‘GOOD MORNING, JUDGE’

Evening Star, Issue 20022, 13 November 1928, Page 3

‘GOOD MORNING, JUDGE’

REGINALD DENNY COMING Tbo announcement that a Reginald Denny comedy is to bo screened at tbo Octagon Theatre next Thursday should be pleasing to those who like good comedy fare, for .Denny .is always cpiick and alert, if it.be in the pastime of outwitting tho dull policeman, or telling an unblushing lie to his blonde, or explaining and expostulatin'' to a. judge of the Supreme Court of tbo United Stales. In everything be does, lie does it with a great Nourish, and never were these Nourishes more amusing than in ‘ Good morning, .1 ndge.’ This is (lie sad. story of a young .man .named Freddie and a beautiful blonde named Julia; some burglars and murderers and. forgers arc also cheerfully mixed up in it, but nobody takes any notice of a burglar or three these (.lays. There is also a crusi.v judge without a sense of humour, and ’the, sister of the Freddie person who threatens to tel] on him. For why, you would know? . Well, Freddie fell in hoc with Julia, a, natural enough proceeding, you will say when yon see her; and as Julia, was only interested in burglars and murderers and forgers in an impersonal way, and for tbo purpose of cleansing their souls, lie posed as what is snesinctly known in the Bowery and in Chicago as a “thug,” a criminal of the less lurid typo, but- sufficiently lawless as to excite the deepest interest on the part of Julia. And to see Reggio Denny dancing and prancing as a criminal is a sight to make tbo angels weep. He studies up criminals and. their, methods with a ferocity that is appalling;, adopts their ways and their,clothes and their ■speech; and then .agrees to be reformed. But it is hero that fate, in divers unpleasant. forms, decides to take a hand. -Aml, in. the host Denny style, everything . becomes hopelessly tangled, and Freddie looks .more like a criminal than ever. In tho court scenes Tie is undoubtedly at Ids funniest. He behaves with a lack of melancholy and solemnity proper to the occasion that infuriates the judge, prejudices the jury, and alienates the affections of - Julia. But everything goes as it should, oven unto the judge unbending in a creaky smile and the lady condoning his masquerade. Alary Nolan is the lady, and Otis Harlan and Dorothy Gulliver help things along. But Bcggie Denny is the whole show, and ‘Good morning, Judge,’ is one of the best.