“DADDY LONG LEGS”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 244, 15 October 1932, Page 6 (Supplement)

“DADDY LONG LEGS”

JANET GAYNOR AT GRAND FUTURE PROGRAMMES Janet Gaynor is charming as Judy Abbott, the central figure of “Daddy Long Legs,” a Fox film at the Grand Theatre. This is an adaptation of the play seen in Sydney some years ago, and, as on the stage, the plot opens in the orphanage with Judy telling her fairy stories to an audience of fascinated children. Then, through the agency of the mysterious friend, whom she has named “Daddy Long Legs,” she is given the opportunity of a college career and is seen as a graduate shyly delivering the valedictory address on commemoration day; and finally she is perceived tenderly responsive to Jervis Pendleton’s professions of love, and realising only at the last moment of the play that he is identical with her strange benefactor. In all these episodes Miss Gaynor plays with natural, unaffected grace and sympathy, using a slight voice with such subtle nuances that the grown people in the audience are interested just as surely as are the children on the screen when the story begins. There is excellent acting on the part of some of these children, notably Kendall McComas, the boy who is eaught stealing the sugar. Warner Baxter is admirably in character as Pendleton. Both Afiss Gaynor and he play the love scenes sympathetically and with artistic judgment.

A story of baseball aces and tangled hearts is told in “Hot Curves,” showing on Wednesday and Thursday at the Grand Theatre, with Alice Day, Rex Lease, Benny Rubin, Pert Kelton and some other fine players heading the cast. When hero Rex first sees heroine Alice, he thinks she is a boy. because she is disguised in a baseball uniform, and her pretty face is hidden behind a mask, and, besides, she throws a mean ball for a girl—but it doesn’t take him long to discover that she is the girl he wants to marry.

Comedy-romance with a new typist is provided Wanganui film fans with “The Brat,” showing at the Grand Theatre on Friday and Saturday. With the vivacious Sally O’Neil in the title role, “The Brat” offers plenty of laughs and suspense as it details the adventures of an impudent little slum quarter girl in society. Allan Dinehart, Frank Albertson. William Collier senr., Virginia Cherrill, June Collyer, Farrell Macdonald, Alary Forbes, Albert Gran and other favourites arc in the cast of the production.

Ben Lyon and Raquel Torres, who have been teamed together for the first time in “Aloha,” will bo seen in thru production at the Grand Theatre on October 24 and 25. As the young American who falls in love with beauty, Ben Lyon makes a notable performance, and, in turn, Raque] Torres as the object of his affections is also gorgeous. In the supporting cast are Robert Edeson as Ben Lyon’s father, a swell as Alan Hale, Thelma Todd. Otis Harlan. Al. St. John, Marian Douglas, and Roy Barnes in other important roles.

Ernst Lubitsch, famous director of Chevalier hits and other big films, started in the show business as a comedian on the Berlin stage. Charles Farrell has been selected by Fox Films for the leading role in “Salomy Jane,” which has Joan Bennett in the title part and Ralph Bellamy in a role equally prominent. Raoul Walsh will direct this production from Paul Armstrong’s play. Most of the picture will be made out of doors —in the Sequoia National Park.