TOWN HALL TALKIES

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3422, 20 February 1936, Page 4

TOWN HALL TALKIES

“ESCAPE ME NEVER” LOVE, LAUGHTER, AND TEARS As the carefree gamin whose life strajys into tragic paths Elisabeth Bergner reveals emotional talent that has never been surpassed on the screen in “Escape Me Never,” the brilliant film to be screened at the Town Hall Talkies this evening and to-morrow evening. It is a beautiful screen version of the play from the novel “The Fool of the Family,” by Margaret Kennedy. In the film the director has brought out in the noted Austrian actress, Elisabeth Bergner, the elfin quality which eluded Hollywood in her two American films, “Cradle Song” and “Catherine the Great.” The picture is one of the finest to have come from an English studio.

In “Escape Me Never” Miss Bergner as the pitiful little waif, Gemma Jones, lifts her empty hand, somehow it is weighted with all the sorrows of her tragic little life; she lets it fall and, like a cup inverted, her life suddenly becomes pitifully empty again. There is a tragic scene as she steals into the hospital to ask what has become of her baby. She makes of the lovable waif who is befriended with her baby by a selfish, egotistical composer, who finally marries her, a living person. Her subsequent unhappiness as she sees her husband making love to his brother’s fiancee moves the audience as few stories could do.

Although Bergner dominates the film with her genius she has the assistance of Hugh Sinclair, who does well as the callous husband, and Griffith Jones making the most of the part of his more matter-of-fact brother. “This Is The Life.” The child actress Jane Withers, who gave such a promising performance in “Ginger,” is shown to have fulfilled all her early promise in “This Is The Life,” the film for Saturday and Monday. The little grl is given every opportunity to show her capabilities in singing, dancing, acting and mimicry and her poise and assurance are worthy of a far older actress, and the story has a refreshing atmosphere. Withal Jane retains the spontaneity and refreshing gaiety which is the chief appeal of a child actress. The story opens with a picture of Jane Withers as a child actress whose private life is made a misery by a pair of scheming guardians with designs on her substantial fortune. , ,Escaping with a new-found friend (John McGuire) she runs into a series of amusing and exciting adventures which seal the success of the film.

Sally Blane has a large share in the young man’s happiness and Jane Withers is finally given the care-free existence previously denied her.