"WAY FOR A SAILOR"

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3269, 7 March 1931, Page 2

"WAY FOR A SAILOR"

i The sometimes humorous, sometimes stirring, but always dramatic adventures of a group of hard-boiled seamen furnish the unslacking interest in " Way for a Sailor," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's latest talkie. John Gilbert, star of the picture, and Wa.lace Beery, who portrays his brawny mate of a British freighter, undoubtedly give the best performances of their careers in the vivid picturisation of Albert Richard Wetjen's well-known sea yarn. The roles of the care-free, indolent sailors who sivagger from one saloon to another, leaving broken bottles and overturned tables behind, and in the same manner turn from one sweetheart to another, leaving broken hearts behind, were made to order for the particular* talents of the two popular actors.

Here is a .picture that stamps out of drawing rooms, out of cities, and pretty parks right out into the middle of the ocean, where men go down to the sea in ships and things we landlubbers only read about actually happen. It packs excitement from start to finish. It has you hanging on to your seat for dear life. When the waves begin to pound and the old deck lurches you instinctively lurch with it. It's all too real, thrillingly so. and with a dramatic story glorifying the traditions of the sea—and of the" wives and sweethearts who stay ashore and wait for their men.

Gilbert cuts a rollicking figure as the hero,. a reckless chap who takes his fun where he finds it until he meets the kind of a girl he doesn't know anything about. She happens to be decent. The romance, or conflict, if you must, motivates the gripping plot which is climaxed in a midocean rescue of the crew of a foundering tramp steamer. Leila Hyams, as the leading lady, offers a' beautiful performance, and lends charm against the sordid background we find in the Liverpool dock scenes. A third member of the male shipboard fraternity turns out to be none other than Jim Tully, famous as the author of " Jarnegan" and other popular works. Tully turned actor to play in the Gilbert picture,, and managed to do a very good job of it at that. I

Polly Moran and Doris Lloyd check in capable performances in waterfront characterisations.