Opera House

Grey River Argus, 11 September 1940, Page 10

Opera House

Now Showing: “BAD LITTLE AN'GEL.” Haunting drama, intimate human moments; a few thrills, and the inspiration of the faith and courage of a little child, make a piece of heartgripping entertainment out of “Bad Little Angel,” romance of childhood now showing at the Opera House. Teaming Virginia Weidler of “The Women” and “Out West with the Hardys” and Gene Reynolds of “Boys Town” and “They Shall Have Music,” the new pictur, e Is on e of those down-to-earth, homely stories that grip the memory. Miss Weidler plays a little orphanage waif whoso implicit faith in the Bibl e lead her through life. She runs away from the orphanage to a sleepy little New Jersey town where the local' newspaper editor and his wife take her in. The editor loses his job when he incurs ■ the wrath of th e town millionaire. The little girl, with her Bible, sets out to repair matters. There is a dramatic encounter with the millionaire. A fire, the rescue of her foster father who is badly injured, and the steadfast faith of th e child wnic w affects the lives of each character about her are elements in the poignant story. The period is th e early Nineties with its quaint homes and village streets. William Thiele, Continental director, handled the story with deft skill and delicate lightness which brings out the full charm of the Margaret Turnbull novel on which it was based. JVliss Weidler, a consummate child actress, runs the entire gamut of emotions as does Reynolds, playing her protector and “feller.” Lois Wilson and lan Hunter play the editor and his wife. Henry Hull as the town drunkard turns m a performance reminiscent of “Tobacco Road,” his greatest hit, and Guy Kibbec mixes mirth and menace as the town millionaire whose hard nature is reformed by th e child’s influence*. Elizabeth Patterson and Reginald Owen hav e important roles to say nothing of Toto, the little dog that won fame in “The Wizard of Oz.” Interesting photography includes striking details of a blazing three-storey building at night and other striking effects. One of the most interesting scenes is thf> train trip in a queer old train of the vintage of 1885, with its tiny woodburning locomotive.