RONALD COLMAN FILM

Evening Star, Issue 21622, 18 January 1934, Page 11

RONALD COLMAN FILM

ATTRACTION for regent Impersonation of one man' by another has never been so skilfully iiandled ns in ‘ The Masquerader,’ the United Artists’ picture, which will commence a season at the Regent Theatre tomorrow. The deservedly popular Ronald Colman has the dual role, with the attractive Elissa Landi as ms leading lady. The dramatised version / of Katherine Cecil Thurston’s widely-read novel proved exceptionally popular- on the stage, but the play is eclipsed by the screen version with its much wider scope. The story concerns John Chilcote, M.P., and his double who steps into his shoes in a national crisis. At a time when the Government is congratulating itself upon its masterly handling of the unemployment situation a message reaches John Chilcote, a prominent member of the Opposition, that there has been a serious clash between the police and the unemployed. He is the one man in the Op'position who has the ability to bring about the downfall of the Government, but drugs and drink have so undermined his constitution that he collapses as he launches his attack. On recovering he goes out into a fog and meets his .cousin and double, John Locler, whom he persuades to take his place. Loder takes Ghilcote’s place m the House, delivers a crushing condemnation of the Government, and is hailed as a political hero. ■ However, he cannot deceive Chilcote’s wife, who had left him, but returns in the hope of saving her husband from his craving for drugs, and falls in love with her. The ending is a masterpiece of dramatic conception. Colman is magnificent in the dual role, which is unlike the majority of dual roles in that it offers no help in the way of make-up and has to rely entirely on acting ability to portray the two widely-differing personalities. Elissa Landi gives another tine performance as Eve Chilcote, find the well-ehosen supporting cast includes Juliette Compton and David Terrence.