FINE ROMANCE AT EVERYBODY’S HAS WIDE APPEAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18469, 22 May 1928, Page 7

FINE ROMANCE AT EVERYBODY’S HAS WIDE APPEAL.

That delightful love story of the Napoleonic days, " Quality Street," has been brought to the screen by the Metro-Goldwyn Company. The picture was shown for the first time, in Christchurch at Everybody’s Theatre .yesterday, and at the evening session there was a large attendance, and it was evident that the picture was thoroughly appreciated. " Quality Street ' is from the pen of Sir James M. Barrie, one of the greatest of living English authors. Barrie has written many delightful stories and plays, but ii» none of his work is there a greater charm than in “ Quality Street." All the charm and interest of the original have been preserved in the screen version, and it is evident that the producers have spared no expense to get the right atmosphere. The time of the story is set when Napoleon was drenching Europe blood. The three central figures are Phoebe Throssal, who lives with her old maid sister, Si?san. Phoebe is in love with young Dr Valentine Brown, but. when she thinks he is on the verge of proposing to her, he suddenly hears the call to arms. So Dr Brown goes away to the wars, and the Throssal sisters, in order to tide over hard times, open a little school. Ten years pass and Captain Brown returns home intending to propose to Miss Phoebe. However, he has forgotten that the passage of ten years works many changes, even in a lady's appearance, and he cannot conceal the shock, the change in h> sweetheart gives him. Angered by this. Phoebe decides to teach the gallant captain a little lesson, but, as this is the essence of the story, it would not be fair to those, who have yet to sec the picture, to go into details. Tt is Mifficicnt to say that in the end everything turns out happily. The part of Phoebe Throssal is played by that popular actress, Marion Davies. She has appeared in many big pictures, but probably in none has she done

better work than in ‘‘Quality Street.’ The role suits her vivacious personality even more effectively than many of those past performances which have helped to make her famous. Her undoubted bent for sparkling comedy and her been apxireciation of dramatic situations are given full scope in “ Quality Street.” She makes the heroine live as no doubt the author intended her to be. The part of Dr Frown is played by Conrad Nagel, who gives a spirited interpretation of- the character of the dashing army captain. He carries out his work in a manner that adds still further to his already great reputation as a screen actor. The supporting cast is a strong one, including Helen Jerome Eddy as Susan Throssel, Flora Finch, Margaret Seddon, Marcell Cordav and Kate Price, who, as an Irish maidservant, again shows herself a capable and intelligent actress. The whole story is essentially English, and the scenery, settings' and dresses are in keeping with this; " Quality Street ” is undoubtedly a pictcire that is worth seeing. The supporting programme is a strong one, including a comedy, “ The Pall of the Cuckoo.” an amusing car toon film, a Pa the- Gazette and a Universal Gazette. The orchestra, under the baton of Mr Albert Bidgood. played a programme of incidental music in which old English compositions took priority of place. The overture was “Musical Jigsaw” (Ketelbv) ; suites, “Romantic" (Stanley). ** Le Roi s'Amuse ” (Delibes), “Down Vauxhall Way” (Martin); overture.

“ Robespierre ” (Litolff) : selections, “Lilac Time’’ (Clutsam), “ Merrie England” (Edward German), “Drink to Me Only ” (words by Ben Jonson. music by Marquardt), “Gavotte in G” (Gluck), “Two Old English Pieces” (Ireland), “Viennese Dance” (Komijak) ; entr’acte. Miss Doreen Daly and Mr Albert Bidgood at two pianos, in Rachmaninoff's famous “ Prelude in C Sharp Minor,” and “ Polly,” by Kamecnik.