“On Our Selection” Will Make Popular Appeal

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7070, 1 February 1933, Page 5

“On Our Selection” Will Make Popular Appeal

Comedy-drama of Australian bush. Fragile story of ups and downs of philosophic old farmer, daughter’s lover being eventually implicated in murder actually committed by vengeful half-wit. No lack of proven popular angles, dominated by breezy characterisation of lovable old man, whoso hearty wisecracks and all-round comedy resource prove irresistablo source of hilarity. Ultra-tender romance, hearty villainy and candid horse-play in clear-cut sequence, backed by strong general comedy prorayal and charming sylvan scenes of farm life. That is how “On Our Selection,” coming to tho Regent on February 29, can be described. It proves to be a slice of life as it is artlessly lived in the Australian bush. It seems to have everything the doctor ordered for the delectation of tho popular patron —simple humour, hearty melodrama, ultra-tender romance and a measure of unabashed horseplay. Dad Rudd is the main figure in an assortment comprising a pretty heroine, a very correct hero, a patent villain, a female drudge and her soprano-voiced boy-friend, and a demented farm-hand. The villain is handed a straight left by the hero and left for dead, but it eventually transpires that the murder was committed by the half-wit. Such is the extremely fragile narrative skeleton upon -which is dressed the entertainment meat of romance and comedy and melodrama in episodic sequence. Easily the dominating angle is the comedy of old Dad, whose breezily vigorous personality is something en- ( tirelv new, and whose lusty wise-cracks no less than the epic quality of his fight against his many tribulations, must endear him to every onlooker. The character is finely portrayed by Bert Bailey, an artist of -whom British patrons would willingly see more, wliilo the comedy portrayal in general is really very good and much more appealing than the purely straight acting, competent thongh this is.