INTRIGUING DRAMA

Evening Star, Issue 21709, 2 May 1934, Page 1

INTRIGUING DRAMA

‘ PENTHOUSE ' NEXT FILM FOR EMPIRE With Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy at the top of an impressive cast, ‘Penthouse,’ the ■ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cosmopolitan production from the pen of Arthur Somers Roche, will open on Friday at the Empire Theatre. Directed by the masterful touch of W. S. Van Dyke, who brought such notable productions as ‘ Trader Horn ’ and ‘ White Shadows in the South Seas ’ to the screen, ‘Penthouse’ presents _ a modern and intriguing picture of New York’s high spots. Filmed almost entirely in settings that represent the lavish penthouses atop New York’s skyscrapers, the picture captures the pulse of the roof-top life of the great metropolis. As Durant, a society lawyer of New York’s upper classes who is cast out by society, Warner Baxter gives one of the finest performances of his colourful motion picture career. Myrna -Loy, who in past appearances has been seen as an exotic adventuress with Oriental eyes, has at last come into her own in this production as one .of the most beautiful and alluring women to grace the motion picture screen. As Gertie 'Waxted, the night club girl, she appears in one of the strongest, most apnealing, and most worthy performances of her career. , Mae Clarke, after misfortune has kept her from a public life for many months, also makes a startling ‘ comeback”. to film prominence as Mimi Montagne. Other noteworthy performances are given by C. Henry Gordon, Charles Butterworth, Phillips Holmes, and Martha Sleeper.