HAS COURAGEOUS INTELLIGENCE

Evening Star, Issue 21036, 25 February 1932, Page 11

HAS COURAGEOUS INTELLIGENCE

STORY OF 1 WATERLOO BRIDGE 1 FOR REGENT

What is claimed to be one of tha greatest productions which have emanated from the Universal studios will be shown at the Regent Theatre tomorrow. A review of the picture states: “ ‘ Waterloo Bridge ’ is tremendous in dramatic power! It is subtly, alluring in its beauty and its infinite variety. It is heartbreaking in its emotional appeal, and has a happy ending I It has a great love story, one of the most unusual in modern drama, between a girl who wanted desperately to love decently,, when it was too late fop her to deserve it, and a boy who knew all- and still would surrender the world to his heart’s cry. For the last sis months the picture has been heralded far add wide from Hollywood as the screen’s, most pretentious and satisfying entertainment. _ Such prior publicity , often results disastrously. Anticipation can be built up too far. However,after seeing ‘ Waterloo Bridge ' a few; days ago, we can honestly say that nothing which had appeared in print about ‘ Waterloo Bridge ’ has overstated tlie truth. It is grown-up entertainment, not sophisticated, but ma-i ture. It is a story full of courageous intelligence. At the opening, Myra is a chorus girl in a London musical, comedy. It is the first year of the war, : ■ Soon we find her as a model to a down-at-the-heel artist, and gradually she sinks lower in the scale, nob because she is bad, but from moral cowardice,; " and because the war, with its new code of morals, has forced her down. On ■London Bridge, Myra meets a young Canadian soldier on his first leave from the trenches, and a friendship springs up between them—a decent one. The boy does not know and the girl does not tell. The boy worships her. Myra fights herself and her love for him, knowing that it cannot last. He tricks her into a visit to his people in their countryside home. Their kindness and acceptance of her make her tell the boy’s mother the truth. The next morning Myra runs away to London and her place on Waterloo Bridge. Kitty, a neighbour whose finer traits have been blunted by life, pleads with her to marry the boy and collect his insurance should he be killed in the war. Myra refuses, and takes up her life on the streets. Roy finds her again, and wins her consent to marry him, but while he is waiting to take her away she realises she cannot spoil his life, and leaves again. From this moment the drama is tense and thrilling, and it would spoil your pleasure to divulge the denouement. Carl Laemmle, jun., must be given credit for this selection of story, director, and cast. Whale ha# done a ‘ whale of a job ’ with’ the direction, which is a great piece of craftsmanship, and shows the same ability he evinced with ‘Journey’s End>’ Mae Clarke is responsible for great work as Myra, and proves that with the right stories Universal has star material in her. Kent Douglas as the boy is fine, Frederic Kerr and the entire supporting cast are excellent. There is definite honesty in ‘ Waterloo Bridge.’ It is so’moving and believable that it will send the audience out talking and raving in appreciation. It is an answer ' for the ‘ something different ’ that the public always wants.”