MONTGOMERY AS A KILLER

Evening Star, Issue 22881, 12 February 1938, Page 5

MONTGOMERY AS A KILLER

SURPRISING CHANGE OF ROLE What Robert Montgomery likes about his role in ‘Night Must Fall,’ which will be seen in Ihinedin shortly, is that he is not in love. “ A man in love usually makes - a stupid spectacle of himself,” Montgomery explained. “Of women in love, that’s not true. There’s an aura which surrounds them and makes women ever more interesting. But the lovelorn male? No.” The part Montgomery plays in * Night Must Fall ’ is a daring experiment for him It is different from anything he ever has done before. Instead of being a charming hero he is an ingratiating murderer. He wheedles hi* way into women’s hearts to rob them and to kill them, just so he can experience the thrill of power denied him as a resort hotel menial. ■ “ As a matter of fact,” Montgomery more of a character analysis of a murderer and of the people who surround him; There’s never been a screen drama like. it. “I saw the play three times. It was a great hit, running 5o weeks in London. The killer’s part was so fascinating I asked M.-G.-M. to purchase the play.”

And he raved so much about the production that 50 per cent, of the stage 'cast was brought from England

to appear with Montgomery and Rosalind Russell. Dame May Whitty, seventy-one-year-old star, who has been on the London stage for 66 years, Merle Tottenham, Kathleen Harrison, and Matthew Boulton were imported by M.-6.-M. from London. Richard Thorpe was the director. Rosalind Russell, who_ was cited by American critics as having given one of the five best performances in 1936 in the title role of 1 Craig’s Wife,’ was selected to play opposite Montgomery.