‘ON APPROVAL.'

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18229, 17 January 1931, Page 7

‘ON APPROVAL.'

! AT THE CIVIC THEATRE SPLENDID pRITISH FILM. ' ’ 'w “On Approval,” Frederick Lonsdale’s brilliant comedy, was an assured success for many months at the Fortune Theatre,' London, and the -picture now showing at the Civic Theatre photographs the stage play so successfully that not a single line of the witty dialogue is lost. Indeed, interpreted as it is by a cast most of whom were seen in that other success, “Rookery Nook,” including . Tom Walls, Yvonne Arnaud, Edmond Breon and Winifred Shotter, it seems to go with, an even greater swing tpan the stage version. A Lonsdale comedy . demands above everything polished and distinguished acting, and the suc--cess of this delightful film is entirely due to the sympathetic feeling which obviously exists between the members of the , cast and the author, add the accomplished direction of an artist in Mr Tom Walls, who not only puts over a perfect performance himself, but gives every member of his company equal facilities. Frederick Lonsdale, famed for his Inimitable witticisms, has given to the screen something entirely novel in the way of high comedy dialogue. The British and Dominions Film Corporation cer- ; tainly kntew what they were about when they signed an agreement with lim to reproduce some of his most popular plays. The foresight of British and Dominions has proved to be more than justified and “On Approval” has been transferred to the . audible screen without losing any of its point and vivacity. . “On Approval” is sophisticated comedy, but comedy you’ll greally enjoy. • The story is of four people, two of ■ them utterly selfish and two thoroughly self-sacrificing.' The selfcentred Duke of Bristol loved Helen Ilayle, and Richard Wemys, a genial Englishman, loved Maria Wislak, a shrewish woman possessed of an income of £25,000 a year. In order to discover whether they are actually suited to one another, Maria conceives the rather unconventional scheme of a trial marriage—with limitations. She takes Richard to her home'in Scotland for a month on approval, as it were, but when they get there they find that Helen and Bristol , are also on the spot. Three weeks in each other’s company proves something of a strain to the loving couples, and the result .js that Richard becomes heartily sick of Maria and her ordering ways, • while Helen decides that Bristol is thg most selfish man in the 'world, and she tells him so. The Climax is a delightful emj to a delightful story, brilliantly afcted.