“SONG OF SONGS.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20233, 17 February 1934, Page 25 (Supplement)

“SONG OF SONGS.”

Marlene Dietrich Has Lead in Sudermann Classic. The beautiful Marlene Dietrich has the leading role in “ The Song of Songs,” the talking film adaptation of the Sudermann literary classic, which began at the Regent Theatre to-day. It is' a story of a great love. “ Song of Songs ” presents a sweet and beautiful girl seeking happiness, but placing her love on a high, sublime, and almost holy plane. Lilly Czepanek, played by Marlene Dietrich, arrives in the great city of Berlin sweet and unsophisticated from the country. She finds her way to an artist’s studio, and as Waldow, the sculptor, moulds her statue with his hands, he also brings about changes, imperceptible to the outer -senses, in her heart. Lilly, through force of circumstances, goes another way however, and the picture resolves itself into the portrayal of her return to the sublime love of former days. Marlene Dietrich is seen in this film as never before. She fascinates with her delightful simplicity, changing as it does into a thousand different moods—to love, to hate, to scorn or ridicule. Brian Aherne plays the part of the sculptor and artist—one who loses and then regains. Lionel Atwill is the suave and self-opinionated Baron von Merzbach, and Alison Skipworth gives a wonderful characterisation as Mrs Rasmussen. Box Plans at the Bristol.