'THE BRIDE WORE RED'

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1938, Page 7

'THE BRIDE WORE RED'

ROMANCE IN THE TYROL

Novel treatment, well acted, and set in, the rugged beauty of Tyrolese mountains, "The Bride Wore Red*," now showing at the Majestic Theatre, is certain to appeal to Wellington audiences. Joan Crawford and Franchot Tone have been seen so often in light comedy pictures, and have achieved such success in this medium, that one is apt to think that their latest vehicle would be from the same mould. "The Bride Wore Red" has more to it than that, however. It is witty and humorous in places, and carries a full quota pi bright cross-talk, but at the same time it has all the ingredients of a full-blown romantic drama.

The story is that of a prank played by a. wealthy Austrian count, who, when in his cups, has very definite notions that all men are equal. To prove his point, he goes to what the taxi-driver considers to be the lowest dive in Trieste. Here he singles out a cabaret girl, and, gaining her confidence, undertakes to pay all her expenses to a fashionable Tyrolese hotel for two weeks. The girl finally arrives at the hotel, where she is a definite social success.

Joan Crawford again shows herself as a brilliant dramatic actress in the role of the cabaret girl turned aristocrat. There is no doubt that her acting is still improving, and that she can still be relied upon to produce better characterisations. Some of the scenes, in which she is forced to choose between the possession of all those things, of which she has dreamed and her love for the village postmaster, are. very finely acted indeed. Franchot Tone fits the part of the village postmaster as few others could do. He is an unusual type in himself, but has the' ability of playing his way into his part until it is difficult to separate the two. In the role of the young Austrian nobleman who, ° although engaged to a beautiful girl, cannot withstand the lure of the newcomer, Robert Young has .one of his usual parts, which apparently suits him excellently. A splendid supportling cast includes George Zucco, as the eccentric cause of the cabaret girl's transplantation, Billie. Burke, as an observant, even if garrulous, relative of the young count, and Reginald Owen, as an old Austrian admiral with young ideas. A fine supporting programme includes the latest newsreels,' showing among other things the Sydney sesquicentennial celebrations, a Pete Smith oddity depicting the triumph of an Olympic' Games decathlon winner, and an excellent travelogue.