HIGHLY ENTERTAINING FARE

Evening Star, Issue 21073, 9 April 1932, Page 11

HIGHLY ENTERTAINING FARE

EMPIRE'S BILL For a programme of outstanding merit and entertainment the Empire Theatre’s latest offering could hardly be surpassed. The attractions are numerous, though so strikingly different in their character, that no one could witness the show without being delighted by at least one of the offerings, In addition to a picture list of unusual brilliance, there_ is a stage presentation by “ Tho Aerial Four,” and some delightful selections on the grand organ by Paul Cullen. “ The Aerial Four,’’ in a remarkable series of acrobatic feats, show rare skill and signs of indefatigable efforts in preparation, and deserve a much more enthusiastic reception than was tendered to them last evening. Many of their acts required remarkable skill and daring in their execution, and at times were most sensational. Altogether it was a highly creditable performance, and a welcome break from the screen offerings. The chief film offering is a Warner Bros’, production, entitled ‘ Bought,’ starring that fascinating and brilliant actress, Constance Bennett, whose striking characterisations in many other good films have already endeared her among lovers of good pictures. Her latest offering is claimed to bo her best film to date, and, while this would seem to be a somewhat impossible achieve-

ment, there is no reason to doubt the assertion after witnessing this unusual production. For a picture out of the ordinary and with a story boasting of every good quality, ‘ Bought ’ is excellent. It is a faithful study from modern life. ‘ Bought ' offers a story which is richly coloured, and which loudly throbs with its content of subtip humour and clever witticisms. It is in reality a stirring drama built around the life of Stephany _ Dale (Constance Bennett), a modern girl, whose one ambotion is to shine in the millionaire world from which her poverty and her questionable birth bar her. As selfish as she is beautiful, she is willing to live in idleness until the death of her mother forces her to go to work. Meyer, a kindly old man, getsher a job as a mannequin in a fashionable shop, and later a position as secretary to a wealthy physician. She leaves the young writer who loves her, and by false stories about her distinguished ancestry becomes engaged to a rich man, who soon discovers the truth about her. This is but the beginning of a story which is tremendously human. Those featured in the film are Richard Bennett (father of the Bennett sisters, Constance, Joan, and Barbara), Ben Lyon, Dorothy Peterson, Raymond Millard, Arthur Stuart Hall, Mae Madison, Doris Lloyd, Maude Eburne, Clara Blandick, and Barbara Leonard. ‘ Bought ’ presents Miss Bennett with her greatest opportunity to display her alluring and many-sided genius. Her Stephany Dale might be any one of a million modern girls. It takes the hard teacher, experience, to correct Stephany’s false values, and to make her see that cold cash may prove a poor substitute for what every woman really wants. Beginning with an unusually interesting newsreel featuring Graham M’Namee as the Universal newsreel talking reporter, the supporting programme is one of outstanding quality. ‘ Adventures in Africa ’ are depicted in a further series of thrilling scenes. This time the capturing of the ferocious water buffalo provides an intensely interesting interlude. One of those popular cartoons, ‘The Dumb Patrol,’_ is also presented, while Paul Cullen impresses with his playing of ‘ Selections from Rio Rita,’ ‘ Gems of Irish Song,’ and 1 Humoreske.’

Seats for this outstanding bill can be reserved at the theatre or The Bristol.