REGENT THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 31, 6 February 1936, Page 7

REGENT THEATRE.

Miriam. Hopkins in "Splendour."

Fresh from her triumph in "Barbary Coast," Miriam Hopkins enacts a vivid role in "Splendour," a dramatic, screen play by Rachel Crothers, author of the Broadway successes "Let Us Be Gay" and "When Ladies' Meet," which opens at the Regent Theatre tomorrow. Continuing the tradition of Samuel Goldwyn for worth-while motion pictures, a splendid cast has been selected to enact this unusual love drama,, of a girl who was forced to make sacrifices to maintain her husband's greedy family in glittering splendour. This smart, sophisticated story casts the glamorous blonde star as Phylis Manning, a penniless beauty who marries Brighton Lorrimore (Joel McCrae) scion of a once-great New York family, whose sole remaining assets are their name and their Fifth Avenue mansion. Phylis receives a cold reception from the family, especially the embittered, domineering mother (Helen Westley), who had schemed to recoup the family fortunes by marrying Brighton to an heiress. When Martin. Deering (Paul Cavanagh), a charming, wealthy, and influential relative of the Lorrimores, shows an unmistakable interest in Phylis, Mrs. Lorrimore secretly forces her to sacrifice herself to further Brighton's career and ensure a return to luxury for the Lorrimores. When Brighton learns of the sacrifice Phylis has made for him he is neither' understanding nor forgiving, so she leaves and gets herself a job. However, he realises his error in time to ensure a happy' fadeout. Miriam Hopkins has never looked lovelier than in the magnificent array of gowns designed for her by Omar Kiam and, gives a fine, sympathetic performance in a difficult role. Joel McCrae. who scored opposite her in "Barbary Coast," gives another fine performance as the success-blinded husband. Helen Westley is superb as old Mrs. Lorrimore and Paul Cavanagh is ideally cast as the suave,' worldly Deering. Others who' shine in important roles are Billie Burke, David Niven, Goldwyn's .handsome ■ • new "find," Katherine Alexander, and Ruth Weston. ' ' '