machine-guns, she proceeds to prescribe for the underworld its own medicine. What ensues is fast, furious, and funny. Miss Bainter etches a characterisation that will be remembered among the year’s best. Miss Lupino, too, has an intriguing role, and shares the romantic interest with Lee Bowman. In the supporting cast are such tried-and-true comics as Warren Hymer, Henry Armetta, Spencer Charters, Tom Dugan and Harold Huber. ■ . '

After his honeymoon with Annabella, Tyrone Power returns to star in “Johnny Apollo,” a serious modern drama.