“Tough Guy” Star in "Midsummer Night’s Dream"

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 13, 16 January 1936, Page 10

“Tough Guy” Star in " Midsummer Night’s Dream "

HOLLYWOOD VERSION MAY 1\ PUZZLE MANY |p. j 0 LONDON, j a Shakespeare on the screen, with James (’lough Guy) Cagney making a w good job of the part of Bottom, and! u Joe E. Brown, ihe wide-mouth come- p dian, making a big hit as Elute. Such'u. was the spectacle presented when Hui- s< lywood's £300,600 version of “A Alidsummer Night’s Dream” was produced G at the Adelphi Theatre simultaneously ii with premieres in New York and Baris. No expense was spared by Warner a Brothers to make a success of the pic- t lure, which was directed by Alax Rem- d hardt, and a score of technical experts in dance, dialogue, trick photography l s land make-up, a prominent place in the ' v (programme being allotted to Percy It I Wcstniore, cosmetician, a new element c tin a Shakespearean production! | On the whole the subject has been j very well done, the settings being mag-ja nilicent and tiie photography brilliant, t Acting honours go to Joe E. Brown I a

fur his telling work as Flute. His expressive face registered perfectly m the bright episode with Cagney during the artisans' play. Cagney imbued the rule of Bottom with a restless energy which, was not unattractive, although one had a suspicion at times that he would jump out of character and give someone a hefty sock uh the jaw. Alickey Rooney, one of the ‘‘Our Gang ” child comedians, gave a convincing performance as Puck. ►Shakespearean enthusiasts will prob- 11 ably thoroughly enjoy this picture, but v the majority of lilnigocrs may find it L difficult to follow. The producers made the mistake of [supposing that eveiybody is familiar ' 'with the Bard's fantasy, and has ornit11 ed tu identify sufficiently the principal ' characters. | If you like Shakespeare you will enjoy “The Dream,” but if yuu do nut * jappreciate the work of ‘‘The Bard"' * Ithen it might strike you as ‘‘much - ado about nothing.” p