BIZARRE ROLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22142, 22 June 1935, Page 11 (Supplement)

BIZARRE ROLE

NOEL COWARD IN FILM / MAN BACK. FROM GRAVE' In a somewhat bizarre role, that of a cynical book publisher who, after being drowned at sea, is allowed to return to life to seek redemption, Noel Coward makes his first film appearance in a picture about to be released entitled "The Scoundrel." - Bored and disillusioned after many years of philandering, Anthony Mallare, the publisher, has a romantic love affair with Cora Moore Young, a poetess. After a few months, however, Tony ;wearies of her, and seeks distraction with another woman, a musician. Cora pleads with him not to abandon her, but he is brutally indifferent. Pursuing his latest love. Tony then sets out in an aeroplane for Bermuda, but the machine crashes into the sea, arid his friends learn that he has been drowned.

But lie returns from the grave—-in-cidentally with seaweed still sticking to his clothes —and begins a frantic search for Cora, explaining that he is alowed to return to the world for a month to find 'someone whose tears will give him eternal rest. Just as his/term of probation is to end, he finds Cora tending her former fiance in a slum. As Tony implores Cora to shed tears for him, her fiance, Paul Decker, shoots him, and then 6hoots himself.

Tony, supernaturally unscathed by the bullets, implores Divine aid to restore life to Decker and happiness to Cora. Decker "recovers, and with Cora bursting into tears of hysterical gratitude, and Tony lifting his face to heaven in silent thanksgiving, the picture closes.'

Isoel Coward's acting is brilliant and jnuch of the dialogue is witty.