"JANE STEPS OUT"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 27 January 1940, Page 4

"JANE STEPS OUT"

REFRESHING COMEDY WITH BRILLIANT CAST

The Elstree Studios of Associated British have scored again with a new comedy, “Jane Steps Out.” Diana Churchill, the charming young lady who has come to the front rank of British screen stars in a remarkably short time, turns in yet another accomplished performance in ' name part. “Jane” is not exactly “plain” in the early part of the story, bu’ is an unpaid housekeeper to the rest of her selfish family. At last she rebels, forsakes the dustcap and apron for more gorgeous and becoming apparel and carries out a threat to steal her sister’s beau. Jean Muir, playing sister to Jane, hails from Hollywood and is so completely the beautiful, useless and rather catty member of the Wilton family, that she almost sacrifices the sympathy commanded by her undeniable beauty and

I acting abilities. Peter Murray Hill, the man in the i case, as a wealthy young racing motorr ist, with a penchant for ethnology, is f new to star roles and has come to stay. ■ Quite a lot of the brilliant comedy in ■ this film comes from the supporting . players. Fred Emney, worthy son of ; the celebrated “Mrs May,” plays a I retired Army man in his inimitable i way, and Athene Seyler gets a barrage of laughs as a grandmother with young ■ ideas and passion for gangster slang. 1 We should add that Grandma is the i chief reason for Jane stepping out so i effectively. It seems that the Victori ians had their moments. ? Iris Hoey as the fluttery ineffectual r mother of this very mixed but always ; interesting family of Jane’s, rounds off - a grand cast in a film that will please 1 all tastes mightily.