"Hearts Divided” Is Marion Davies’ Triumph

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 273, 18 November 1936, Page 11

"Hearts Divided” Is Marion Davies’ Triumph

A BONAPARTE ROMANCE IMAGINATIVELY PRESENTED. (Regent:. Screening Saturday.) Never has the beautiful star, Marion Davies, appeared in a more entertaining and gripping romance than in her latest Cosmopolitan production, “Hearts Divided.” This story of the wooing and winning ti tha brilliant and beautiful Betsy Patterson of Baltimore by Captain Jerome Bonaparte, brother of the French emperor, is a real heart throbbing drama. While tho romance is predominant, the picture has an historical background, with Jerome Bonaparte in America as the agent of his brother to negotiate tho sale of the Louisiana territory. It brings in many noted characters of the period, including Napoleon himself, President Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Marshall, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton.

The picture is a lavish one, with mammoth sets and colourful backgrounds, while the women are costumed in the gorgeous Empire gowns of the period. Picturesque scenes take place in the Patterson mansion and estate and in the palace of the Emperor of France. The picture is enlivened by catchy songs written by the famous team of Harry Warren and A 1 Dublin, and sung by Dick Powell, who has the leading masculine rolo opposite Miss Davis.

There is plenty of thrilling action in addition to the somewhat tangled up romance in which Jerome woos his lady lovo incognito and against the wishes of the emperor. But this madcap adventurer hurls his thundering defiance at his powerful brother and brings his wooing to a climax in whirlwind fashion. Never has Miss Davies been more pleasing, nor more charming than ns the beautiful belle of Baltimore who loses her heart to Jerome who she knows her tutor in French and music. She carries off the lighter portion of the romance with a delightful whimsy and rises to the more emotional scenes with the artistry of an experienced and polished performer. Powell, who also played opposite Miss Davies in "Page Miss Glory,” is highly amusing as well as romantic in his role of the carefree Jerome. Claude Rains does some exceptionally fine acting in the rolo of Napoleon Bonaparte. Never does he over-empkasise tho traditional mannerisms of the Little Corporal, nor resort to the trite gestures with which the emperor was credited. Rains’ lack of posing makes the character seem natural and human. Charlie Ruggles, Edward Everertt Horton and Arthur Treacher add some fine comedy touches in their roles of three indefatigable suitors of the beautiful Betsy.