‘MOTHER'S MILLIONS'

Evening Star, Issue 20987, 29 December 1931, Page 7

‘MOTHER'S MILLIONS'

STERLING DRAMA FOR REGENT 1 Mother’s Millions,’ which comes to the Regent on Friday, is a remarkablo example of a good play transferred almost bodily and in toto to the screen,; and with equally good, if not better, results. Howard M'Kent Barnes wrote the play originally for May Robson’s use. It was this success which inspired her to use it as a vehicle for her talking picture debut. It is remarkable, of course, because it lent itself so remarkably to transcription to the screen. It is still more remarkable for the vital and gripping performance of May Robson. This is not to be wondered at. The play was written for her, and James_ Flood very wisely retained the splendid dramatic climaxes, the appropriate comedy relief episodes as well as the stage characterisations which made the original play such a success. The screen, by virtue of her performance, and its promise of many more to come, gains a new personality, a new figure of vigorous strength and siue touch. The story briefly deals with the trials and tribulations of the son and daughter of the richest woman in tho world. The girl is eagerly sought in marriage by ne’er-do-wells and fortune hunters. The boy is a mark for Ins mother’s greatest rival, for the mother is a dominating figure in Wall street,a tyrant in her own home, sedulously endeavouring to bring up her children to be self-reliant, and to educate them in the school of life so that they can. retain and enjoy the heritage of wealth which she will leave them. The unexpected twists of this story are numerous and highly effective. Frances Dade is one of the most beautiful of the now crop of screen ingenues; Janies Hall and Lawrence Gray boar their roles with distinction. A word of praise should be given Lillian Harmer for p remarkable piece of characterisation. Edmund Breese, of course, is always good, and is especially effective in the role of William Remington.