THRILLING SPY EPIC

Evening Star, Issue 22004, 13 April 1935, Page 10

THRILLING SPY EPIC

HEADS MAYFA/R'S FARE All the romance of the spacious days of American feudalism, the wealth and brilliance of splendid Southern State mansions, with all their attendant darkie melodies, are recalled in ‘ Operator 13,’ which leads the attractive programme that commenced at the Mayfair to-day. The • other picture is ‘ We’re Not Dressing.’ Against the background of ‘ Operator 13 ’ there is woven the drama of a spy story, the tale of how Operator No. 13 worked underground for the interests of the North against those of the slavesupporting South in the American Civil War—and the breathless escapes she had and the risks she took together go to make the picture as thrilling as it is. Again Marion Davies has shown her versatility. She was great in ‘ Peg o’ My Heart.’ She is better here, because she has had to be yet more versatile. At one stage in her part as spy she acts as a mulatto from Martinique —and on the way she acted that part hung the narrow thread of her life, for she was in the heart of the enemy country. The picture abounds in thrilling moments, and in scenes of tense drama. . The Mills brothers sing old-fashioned plantation songs. Bing Crosby sings live song hits in ‘ We’re Not Dressing.’ Crosby is a sailor aboard the yacht of Miss Lombard. Her guests are Miss Merman, Leon Errol, and the fortunehunting princes, Jay Henry and Hay Midland. Shipwrecked, this band finds haven on a South Sea island, where George Burns and Grace Allen are hunting big game. How Crosby puts his “guests” to work, and how George and Grade get involved in the situation create a climax of love, song, and laughs.