"THE EASIEST WAY."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21223, 1 July 1932, Page 15

"THE EASIEST WAY."

MISS BENNETT AT ST. JAMES'.

Constance Bennett, brilliant actress of "Lady With a Past" and "Sin Takes a Holiday," reverts to the emotional type of character she portrayed with such vitality in " Common Clay" in " The Easiest Way," to begin a, season at St. James' Theatre to-day. She endows with grace and charm the part of a young woman in reduced circumstances who becomes an artist's model and responds to the specious love-making of a philandering man of fashion. Later she falls genuinely in. love with a steadfast youth and the story deals with her jfforts to escape the shadow of her past. There is a particularly accomplished cast of players. Besides Miss Bennett, it includes Robert Montgomery, one of the most engaging heroes in films, and Adolphe Menjou,. in the part of the acquisitive bachelor. Others who play important roles are Clark Gable, who has appeared opposite Greta Garbo, Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Marion Davies; Anita Page, vivacious actress of " The Sidewalks of New York"; Marjorie Rambeau, seen in such notable films as " Min and Bill" and " Hell Divers"; J. Farrell Mac Donald and Clara Blandick.

But it is Miss Bennett who dominates the film throughout. She has the happy knack of portraying a woman's emotional conflict without resorting to hysterics and extravagant gestures. Never does she appear to be straining after eflgct. The result is a dignified and reposeful interpretation of an exceedingly exacting role. Miss Bennett is always mistress of the situation. The production of the film has bsen done on a magnificent scale and there are many beautiful scenes. Altogether, it is a distinctive film transcription of the startling stage success which proved an unqualified triumph id New York. It is a frank and sincere discussion of a woman's emotional problem.