ST. JAMES THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 21, 25 January 1940, Page 7

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

"The Beachcomber."

"The Beachcomber," which opens tomorrow at the St. James Theatre, marks the highest point in the distinguished career of the,- great screen actor Charles Laughton. Based on a W. Somerset Maugham story, the picture casts Laughton in the role of "Ginger Ted," a unique and interesting characterisation which he handles with all the adroitness and finish which he lent to the parts of Captain Bligh in "Mutiny on the Bounty" and the title role of "Rembrandt." At the inception of the action, "Ginger Ted" is disrupting the peace of a tropical Dutch Indies island. English remittance man and beachcomber, he is at odds with the scheme .of < things on the island. The island's Dutch controleur, a missionary named Miss Jones, and her brother Dr. Jones, have a hard time trying to control him. Yet the controleur prefers his company to that of the strict, humourless Miss Jones and her fussy brother. At the same time Miss Jones is having a difficult time keeping "Ginger" away from her native girl students. In the course of the story "Ginger" and Miss Jones are marooned on a reef for a night, along with two native boys. She is frantic with fear. But Laughton ignores her —a fact which brings mingled emotions in her reaction. She decides that it is her duty to bring out the good in his nature. Her method of doing this, and his battle for his freedom, provide interesting and stimulating motivation for the remainder of the drama. Charles Laughton's wife, Elsa Lanchester, delivers a fine performance as Miss Jones. Tyrone Guthrie, in a role of Dr. Jones, and Robert Newton as the controleur, are outstanding members of the supporting cast. Erich Pommer produced and directed the picture for Mayflower.