MARLENE DIETRICH.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20232, 16 February 1934, Page 3

MARLENE DIETRICH.

Exotic German Star has Lead in “Song of Songs.” “ As Husbands Go ” will conclude its season at the Regent Theatre to-night. Marlene Dietrich, who is probably the most attractive actress in films, has one of her finest roles in “ The Song of Songs,” which will start at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. Her part allows full scope for her great acting ability, and she portrays widely differing moods with her usual sincerity. The story opens in Hungary, and Marlene Dietrich appears as a simple country girl about to leave for Berlin, where she stays with her domineering aunt. She meets a young sculptor, who makes a statue of her, and around this statue the story revolves. Marlene Dietrich gives an extremely capable characterisation. First as the simple, timid country girl, then as the passionate artists’ model, later as the cold, bored wife of the baron, and finally as the artificial woman of the cabarets, she always rises to the heights of supreme artistry. She sings two charming little songs, one of which is in German, her native tongue. Brian Aherne. a young English actor of note, makes his first appearance in an American film as the impatient, matter-of-fact young sculptor, and he acquits himself well. Another brilliant English actor, Lionel A twill, gives a splendid portrayal as a brutal German aristocrat, who sets out to mould the simple country girl into an accomplished society woman. Other good performances come from Alison Skipworth, in the role of the hypocritical aunt who sells her ward’s happiness, and Hardie Albright, as a young farmer who falls under the spell of his employer’s w-ife. Box plans at The Bristol.