PLAZA THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 155, 29 March 1937, Page 5

PLAZA THEATRE

“Lloyd’s of London” When the .time comes for a selection of Wellington’s “best pictures of 1937” it is likely that “Lloyd’s of London” will claim a .high place on the list. This production, the Wellington season of which opened at the Plaza Theatre on Saturday, is still another example of the brand of achievement made possible when Hollywood combines forces with a sound English story steeped in romantic tradition, and uses a cast strongly reinforced’ with English people to interpret it. “Lloyd’s of London” compels success because of its exceedingly catholic appeal. Considered purely as entertainment it is superb, gripping in every foot of film and leading to an excellent climax ; remarkably well acted ; lavishly produced, and steeped in the atmosphere of Old London and the England of Nelsonian times. Then, too, as an historical study, in which flact is cunningly blended with fiction it is of absorbing interest, especially to a British audience. The story has for its rich background the rise of the great marine insurance House of Lloyd’s, which had its birth in a London coffee house. To this place grandees and merchants came to taste of the hospitality of mine host and, in syndicates, to accept risks on the ships of England that were fighting for the world’s commerce iu the teeth of the menace of France. A weary urchin has walked to London to warn “Mr. Lloyd” that a ship anchored '•ff his native fishing village is to be scuttled, and insurance claimed on the gold removed from the hold before ■the deed was done. This boy has overheard the plotting in company with little Horatio Nelson, ,who was (enjoying a final juvenile adventure on the eve of going to sea as a (midshipman. As a reward for his information the village boy, admirably played by Freddie Bartholomew, ig adopted by Lloyd’s and the story of his rise to power and success, his tragic love affair, and his fight iu Lloyds to keep intact the fleet of Nelson, follows In a series of magnificentlyconceived episodes, welded into a compact whole and culminating in the Battle of Trafalgar. In the strong cast of adults Tyrone Power, Sir Guy Standing and- C. Aubrey Smith are outstanding, and Madeleine Carroll makes a dainty heroine of this “Al at Lloyds” show. A strong supporting programme has been chosen by the Plaza management.