A POPULAR NOVEL

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

A POPULAR NOVEL

• GRAND CANARY ' TRANSFERRED TO SCREEN Continuing their exploitation of bestselling novels, Fox film now present the film version of ‘ Grand Canary,’ by A. J. Cronin, which opened its Dunedin season at the State Theatre yesterday. The novel has proved one of the most popular of recent years, and the film, no less, is assured of success, for it has a very good story, and is marked by much splendid acting. Nor _ must it be imagined that this praise is duo to the loading player, Warner Baxter, alone; all the minor parts, without exception, are very well played indeed. Those who are familiar with the novel will sympathise with the producer in his task, for the story was not one which could be transferred direct to the screen. It had to be simplified, and this has been done in praiseworthy fashion. Baxter, as Dr ■ Harvey Leith, shunned, by the medical world, gives one of the best character studies of his career, and the great demands that are made of him in. showing the bitter despondency of the outcast man of genius, the gradual recovery of poise, and the--final rehabilitation, are met with the skill of a consummate actor. Madge Evans, the heroine, is good, but even greater praise must be given to the subsidiary characters—Roger Imhof as Jimmie Corcoran, the rolling-stone Irishman, John Rogers as Trout, the Cockney steward, Marjorie Rambeau as Daisy Hemingway, the lady whose calling may be criticised, but not her common humanity. Carrie Daurnery as the Marquesa, the aged and slender figure which really belongs to another world, and in a very difficult part, Zita Johann as Susan Tranter. The discoverer of a universal serum, Dr Leith is allowed only after much argument to use it, and because of this delay the three meningitis patients whom ,he treats die. The hostility he has aroused among members of the profession by his manner crystallises, and he finds himself an outcast, and even branded as a murderer, a man Who experimented on human beings. He is persuaded by his friend. Dr Ismay (H. B. Warner) to take a voyage to tlw Canary Islands, and on the boat he meets* all those with whom his life is to bo linked for thp, duration of the voyage in most instances, but for » very much longer period in one instance. Debarred from alcohol, Leith remains a gloomy recluse, neither Jimmie Corcoran, Susan Tranter, nor Elissa Baynham , being able to rouse him from his despondency. Toward the end of the voyage he is thrown to- ? ether with Lady Mary Fielding Madge Evans). They find themselves in love, but when the i ship docks at Santa Cruz they say farewell, as they suppose, for ever. . But Jimmie Corcoran, quite accidentally,. _ involves Leith In a brawl, the injuries from which send him to bed for a time, and make him miss his boat. _ There, is an outbreak of yellow fever in the island, Leith’s professional instincts assort themselves, and he sets about the tremendous task of relieving the sufferers, taking as his headquarters the House of the Swans, where the Marquesa rules. Lady Mary,, who by ohance hears that he is still on the island, goes to him there and falls > a victim to the fever. He nurses her 'back to health, when she is claimed by her husband, and Leith continues his .ministrations to the sick. His scrum proves of great, efficacy, and the epidemic is stayed. Leith returns to England a new man, to find that the medical world wishes to receive him with honours Nor is Lady Mary lost to him, as the final scenes disclose. The supports of ‘ Grand Canary,’ a most interesting selection, are of a more than usually high standard.