Brilliant Cast Presents “The Bargain”

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6838, 20 April 1932, Page 5

Brilliant Cast Presents “The Bargain”

“The Bargain,” announced for release at the Kosy next Wednesday, has every element that goes toward making grand and glorious entertainment. To begin with, tho story is, by Philip Barry, one of the acknowledged- masters of dramatic creation. “The Bargain” is an adaption of his “You and I,” which ran for a year on Broadway. The people who interpret Air Barry’s characters are so well-chosen that they fit the parts like tho proverbial glove. The story is that of Alaitland and Nancy White who have a grown son, Ricky, who shows leanings toward architecture; just as his father had,shown toward painting before marriage put an end'to dreams and set him at a prosaic job in a soap factory. I-low the pretty wife succeeds in making father leave his job, fit up the attic as a. studio, impress the maid as a model, and paint to his heart’s content —how the job vanishes, the painting fails and succeeds —how the White's copper stock goes down —and how everything gets on the move again —taking Ricky’s sweetheart into the bargain—makes the story. Lewis Stone is the father. Doris Kenyon the mother, John Darrow tho son, and lovely Evalyn Knapp the girl Ricky loves —and nearly loses. Charles Butterwo.rt.il is at his solemn funniest as a friend of the family, who tries to set things right, and does, after a fashion. Oscar Apfcl is grand as the ecstatic big soap man from tho East, and Una Alerkel gives a performance of rare humour as the housemaid who, with misgivings, accepts tho position of artist’s model to her employer, with full approval of “the missus.” Then there is Nella Walker as a gushing art patroness —and a host of young folks in the grand masquerade which ends the play. Robert Alilton has shown meticulous care in direction.