Evening star., 1932-11-20

lI1S 1IlUNG IC
Il 4 bad-man revival it has
seen in years. What
might be called "the return of
the villain" which was started
with some guSto but little genius
by John Gilbert back a few
months, is now taking on the pro-
portions of a Stampede-and this
through a single and non COM
plex one-man show.
Charles Laughton is the villain,
and he it is who by the simple
process of a hideouS laugh has
snatched the title of King of the
Villains" from every one else and
planted it irrevocably on himself.
Mr.. Laughton's appearance in
cinema circles is the reason for
many cheers and whooplaS. He
reviVeS faith in those grand old
actors who used to frighten us to
death. His presence in a film
now is sign for ice-cold shiverS,
and the prelude to that well
known laugh becomes dank and
dark moment for the audience.
While Devil and the Deep"
placed Mr.. Laughton Immediately
in the front rank Of noted
grinaceurs, it remains for Pay
ment Deferred" to give him the
complete and absolute laurel. Re-
cent viewings of this grim and
gruesome film, which is relent-
aeSsly dreary and full of implied
Edgar Allen Poe horror, drive
home the truth that Laughton'S
career is to be a path full of
thorns and pitfalls, brought about
not by his acting, but by the
stories which he will appear in.
Having proved himself a blood
Eurdling villain, whose method Of
walking is akin to a waddle, whose
lower lip hangs down loose and
fiabby, whose hands move around
like so much pulp and whose eyes
seem TO rotate in sockets of glass,
he will be compelled to march
forward in the company of screen
murdererS and hatchet-men, and
he will claim Immortality through
a path of tortuouS deeds rather
than for the virtue he has scat
tered here and there.
X i y 4
STUDENTS of the cinema may
wonder why Hollywood ever
undertook Payment Deferred" :"
Ut is not in the vein of most M
GIN. classics, being enlivened
only by splendid photography and
Mr.. Laughton's superb perform
ance as a drudge who kills and
goes slightly mad therefrom. The
film will, of course, not be a box
Office riot. Nevertheless, it is a
brilliantly acted and directed
tragedy, full of muStineSS and de-
void of even SO much as a smile.
Those who are willing to spend
a quiet evening wrapped in gloom
will find that it will meet their
requirements, besides showing
them one of the most sensational
of current Hollywood actors.
MIR. LAUGHTON performed this
play to admiring audiences
last season on Broadway, where
he was extolled by metropolitan
critics for being the most pleasant
of unpleasant heros. At that time
it was said that he was the most
suspicious envoy which has been
sent to Us recently by Britain.
MIR. LaugntonS career has been
lustrous but not long. His the
Rter debut took place in 1926, be-
fore which time he hat been in
volved in the hotel business
(ClaridgeS to be eXact), the Navy
and the war. His work in ION
the Spot" and Payment De-
4erred" on Broadway paved the
way for his cinema debut which
took place amid much Paramount
enthusiasm in Devil and the
Deep" In fact, that now de-
parted Paramount executive
San, katz, at the still well re-
memDered Paramount critics
Manhattan splurge, spent Somi
minutes imparting his enthusiasm
. over Laughton to a large lunch
con gathering.
Paramount has been justified
in it's enthusiasm. Laughton /
almost too good TO be true. HI
is totally different in his methoC
of attack from any other acto
we can think of. His personality
which they say is a kindly one
on the screen is something akil
to a green-eyed monster, and hi
villainy so finely spun that
grows on you rather than takin
you by the throat.
He has started a new Schoc
of villainy. His laugh will b
copied by every ham actor VIII
believes that there is nothing t
q laugh-and who, of course, wi
find that he is quite wrong.