"MAN-PROOF"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23191, 10 November 1938, Page 17

"MAN-PROOF"

FILM FOR ST. JAMES' A light social drama in which clever conversation and the ultra-modern "streamlined" type of acting play large parts is "Man-Proof," tho outstanding film which is to commonco-a season at St. James' Theatre to-morrow. "AlanProof" tells the story of Mimi Swift, a young society girl who fancies she is in love with a man-about-town of the real American type. In her rote as Mimi, Myrna Loy gives a performance that ranks with the finest of her career, while Walter Pidgeon, as tho good-looking, but shallow, American, is also responsible for a brilliant piece of acting. Mimi finds herself in the unenviable position of being a bridesmaid at the wedding of the man she had hoped would marry her, but who. instead, marries a rich society girl (Rosalind Russell)., After tho wedding ceremony Mimi partakes a little too froely of the. wine and frankly declares that she intends to recapture tho affections of the bridegroom. On the return of tho couple from their honeymoon, Mimi manages to capture the husband for a while, but is unable to hold him owing to the shrewd generalship of tho wife. And then Mimi finds that she has miscalculated, for, after she gets the husband into such a situation that his wife offers him a diivorcq, ho refuses to accept it, Ho has married his rich wife for her money and does not love Mimi to the extent of wanting the divorce which his wife offers him. Tho story does not end unhappily for Mimi, however, for she finally discovers that she is really in love with her firm friend, Jimmy Kilmartin, a role capably handled by Franchot Tone. All four principal players act with great understanding, and to them goes the credit for the outstanding success of the film. Adrnirablo ]>erfornianees in supporting roles are given by Rita Johnson, Nana Bryant, lluth Hussey, Leonard Penn and John Miljan; "Man-Proof" was directed by Richard Thorpe. It is a film that will appeal to audiences that like romance, excitement and laughter.