GENE GERRARD FILM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21318, 20 October 1932, Page 14

GENE GERRARD FILM

"LUCKY GIRL" FORV CIVIC ",My Wife's Family," which .was- shown in Auckland-some time ago, was claimed as the greatest; mirth-provoking,film England bad made-;. This .Was in . no small measure due to the humorous capabilities of Gene. Gerrard, who took the part of the brow-beaten son-in-law. Auckland film-lovers will eagerly await the reappearance of this comedian in "Lucky Girl/'* which will commence a season at the £ivic Theatre to-morrow. The picture was adapted from the musical comedy of the same name by Douglas -Furber and from the play !'M:r.;-Abdulla," by Reginald Berkeley, r .. Since his outstanding successes in "My Wife's Family," -"Let's Love and Laugh'' and "Out of the Blue," Gene Gerrard has been unanimously acclaimed as ,the greatest- comedian in pictures. Letters from abroad and every part of the country have declared him to be the finest a-rnbassa.dor the British film indus-try-has ever known, and in thrs picture he is said to eclipse all his former efforts. Another 1 favourite is seen in a prominent role in the. person of Molly'Lamont, who has played opposite Mr. Gerrard in previous', productions. Gus McNaughton, a new' screen "find," gives a lively portrayal as'one of the principal funmakers. The film deals with the adventures of Stephan. Gregorovitch, king of Karaslavia, who, with affairs of State weighing .heavily-on-his shoulders, decides to grace 'England with his presence and sets out, accompanied by Greener, his efficiency expert, - in search of love and adventure —-and, a little hard cash if a worthy buyer for the crown jewels' turns lip. Here adventures follow thick and fasjt, with the king under the incognito of "Mr.. Abdullah," and Greener invited to a country house party, where they are suspected of being a pair of criminals (the suspicions greatly enhanced by the latter's -enthusiasm for combining pleasure mid business and profusely displaying the crown jewels). Matters are Complicated by the king making love to his host's daughter, Moira. Events reach a climax when two loyal Karaslavians arrive and lufk in the grounds awaiting an opportunity to avenge their motherland and choot. the king. Altogether, it should be a genuinely entertaining and amusing proSuction. 'A brief impression of England's progress through the past Century, "England Aw'jtke," takes pride of place, on the supporting programme. It presents the Duke of Wellington holding an imaginary interview with a discontented workman and retains the Duke's voice for the commentary on the development of British administration abroad and British industry at home. A round of. visits is made to Various parts of the Empire at crucial periods in their history and one hears the Duke describing scientific and industrial developments with a freshness of wonder that helps us. to rediscover familiar things. The opportunity to make of such Vast material a striking pictorial pattern has been fully grasped and great interfist should attach to the screening of the picture in Auckland.