“BY CANDLELIGHT.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20290, 27 April 1934, Page 3

“BY CANDLELIGHT.”

Continental Comedy Starts To-morrow. “ I Like It That Way ” will be shown finally to-night at the Regent Theatre. When a butler and a maid masquerade under the names cf their titled employers, almost anything can happen, especially if the real Prince is a notorious philanderer and the Countess is at the moment one of the objects of his wandering affections. “By Candlelight,” the sparkling Continental comedy by Siegfried Geyer, which will start at the Regent Theatre to-mor-row, presents just such a situation, with Elissa Landi and Paul Lukas costarring in the roles of maid and butler. In the story, the pair strike up an acquaintance aboard a train travelling from Vienna to Monte, Carlo. Circumstances cause each to believe, that the other is a member of the nebility, and each servant is correspondingly thrilled at the prospect of a romance with a person of noble rank. In Monte Carlo, during the Prince’s absence from his luxurious apartment, the masquerading butler entertains the attractive maid, who calls at the apartment dressed in a beautiful evening gown belonging to her royal mistress. The evening is proceeding nicely when the Prince unexpectedly returns. Several scenes in the picture take place in the grounds of a little carnival in Austria, where peasants on holiday bent enjoy themselves to the fullest extent. This carnival is visited by Elissa Landi and Paul Lukas, and complications ensue when the train departs without them. This gav comedy was directed by James Whale, who is masterful in directing situations of this type, as he demonstrated in “ The Kiss Before +he Mirror.” The supporting cast includes Nils Asther, Esther Ralston, Lawrence Grant, Dorothy Revier and Lois January. In addition, the second of the new Bobby Jones golf “ shorts,” “ Position and Backswing,” will be presented. Box plans at the D.I.C.