RONALD COLMAN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 926, 22 November 1933, Page 3

RONALD COLMAN.

A most unusual theme is cleverly exploited in "Gabriel Over the. White House," starring Walter Huston, the fine drama which heads the current programme at the Crystal Palace Theatre. A new Constance Bennett, combining all the glamour of old with the added appeal of an entirely different and striking characterisation, will be seen at the Crystal Palace Theatre on Saturday in " Bed of Roses." In this dramatic offering the star is ably supported by Joel M'Crea and John ginniday. Constance Bennett is report to be particularly fascinating in this pic'— ture, in which she enacts a role entirely different from her previous characterisations. Her drama is rich, with just the correct tinge of comedy. The story deals with the adventures of a beautiful gamin of the hiississippi and is adxnirably suited to Constance Bennett‘s tai—ents. Six months in a reform school teach Lorry Evans (Constance Bennett) the “ logic " of exchanging her love for a millionaire‘s luxury, En route to New Orleans she meets Dan, captain of a. cotton-hauling tugboat, to whom she is attracted. but. in the big city she. becomes the mistresg of Stephen Paige, a Wealthy publisher. Life with Paige gives her luxury but no love, and this situation lends itself to much tense drama. M’Crea and Halliday are equally~ excellent in their respective portrayals of Dan and Paige. Pert Kelton. direct from the New York stage. is ‘thoroughly amusing in her role of Constance Bennett's "hard-boiled" girl friend. From the ranks of California barristers comes Samuel Hinds to portray Father Doran. While Constance Bennett's acting abil—ity is accentuated against the vivid background of the Mardi Gras. other sequences depict Mississippi River craft and picturesque New Orleans streets. The photography captures many charming moods. _ Box plans at The Bristol.

. Popular Star has Dual Role in ’9 “The Masquerader. Intriguing technique, pleasantly amusing- and entertaining comedy and tense drama. are all contained in the latest Elissa. Lanai-Ronald Colman fea~ tux'e, “The Mlasquerad'er,” which heads the delightful bill of fare now well into its second week at the Plaza Theatre. In this splendid produc—tion Ronald Colman scores an impres—sive success in a dual role, portraying two diametrically opposite personalities with baffling effects. John Clulcote, M.P., is a. hereditary politician for whom a. brilliant career has been mapped out, and on whom the hopes of his party are centred. Like many other Parliamentarians and great men of fiction, however, he has one or two skeletons in his cupboard, and of these incompatability of temperament with his charming wife, a role excellently taken by Elissa Landi, and an insatiable drug habit, are the most dominating. There is a dramatic and .sensational scene in the House of Commons when the young member is expected to make a. memorable speech, but he completely collapses and fails his party. He wanders into the midst of a London fog of traditional density and makes his way to the Embank—ment. Suddenly he comes face to face with his double—actually his cousin—and is baffled to decide if it is a. ligment of his distorted mentality or a shadow of his real self. It is then that the double personality enters the theme. and John Loder, with whom Fate has not been over kind, becomes inveigled into taking the. place of his helpless and nerve-broken relative. The outstanding features of this great show are the wonderful acting of the principals, the excellence of the settings and production generally and the delightful ad» mixture of comedy and drama.