LIONEL BARRYMORE IN MYSTERY

Evening Star, Issue 21006, 21 January 1932, Page 7

LIONEL BARRYMORE IN MYSTERY

BAFFLING STORY FOR ST. JAMES Lionel Barrymore, that brilliant character actor, to whom the motion picture industry awarded \ the highest distinction for acting in 1931, \ has the outstanding role of his career in ‘ Guilty Hands,’ which will commence at the St. James Theatre to-morrow. The story was written especially for the talking screefa by Bayard Veiller, mas- , ter of mystery drama and author of such theatre hits as ‘ The Thirteenth Chair ’ and ‘ The Trial of Mary Dugan.’ It is his first original for the talkies, and, in the opinion of pre-view critics, the most baffling murder plot he has ever conceived. Particular interest is directed towards this new production because it follows Barrymore’s personal triumph as the veteran criminal attorney in Norma Shearer’s ‘ A Free Soul,’ and is the first picture ho has . carried as principal player in several years, his efforts having been confined to direction since the advent of sound films/ Kay Francis essays the “ heavy ” role of Marjorie West, whose suspicions and jealousies motivate the / startling climax. Madge Evans, former child star, who recently returned to the screfen as Ramon Novarro’s leading lady in ‘ Son of India,’ plays the romantic lead as Barrymore’s daughter. Paired with her is William Bakewell, a popular juvenile, who last played with Joan Crawford in ‘Dance, Fools, Dance.’' C. Aubrey Smith, the distinguished British character actor- has the role of the Rev. Mr Hastings. Polly Moran supplies the humour as Aunt Maggie. Alan Mowbray is Gordon Rich, whose _ slaying precipitates the hectic situations in which every _ member of the cast becomes involved. Barrymore, as Richard Grant, district attorney, has sent fifty men to the chair. As a criminal attorney he saved 100 from a like fate. Summoned to the island estate of Rich, a wealthy client, he discovers Rich is going to marry his daughter. To reveal the progress of the plot, beyond this point would serve only to deny the full enjoyment of the thrill on the screen. The photographic and sound effects add vastly to the weird and mysterious atmosphere in which the plot is unfolded, 'fhe settings are both magnificent and eerie. A Charley Chase comedy is to he included on the programme. The box plans are at The Bristol.