MARION DAVIES AND CONRAD NAGEL IN “QUALITY STREET”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 219, 15 September 1928, Page 15 (Supplement)

MARION DAVIES AND CONRAD NAGEL IN “QUALITY STREET”

More pictures like Marion Davies’ “Quality Street,” which will be showing at the Majestic Theatre on Wednesday are devoutly to be desired.

In the stellar role of Phoebe Throssel, Miss Davies gives the best performance of her screen career and does full justice to a role which Maude Adams made so dear to the theatre-going public.

Little of the charm of Sir James Barrie’s noted play has been lost in its transition to the screen. The director has stuck close to the original vehicle, so close that he, for the first time in screen history, has succeeded in filming eight full epiodes, aggregating almost four hundred scones, in a single room. Barrie concentrated his play into the Throssel drawing room and Director Sidney Franklin and the scenarists, Hans Kraly and Albert Lewin, have kept it there. It is infrequently that such a noted play finds its way to the screen. Most* stars would have been afraid to tackle the role of Phoebe Throssel, and their fear would have been well grounded. It took some master work for as good a portrayal as Marion Davies has given such a difficult part. Marion’s work in “Quality Street” shows she is the peer of any screen actress in the world. The part called for comedy, pathos and straight drama —and it got them all. Conrad Nagel does a good piece of work as the Barrie hero and brings to mind his good work opposite Miss Davies in one of her former vehicles. “Lights of Old Broadway.” Flora Finch, who proved such a fam' ous comedienne, with John Bunny, in the early days of motion pictures, does a real come-back in the role of one of the throe spinsters, devoured by curiosity and given to much idle gossip. Marcelle Corday and Margaret Seddon, as the other old maids, give good performances, as does Kate Price in the role of the Irish servant.

Special mention should be given the fine portrayal of Susan by Helen Jerome Eddy.

The picture was filmed by Mctro-Goldwyn-‘Mayer and will long be remembered as an exceptionally fine film production.