“ THE MILLIONAIRE.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 521, 2 August 1932, Page 3

“ THE MILLIONAIRE.”

George Arliss in Likeable Role. In “ The Millionaire ”, which heads the bill of fare at Everybody’s Theatre, tleorge Arliss, the popular English actor, is featured in his first modern role, but he is equally as likeable as he was in the production which made him really famous as a character actor. " Disraeli.” With charm of manner and polished acting, he makes the character which he portrays—that of a wealthy motor manufacturer forced to seek relaxation from business cares —live. The production is flavoured with humour, hut even the less serious side of screen playing comes easily to the star. The story is simplicity itself, and for that reason Arliss's ability to carry it through to a logicdl conclusion without allowing interest to relax is all the more strikingly exemplified. Fatigued by an energetic business career, the great motor manufacturer is ordered away by his doctor, well fortified with prescriptions and medicines. He is pampered and petted by his family, but fails to make the recovery anticipated. Finally he discovers that what he really requires to restore him to that vigour and vitality that raised him to the status of millionaire is a change of occupation, and not strict adherence to doctor’s orders. Unknown to his wife and daughter, he acquires an interest in a bowser station, and, in partnership with a young man who has been duped into buying a station on a road which is suddenly closed to traffic, he sets about capturing the trade of unscrupulous rivals. By the time the business has been worked up to a profitable basis, a delightful romance has sprung up between the millionaire's daughter and his partner. The denouement with such a set of circumstances is happy, and, in addition, it

sees a tired business man fit to take up the reins of office once more. The cast supporting Arliss has been splendidly chosen, and includes- Mrs Arliss, a wife who is over fond of fussing round her husband, and Evelyn Knapp, as the daughter who finds the man she loves in the young and enterprising service station proprietor. The supporting programme is excellent, and consists of a topical gazette, a travelogue introducing the dangers of lion-hunting in Africa, and a comedy.