ENTHRALLING ARLISS DRAMA

Evening Star, Issue 21716, 10 May 1934, Page 11

ENTHRALLING ARLISS DRAMA

EMPIRE TO SHOW VOLTAIRE ' TO-MORROW ‘ Voltaire,’ coming to the Empire Theatre to-morrow is undoubtedly the greatest contribution to the screen George Arliss has made since 1 Disraeli,’ which it most resembles, not excepting ‘ The Millionaire ’ or The Working Man.’ Here is one of the most skilful performances this greatest of living actors has yet contributed to either stage or screen. Here is the finest cast ever assembled for an Arliss production. Here, in short, is an enthralling drama, spectacularly produced, magnificently staged, and dramatically sound. It is said that Arliss has waited twenty years to find the suitable dramatisation of the life of Voltaire, called the father of the French revolution. If so, it has been time well spent, for_ the intervening years have ripened his artistry toward the memorable day when he put ‘ Voltaire ’ on film. _ A single incident in the long and singularly excising career of the great French poet-philosopher is used as a dramatic background for this remarkable film. In this Arliss has followed the method he found so successful in ‘ Disraeli.’ About this one incident has been drawn all the gorgeous panoply and_ extravagance of the court of Louis XV., all the exciting intrigue which centred in the boudoir of Madame Pompadour. It is thrilling, beautifully mannered melodrama, the like of which has seldom come out of Hollywood before. The excellence of the supporting cast matches the magnificence of the production values. Margaret Lindsay, who was seen first in ‘ Cavalcade,’ plays the role of Nanette Galas. Theodore Newton, another newcomer who won his spurs in 1 The Working Man,’ plays the part of Nanette’s lover. David Torrence, Alan Mowbray, Doris Lloyd, Helena Phillips, and .Murray Kiunell, more than competent nil of them, are ! others in the cast.