George Arliss Draws Crowds to the Theatres

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

George Arliss Draws Crowds to the Theatres

“The Millionaire,” coming to the Regent on Saturday week for six nights, is more in tho nature of a character study for George Arliss than anything else, but that is because of his superb acting, tho wonderful play of his features, and his expressive gestures, rather than because of any inherent weaknesses in the plot itself. There are many genuinely humorous situations, particularly in the complications resulting from the “double life” led by the central figure; and there is wit and polish to much of the dialogue, which was written specially by Booth Tarkington, and this, wit is given extra point by tho deliciously ironical interpretation of Arliss. He is a very lovable and human old man, this James Alden, the self-made millionaire, who lives for his work m tho great motor factory he has built up, and finds very little worth diving for when his doctor persuades him that ho must retire from all his labours because of his health. . When, therefore, he is advised by an insurance agent to “fool tho doctor and live for ever,” by seeking some other light business interests 'he jumps at the suggestion, and begins to find that there is still a great deal of yoy to be had out of life in escaping from his watchful family and running a small service station with a young part-

ner. , .. In spite of the fact that Arliss carries the whole picture on his own shoulders tlso,re are no really weak parts in the supporting cast, and good work is done by David Manners Evalyn Knapp, Noah Beery, Ivan Simpson, and Florence Arliss, the lastnamed being the wife of the star, who takes, is she did in “Disraeli the part of the wife on the screen.