The New Crawford.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20247, 16 July 1937, Page 4

The New Crawford.

Cinema ♦ . . Snapshots

(From Film Weekly.) Joan Crawford, as an actress, began a campaign of self-improvement about the same time as she married Franchot Tone.

She decided that she had done with emotional flrew orks and gla m o r o u s comedy; and set out to prove that she was a controlled artist worthy of better, more significant roles. She showed us the first results of that resolution 1 n

“ The Gorgeous Hussy," in which she gave possibly the best performance of her career. Triumphantly she offers more evidenoe in support of her case in "The Last of Mrs Cheyney." This was the picture she chose instead of “ Parnell,” whioh she turned down because of its too great concern •with romance.

"When you see it you will probably agree that it definitely proves that Joan is marohing on. Her performance is first-rate. It lias none of the famous Crawford extravaganoes; none of the exaggerated mannerisms, costumes, make-up and emotions. It does away with any suspicion that her portrayal of Peggy O’Neale was a bit of luck; and oompares fairly with Norma Shearer’s work In the earlier screen version of the play. The comparison with Miss Shearer extends a good deal farther than that one role. The two stars, so different in personality, are alike in many other ways. Both started with absolutely nothing except a driving determination to beoome great actresses. The careers of both began with highly emotional melodrama, and alternated afterwards between sexy romanoe and flippant comedy. Nonna steadily built herself up until " The Barretts of Wlmpole Street" jstablished her as a much more serious and widely expressive aotreas than she had been considered. Joan Crawford reached something ike that stage when she made “ The Gorgeous Hussy,” although her Improvement, being so much more sudlon, was far more striking than Miss Bhearer's. To me, her Mrs Cheyney is as ?ood a piece of high comedy as her Peggy O’Neale was first rate semibiographical drama. It is easily her best work in that field. It stamps Joan as the most improved actress during the past year, and has brought her to the stage where it looks as though she could attempt almost any part and make a go of It.