COWARD PLAY FILMED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21763, 31 March 1934, Page 14

COWARD PLAY FILMED

ATTRACTION AT MAJESTIC Although Noel Coward is recognised as one of the most brilliant of modern playwrights, only three of his plays, "Private Lives," "Design, for Living" 'and "Cavalcade." ''had been translated to the screen until the making of "Bittor Sweet." This British and Dominions production will commence a season at the Majestic Theatre to-day. The story opens at a party given by a girl who, although engaged to one man, is in love with a musician. They are discovered by an old lady, who counsels the girl to make up her mind, and to help her, her own love story. Years ago she, \oo, had been engaged, but eloped with hor young music master to Vienna, where they eked out a meagre living by performing in a cabaret, he as leader of the orchestra and sho as a dancer. However, the attentions of a soldier bring their romance to a tragic close. Anna Neagle, a young English actress who has had remarkable success of late, given her finest portrayal as the girl who eloped with her Austrian lover, while Fernand Graavey makes an auspicious debut in British films as her leading man. Clifford Heatherley is well suited to the role of the owner, of a Viennese cafe, and others in the cast are Gibb McLaughlin, Miles Mander, Stuart Robertson and Hugh Williams.

Several effective musical numbers are introduced, including "I'll Sec You Again" and "Dear Little Cafe."