New Feminine Star Discovery. Arleen Whelan

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 211, 7 September 1938, Page 11

New Feminine Star Discovery. Arleen Whelan

CAST WITH BAXTER AND BARTHOLOMEW IN “KIDNAPPED” (State: Coming Soon.) Unlike several other Stevenson stories, “Kidnapped” never before has appeared in either silent or sound films —something of a record.’ Every person conversant with so much as high school English has thrilled to the adventure in “Kidnapped,” so the picture is destined to meet a host of familiar friends. It will be these “friends” who will remember that the story had little or no “feminine interest”— being chiefly the tale of tho escapades of Alan Breck and David Balfour (portrayed on the screen by Warner Baxter and Freddie Bartholomew). Purists may try, therefore, to quarrel with Hollywood's introduction into the story of a Jean MacDonald, Highland lass who becomes enamored of Alan Breck. The role is portrayed by an astonishingly vivacious and beautiful screen discovery, Arleen Whelan. Ii is interesting to note, then, that tho motion picture people havo no less a precedent than Stevenson himself, for allegedly “tampering” with the facts. 110 admits ho tampered with tho historical facts in writing the book.

“It is more honest to confess at once how little I am touched by the desire for accuracy. This (“Kidnapped”) is no furniture for a '-cholar’a library, but a book . , . .”

If Hollywood has taken liberties, it has only to paraphrase the author of the book from which it made its film: “This is no furniture for a scholar's library, but a triumphant piece of motion picture entertainment, lavishly done.”

The stellar cast of “Kidnapper” includes C. Aubrey Smith, Reginald Owen, John Carradine, Nigel Bruce, Miles Mander, Ralph Forbes and 11. B. Warner.