'FIVE AND TEN'

Evening Star, Issue 20989, 31 December 1931, Page 7

'FIVE AND TEN'

FANNIE HURST'S NOVEL ON THE SCREEN

Although she is recognised as one of the most brilliant comediennes of the screen, Marion Davies is generally acknowledged to be at her very best in a film that has both humour and pathos in its make-up, and in that respect ‘ Five and Ten ’ is ideal. This talkie will start to-morrow at the JStrand Theatre. in itself the theme is serious, but the director, R. Z. Leonard, has contrived to make the lighter passages rather more prominent than in the original novel by Fanny Hurst, and the alteration is a decided improvement. ‘ Five and Ten ’ provides excellent entertainment, and Miss Davies shares the credit with four other extremely capable players, Leslie Howard, Irene Rich, Richmond Bennett, and Kent Douglas. Miss Davies has the part of the capricious daughter of an extremely successful business man, who has transformed himself from a small storekeeper in a country town to one of the leading merchants of the United States. He has no wish for social prominence himself, but in order that his family may have the pleasures his money can buy, transfers his headquarters to New York, where ho installs his wife and children in a magnificent home. Busy with commerce, the father sees little of his family, but assures himself that they are happy.

The wife, a part admirably played by Irene Rich, seeks the society of another man, • while the daughter finds herself snubbed by the society women of her own ago. The son, played by Kent Douglass, realises the seriousness of the position, but cannot make his father understand that his wealth has not_ made the family happy until the crisis occurs. The climax is particularly impressive and rings true, there being no incongruity of action to mar tho conculsion. The dialogue throughout is particularly effective, and in the lighter scenes is decidedly witty.