ST. JAMES THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 6

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

Whoever has not seen Helen Hayes should make her acquaintance by seeing the excellont picture, "The Son-Daughter," now showing at St. Jamea Theatre; those who havo seen lier will not need an invitation to see her again In sucli a'tine story, supported as she is by several stars. Another attraction is that her co-star, Bamon >.;ovarro, is back to his old best, as a true romantic lover instead of the comedy trifler that he became in some of his later pictures. The Chinese setting of the story provides a very delicate vehicle in which to carry so much love and hate and mystery, and therefore very skilled artists are needed, and they are found- in Helen Hayes, Novarro, Warner Oland (not new to Chinatown). Lewis Stone, Louise Closser Hale, and H. B. Warner. Without in any way overlooking Novarro, one is inclined to be lavish of praise for Alias Hayes, for she is such a striking contrast to the stock actresses of Hollywood—those of the clothes horse type, whose progress -through ballroom, bedroom, and deck cabin is all done to one plau, in the one way. When Helen Hayes and Novarro carry on their quaint courtship in San Francisco—which courtship is neither Chinese nor American but something between —it is evident from the beginning that only good artistry can carry oft the situation, and realise the values of the quaint dialogue. The fan scene is a gem of stage-work, and Miss Hayes's beautiful phrasing and charm of manner at once put the play on a high level, which continues right through till the climax, when she throttles the Chinese gambler' who had bought her (Warner Oland) by garotting him with his own pigtail. A good gripping story, a story of romance, tears, mysticism, and Oriental spectacle, acted by artists—sucli is "The Son-Daughter." If there were space, some excellent information could be given about Iceland—where since the ninth century man has fought Nature iv a short-summered land only 7 per cent, of which is cultivable—but it would be better to see this travel picture, at first hand and hear direct tlie lecture on it. The Slickoy Mouse cartoon breaks some new ground; the colourtone-revue combines fun and figures; the gazette features Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald at Geneva, the Japanese earthquake, Mr. Shaw in America. A Strong all-round programme. '. -■■.-.":■■'£'■■-. The next attraction at the St. James Theatre will be "Flesh," in which Wallace Beery is said to excel the wonderful performance he gave in "Mm and BUI." With him in this new success are Karen' Morlcy, Uicardo Cortez, and Jean Hersholt.