ROMANCE OF THE FILMS

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18642, 21 May 1932, Page 16 (Supplement)

ROMANCE OF THE FILMS

CHORUS GIRL. TO STAR. JACK BUCHANAN’S DISCOVERY. The premier presentation of “Good Night, Vienna,’’ at the Capitol Theatre, London, was a remarkable occasion in that it offered .lack Buchanan in his frst British talking picture and revealed in Anna Ncagle perhaps the most fascinating film discovery -yet made in England.

I first heard of Anna Neagle (says a writer in a London paper) two and a half years ago from Matheson Lang, lie told me she had been his leading lady in the talking picture of “The Chinese Bungalow," and he thought she had merit.

A few days later I heard of her from C. B. Cochran, who told me he had chosen her as one of live 20 representative types of English girlhood he had sent to New York with “Wake Up and Dream.”

The Dream of Her Life.

Soon afterwards, when I met Miss Neagle, 1 found she.had a serious regard for her work. She told me that the dream of her life was to succeed in talking pictures. I told her that to do so she must first succeed on the stage.

At the beginning of last year Miss Neagle heard that Jack Buchanan was looking for a leading lady for “Stand Up and Sing,” and applied without daring to hope for success.

The episode was described just a year ago. It was a real-life translation of tlie romance, “from chorus girl to leading lady.” Miss Neagle, who is now on tour with Jack Buchanan, became not only the leading lady of “Stand Up and Sing,” but also the heroine of “Good Night,. Vienna,” in which to-day I am able to report her success. In the character of a girl, In a Viennese flower shop, in love with an officer of the Imperial Guard, Miss Neagle is the answer to all those pessimists who have said Him star material is not to be found in Great Britain.

Utterly and Delightfully English. She is utterly and delightfully English in appearance. She is a blonde of the purest type. Her gestures are gracefulness itself, she has a clear, unaffected musical voice, and she photographs to perfection. Apart from Mr Buchanan and Miss Neagle, “Good Night, Vienna,” presents a wonderful supporting east, including Clive Currie, Gibb McLaughlin, Clifford Hcatherl'y, 0. B. Clarence, Aubrey Fitzgerald, Gina Malo, Muriel Aked,. and Joyce Bland.

The music is already known to all wireless listeners.

The dialogue by Miles Malleson has literary style, and is admirably pointed with wit. The settings by L. P. Williams are beautiful. The photography by F. A. Young is briliant. All these elements have been admirably welded by the sensitive direction of Herbert Wilcox, who may 'egard “Good Night, Vienna,” as his best work.