“OUTCAST LADY.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20539, 14 February 1935, Page 3

“OUTCAST LADY.”

Fine Screen Adaptation of Arlen’s Story. “ The Pursuit of Happiness " (Charles Ruggles) will be shown finally to-mor-row night at the Tivoli Theatre. Constance Bennett and Herbert Marshall are co-starred for the first time in “ Outcast Lady,” which will head the new programme at the Tivoli Theatre on Saturday. “ Outcast Lady ” is a screen adaptation of “ The Green Hat,” the novel which set all England talking a few years ago and made the name of Michael Arien famous. It is a modern story and enshrines in somewhat lighter style that strangely universal appeal to compassion which made “ East Lynne ” famous both as a stage play and story. In the title role the vivid personality of Constance Bennett dominates the cast, enriches the action, and captures the sympathy of patrons as completely as anything accomplished by George Arliss in his historic masculine roles. It is a study in pathos, characterised by the delicate surety of touch for the shading of sentiment in which the English stage excels and which produces effective seeming simplicity. In the character of Iris March, reckless of self in her loyalty to family and friends, she sets and suffers for a standard of honour as a “ gallant gentleman ” which compels the puzzled admiration of her intimate friends, but wrecks her happiness. It is a fascinating story of a feminine Don Quixote of the twentieth century. The complicated emotions evoked by the experiences through which Iris March passes give Constance Bennett fine opportunity for sympathetic acting, and the picture is said to be a triumph for her. Box plans at the D.I.C.