A FINE PROGRAMME.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20281, 16 April 1934, Page 3

A FINE PROGRAMME.

Varied Attractions at Crystal Palace. In addition to " Female,” Ruth Chatterton s latest production, the < rystal Palace Theatre has an excellent supporting programme to offer patrons this week. There is no doubt about the entertainment value of Female. * Ruth Chatterton has an established reputation as an actress, and in this new and startling storv she more than upholds it, but there is a.so in the picture a magnificent group of characters played by an outstanding cast. The entertainment is largely contributed to bv a series of first-class shorts,” which include a good news, a ciever magazine, a splendidly-staged musical novelty, and a. slapstick comedy of more than usual quality. Ruth Chatterton has plaved many roles, but she creates yet another in f emale, an excellently-produced and well-thought-out story centred round a new aspect of an old theme. It is a rather startling plot that is handled on this occasion. Ruth Chatterton is placed at the head of a large automobile manufacturing business, as a new type of woman, efficient, unscrupulous and commanding, fighting men in business and beating them. And in love she plays the same role, despising men and using them as she wishes, and never allowing them to interfere with the running of her business. That is until she meets George Brent, and, for the first time, repulse. It would be interesting to know what would have been, her reaction had Brent been of the yes-man ” type to which she was accustomed. But that does not concern the picture. She is repulsed piqued, and then . As a woman of experience, who "got her man” while allowing him to do the getting. Kuth Chatterton is worth seeing; and her methods are equally interesting, the theme is well handled by a cast that includes Ruth Donnelly, John Mack Brown, Gavin Gordon, and others of equal repute. Laughs and drama are well mingled.