JANET GAYNOR FILM.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 329, 23 January 1932, Page 25 (Supplement)

JANET GAYNOR FILM.

Surpassing even her memorable triumph in “ Sunny Side Up.” Janet Gaynor gives a tender, touching portrayal, blended with rare, humour, in “ Daddy Long Legs,” the romantic comedy which begins a season at Everybody’s Theatre on Monday. Warner Baxter, also, does the most brilliant work of his career in the leading masculine rote of this delightful talkie version of Jean Webster's play, and a distinguished cast gives flawless support. Such a combination of superbly cast players and an ideal story is all too seldom seen on the silver sheet. The story is so well known as scarcely to need repetition here, but the tale of the orphan girl whom a sympathetic trustee sends to college, only to find himself falling in love with her, has never been more deftly and charmingly told. The director, Alfred Santell, has easily surpassed all his earlier efforts in his subtle and telling manipulation of the plot, and the notable teamwork achieved by the two principals makes one wonder why they never were cast to play together in a picture before. Una Merkel and John Arledge portray important roles—the former scoring heavily with her quaint Kentucky accent and droll mannerisms as Janet Gaynor’s roommate, and Arledge, who was “ discovered ” by Santell, showing surprising promise as a juvenile. Kathlyn Williams, Claude Gillingwater, sen, Louise Closser Hale, Elizabeth Patterson and Edwin Maxwell have the principal “ grownup ” parts, while from some mysterious source the director obtained a thoroughly delightful and appealing group of “ orphan ” youngsters for the asylum sequences. The box plans are at The Bristol Piano Company.