FINE "TALKIE" ACTRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20372, 28 September 1929, Page 11 (Supplement)

FINE " TALKIE" ACTRESS.

MADAME X " ON THE SCREEN. \ play that once served as a setting for tin- V»ius cf Bernhardt and which h . JS j, een good, sound theatrical faro for b vo decades, " Madame X" now appears a., one of tlio major early achievements of t i' )e talking screen. It was given a pnvato screening earlier during the week prior tu its release at tho Regent fticatro and apart from being very lino melodrama, it is interesting from tho point of view of painstaking direction arid wonderfully powerful acting. The film is a dual triumph for Miss Ruth Chatterton, tho star, and Mr. Lionel Barrymore, who foresook his acting career to become its director. From start to finish Miss Chatterton imparts a fine sense of tragedy and gives a wonderfully sustained performance. Mr. Barrymoro's direction is masterly. Ho seems to have obtained the maximum results from all -his players and every scene has been skilfully grouped. Perhaps the feature of his work is 'he amount of action tie infuses into a play which demands dialogue for its strength. There are rapid changes of scene and Mr. Barrymore nevor onco pormits a character to stand beforo the camera and recite his lines. In "Madame X" ho has combined his knowledge- of stag.) and screen techniquo in such a manner Uiat any future film carrying tho label

" directed by Lionel Barryinore" can bo awaited with mora than passing interest. Tlio story of the love-hungry woman who leaves her husband and child to meet squalor and degradation in the far corners of tha earth is too well known to need much comment. It is a moving talo of mother-love surviving against the implacable will of a cold husband. The tragedy of the woman's career is traced with sympathy and understanding and sho is.shown as a victim of remorseless circumstance, sinking lower and lower, but still clinginc to her lovo of tho infant son sho left years before. Tho whole play revolves round the personality of the woman and Miss Chatterton's " Madamo X" is one of the most moving performances yet given on-tho speaking screen. Her pleading with her divorced husband for a last glimpse of her sick dhild is a fine piece of emotional actiue, but later in the film, when she appears as a drink-crazed creature with only one ray of sunshine in an aimless life, she" is responsible for soma marvellous character ,work. Her whole personality seems to be subjugated to the* character she is portraying. Thei climax comes in tho court scene where tho poor creature that, was opco a. woman sacrifices herself for her son. " Madamo X" has been played on the local stage several times during the last few years, the last actress to appear in it being Miss Muriel Stan. It is no injustice to her to Bay that Miss Chatterton makes tho screen role far more compelling. Thero are many other meritorious performances. The cast is uniformity excellent and Mr. Lewis Stone makes an impressive " talkie" debut m the role of the husband, sketching the character with the firm, sure strokes we have learned to expect from him. He is a fine actor who graces any part ho is called on to interpret. Mr. Ravmond Hackett, as the soil, is also admirable, and his address to the "jury in defence oi tho murderess who is really his; mother is a gripping piece of work. Mr. Holmes Herbert, as tho generous friend of tho" husband, and Mr. Ullric liaupt, as a particularly objectionable specimen of blackmailer, .both fit naturally into their roles.

However, the gem of characterisation in th<> wholo film is supplied by Mr. John P. Edington, obviously a stage-trained ietor, who appears for a few minutes as a dofctor in the opening scene. His slightly domineering bedside manner is excellently tJono and he speaks his lines as if they were his own natural conversation and not dialogue written by a playwright. There are very few traces of American accent in the speech of tho players. Indeed, all the principals speak faultless English and Miss Chatterton's beautifully modulated voice is as fine as anything yet xlieard from Hollywood. Throughout tho picture tho camera has been used with imagination and there are some striking pictorial effects, particularly' in the court scene, with the face of the woman glaring white in the shadow and the fipures of the gendarmes behind her hardly more than outlined. " Madamo X" is a film which has been carefully conceived, and just as carefully executed, and it should enjoy a most successful season.