GENE GERRARD

Evening Star, Issue 22326, 30 April 1936, Page 1

GENE GERRARD

POPULAR PLAYER FOR OCTAGON In ‘ Joy Ride,’ tlio merry 8.1. P. film which will be featured at the Octagon to-morrow, Gene Gerrard is reunited to some old friends. There is Amy Veness, for instance, who played the part of the mother-in-law in ‘ My Wife’s Family.’ No one who saw that hilarious film will ever forget her in that role. Then there is Giis M'Naughton, who shared the laughter ■honours with Gene in ‘ Lucky Girl.’They celebrate their reunion with some first-class fooling. ‘ The _ Healer, ’• adapted from Robert Herricks’s absorbing story, is the supporting feature. It traces the career of a remarkable personality—a modern “ miracle man ’" who has a wonderful gift of healing. Lured from his simple surroundings where he does great work, he is made head of an important sanatarium. Here he suffers discontent, and the climax comes with a devastating forest fire. These scenes are remarkably realistic, and provide the highlight to the whole film. The fire acts as a kind of spiritual purger, for, with the burning down of his sanatarium, there comes back to him a better sense of values, and he returns to his life work and his loved ones.Ralph Bellamy, Karen Morley, and Mickey Rooney have the leading roles.