Penelope at the Pictures

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 November 1938, Page 2

Penelope at the Pictures

WIDE VARIETY OF STYLES WORN BY DANIELLE DARRIEUX I set out in a mood of keen anticipation to see “The Rage of Paris” featuring Universal’s new French star Danielle Darrieux, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. She has absolutely captivated me with her starry eyes, her pert little nose and gay ensouciance. I came away from this picture feeling I’d like to see it again the next night. That’s how good it is. When first you see Danielle as the penniless French chorus girl Nicole, she is trying to get a job as a model, and looks very appealing in a black felt hat tied under her chin and a loose box coat.

But in films fate never lets the heroine stay poor for too long and dear kindly Helen Broderick comes along in a black street frock with white collar and bow and makes a suggestion which results in their blossoming out as ladies of wealth. And very charming they both look in their beautiful costumes though it causes Mischa Auer a lot of worry as he has invested three thousand dollars in Nicole’s charm and beauty.

Nicole looks superb at the opera in the company of Louis Hayward as the desirably wealthy Bill Duncan. She wears a gorgeous opera coat of white ermine over a draped frock with crossover back and silver bands round the edges of the bodice and descending to the hem of the skirt in front. She wears her lovely hair in a sophisticated upward style with the top of her head covered with little flat curls. Nevertheless her beauty did not deceive Douglas Fairbanks jun. who as Jim Trevor, Bill’s best friencV is determined to give Nicole’s game away. Nicole’s mutinous mouth shows what she thinks of him!

When Jim Trevor forces her to have dinner with him as part of his plan to expose her, Nicole is enchanting in floral lace with an uncommon bodice of pleated georgette finishing at the split back like a wide belt. Too enchanting, in fact, for she puts a very neat one over Jim Trevor. How she scores every time, that girl.

Bill Duncan falls an easy victim to her charms in spite of his friend’s unwelcome intervention, and his people give a reception for their prospective daughter-in-law at which she appears very youthful as befits a Parisian debutante, in a severe silver lame tunic with fluted basque and split back, over a black velvet skirt. She has some exciting adventures in this gown and—no! I won’t tell you what happened. It would spoil the story for you. But—let me confess it—l laughed till I cried, and I haven’t done that for years! The way of transgressors is hard, however, and Nicole forsakes her finery for a modest little dark blue frock with demure lace collar vid cuffs and I couldn’t help thinking she had never looked lovelier. I mustn’t reveal the ending—but I will admit this much, it leaves you feeling perfectly happy and satisfied.

Oh, I haven’t described any of the pricelessly funny situations or the sparkling wit that lifts “The Rage of Paris” out of the rut of ordinary films. I’ll leave you to find out all these for yourself, but I know you’ll love piquant little Danielle Darrieux!