Cooper Triumphs in "Peter Ibbetson" Role

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 71, 25 March 1936, Page 11

Cooper Triumphs in "Peter Ibbetson" Role

ANN HARDING APPEARS IN SUPPORT IN TALKIE

(Regent: Screening To-day.)

With the Aiming of George Du Manner's immortal love masterpiece, .“Peter Ibbetson,’’ Paramount not only produced a cinematic achievement, but Gary Cooper, unquestionably the star of the piece in name as well as fact, accomplished something in the nature of a personal triumph in his noteworthy characterisation of the title role.

Cooper reveals himself possessed of: talents that, until now, have had. n» chance or particular medium of .expression. Just us in “Lives of a Bengal Lancer," the star was given an opportunity for'an unforgettable .portrayal, so 1 again ho measures up to. the. high standard created by his predecessors in the. stage and operatic; versions ,of, the novel. -In his newest performance, Cooper surpasses anything he has yet done on the screen, bringing sympathy, rugged sincerity and a tender honesty to the role of Du Maurier’s famous character. .

Cast as the tragic figure, the Duchess of -towers, Ann Warding also covers herself with; glory in . a difficult role. The blonde actress ’lends the proper touch of distinction, and dignity, at the same time giving her part the aura of feminity and sense of old-fashioned romance it requires. Miss Harding portrays the Duchess with an emotional depth that has charm as well as effectiveness, combining the ethereal moments with delicate realism.

“Peter Ibbetson’-’ as a screen production, has captured the dream-like quality that distinguished the novel, tho play and the opera, but has added more than all three. With the added advantages of scope and range that the screen gives, the picture gains both as a fantasy and as a realistic work. Set iu tho romantic period of the early Victorian era, Dickie Mooro and Virginia Weidlcr representing Cooper and Miss Harding, respectively, as children, are next door playmates in Paris. Their childhood friendship is cut short, when Dickie, left an orphan, is taken to London by his uncle, Douglas Dumbrille, to be educated there. Years later, their paths cross again in a curious way. Cooper, an ambitious young architect, is sent to an estate owned by John Halliday, to design somo new racing stables. Fate throws the beloved “Mini spy" of his youthful days in his way as Halliday’s wife. Scarcely has their romance begun to bud, and they have tasted their first happiness together, when Halliday, the jealous husband, threatens to shoot Cooper, and in the ensuing argument, is himself accidentally killed. Cooper is subsequently sentenced to life in prison.

From this point on, their lives become a dream fantasy in which each joins the other in a beautiful, unfailing love that covers the span of a life-time, though prison walls are the physical, earthly barrier which separates them. Their moments together, in their dream world, are especially heart-stirring ones, tragic but skilfully blended with faith, tenderness and romance. The transition from the real to the dream realm is adeptly done. Credit for this splendidly executed illusory conception goes to Henry Hathaway, director, whoso fine hand combined these two mediums so expertly.