“THE GUARDSMAN”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20274, 7 April 1934, Page 31 (Supplement)

“THE GUARDSMAN”

Molnar’s Sparkling Comedy at Plaza. Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, who are said to be the foremost living players of the American stage, make their talking picture debut in “ The Guardsman,” Ferenc Molnar’s sparkling Viennese comedy, which opened at the Plaza Theatre to-day. The story of “The Guardsman,” which many critics believe to be Molnar’s wittiest and most sophisticated play, concerns an Austrian actor who de- 1 vises an unusual experiment to find out whether his wife would be unfaithful to ‘ him if given the opportunity. This film might well be likened to a fine and perfectly-tempered rapier blade, scintillating with its humour as it sharply glides in and out on its passages of repartee, and cutting and thrusting unerringly at conventionality. The acting is mainly in the hands of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, Roland Young and Zasu Pitts. The last-named two need no introduction. They are comedy players well known for their inimitable styles of humour. They prove perfect foils to the even more brilliant acting of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. In the story, Lunt and Lynn Fontanne appear as husband and wife, stage players who are intensely jealous of each other’s mastery of the art of acting. In addition, the husband is jealous of his wife’s interest in other men. To prove to his own satisfaction that he is without peer as an actor, and also to prove her unfaithfulness, the husband impersonates a swaggering Russian guardsman, and becomes his wife’s lover. Here is a situation for sophisticated comedy if ever there was one! The supporting items include “ King Cole,” a Silly Symphony in colour. Box plans at the D.I.C.