“DOWNSTAIRS.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 662, 16 January 1933, Page 3

“DOWNSTAIRS.”

Bright Drama at Liberty Theatre. Mr John Gilbert, a popular author, put one of his own stories, “ Downstairs, on the screen at the Liberty Theatre on Saturday, and took the leading' part. This part was that of a young man with a whimsical expression and an animated manner. He is a Lothario of the gayest type. Entering the service of an Austrian nobleman by the back stairs, taking the position of chauffeur, he makes love to ajl and sundry, from the cook to the butler’s wife, and even the countess, until lie has the whole castle in a turmoil from top to botto m. With all his success in love he is not particularly fascinating, but he has a gift of subtle flattery and a way with him that certainly captivates at first. . . . . Inevitably, his deceitfulness is laid bare. He cannot hoodwink people all the time, and the climax is dramatic. Until this is reached there are many bright touches, which at times give an impression that the story is intended for comedy-drama. It is not a study of real life—no man Carr , y on like this a single 1 • ng:_place an< * away with it—and it does not represent either the average man or the average woman, hut it is an excellent story, brilliantlv produced, and very well acted by Mr Gilbert and his company, amongst whom lr 6‘ ,n i a Bruce is conspicuous. The folly of marrying in haste to lTr Pe l’ lt at leisure is exemplified in “ A week-end Marriage.” The leading characters in this drama of life are genuinely in love when they marry, but Fate soon steps in with sour visage and turns their joy to sorrow. Trouble begins when the husband loses his job and races a reduced income, while the wife, more lucky, lias her salary increased until she earns more than he does. This is galling to lum. For a time he puts on an apron and washes the dishes, mends his socks, and so on. Then his spirit revolts, a reaction sets in, he joins a fast crowd, goes in for riotous living, and gets into gaol for drunkenness. TTis humiliation is great when his wife bails him out. Xot that only, but she magnanimously hails out' the 1 2 v ,on , de with whom he picked up. Declaring that he will no longer live on a woman’s earnings, he leaves his wife. Temptations come upon her fast, but, womanlike, she finds that, after all, her heart is with her dissipated husband; and when she receives a telegram stating that he is dangerously ill she lions into an aeroplane, flies to his bedside, nuisea him hack to health, and, amidst tears and kisses, vows that she will never leave him again. All’s well that ends well, and so this story ends The part of the wife is taken by Uoretta Young, vho has come into the front rank of screen players. She. deserves all the praise she has received. Norman foster, as the husband, shows less talent than Miss Young does, but he is well up to the average. Aline MacMahon. we!l known at the Liberty Theatre, and \ 1 vienne Osborne and George Brent help to rnake the story the success it is. The news items, as always, cover a wide field, from songs by Mr 31. Tauber, tiie tenor, to discoveries in an old Roman ' mage near London.