“SKY BRIDE.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 579, 8 October 1932, Page 25 (Supplement)

“SKY BRIDE.”

Comedy-romance of the Air Heads Plaza Bill. All the factors which the public seeks in entertainment—thrills, pathos and an ample measure of comedy—are contained in “ Sky Bride.” a comedy-romance of the air, which heads the new programme at the Plaza Theatre today. While during recent years ther # e have been a number of air pictures, most of which have had as their background the war years, there has been none that has possessed such dramatic interest as “ Sky Bride,” chiefly because the story is one which rings true to human nature, and the characterisations are remarkably fine. Various angles of aviation, the types of humanity attracted to it, their reactions in the air and afterwards, and the contacts they make among themselves and with their families are cleverly woven into a scintillating story. Richard Arlen presents a study of a dare-devil stunt flyer, whose nerve is broken by an accident in mid-air that results in the death of a, pal in circumstances that seem to him to have made his dare-devilry the cause of the tragedy. The entry of Jack Oakie, as another pal, who sees in Aflen’s brooding a double tragedy to their once merry circle, brings highlights of drama to what had started out as a chain of thrills and comedy. From that point, in which Arlen appears to have had his career smashed, and Oakie makes a gallant fight for his friend’s future, the action becomes notable for the reason that both these artists appear at their best in real dramatic work, thrown into relief by Oakie's flair for comedy relief, and this is assisted along by the ability of Virginia Bruce, Robert Coogan and Louise Hale to get the best out of the appealing human interest situations into which they are thrown. Richard Arlen. who won instant approval by his remarkable work in “ Wings,” is seen as Condon and shows an unusually fine grip of psychology in his characterisation of the former flyer, who feels that he had failed. Much of the comedy of the production ife due to the efforts of Jack Oakie as Dugan, the “ circus ” manager. His attempts to bring about Condon’s rehabilitation show that, apart from his talents as a humourist, he is capable of fine work as a dramatic artist. With Arlen, Robert Coogan is responsible for one of the most remarkable pieces of air acrobatics ever seen on the screen.