Evening star., 1933-05-13

reunion of his ex-court cronies, with
arder and devotion. He plays Rudolph
Maximilian with all the gusto and
Barrymore wit that he is capable OF.
Free of his somber raiment OF "Topaze'
fame, and those genteel whiskers, he
marches around in his uniform, IN his
shirt and in his tyrolean bonnet with
an obvious joy for what he is doing.
With the result that he makes Re
union" lively and funny, and little
sad when it is necessary for 1t to
become so.
The play has always seemed to us one
of the real comedy achievements OF the
day. While its theme is bold, and its
language and habits are often on the
border line, it is intrinsically sent1-
mental ballad when it comes to the
matter of the reunion itself.
In this grand burlesque, when the ex-
mobiles dance and the champagne hoWs
freely, and toastS are made under the
giant portrait of Franz Joseph. there IS
q touch of something which Is a step
beyond what some have called the
"hippancy" Of the rest of the film. The
screen does not make use OF that splen-
did moment which the play showed
you-when the old grandees taste their
cocktails and make wry faces at them
nevertheless 1t makes use OF many OF
the other matters which distinguished
the original, and while you may miss
Miss Wesley as Frau Lucher and
mourn the omission of Miss Fontanne's
deep, chanting voice, you are bound to
admit that if you had never seen the
play you could find little fault with its
screen rival.
We were frankly surprised at Miss
Wynward's performance. She Is not
only lovely as always and ladylike and
dignified, but in those moments when,
as Rudolph says, she has to relax"
she is warmer beyond our fondest
Imagination. Due to her characteriza-
tions up until this moment, you could
swear that she might be too nice for
the role-too sweet and simple and
good The director, however, has
turned her about and in those splendid
second-act scenes with Barrymore, she
is as vivacious as you could wish and
as tempestuous emotionally as Rudolph
expects her to be.
The film has been mounted with
taste, and the acting Except Tor the
fact that May Robson IS not as brusque
as was Helen Westley) is beyond re-
proach. Henry Travers plays the ia
ther" role which he did on the stage,
and Frank Morgan is the husband in
whose house much of the action takes
place. The film belongs, however, al.
most entirely to Mr.. Barrymore ana
Miss Wvnward. You will find them as
delightful a couple as you have ever
seen.
The stage show at the Earle tops the
film this week. 1t IS one OF the pest
offerings of its kind we have ever seen.
1t includes an adagio team, working
smoothly and swiftly, pianist VINO can
make people who don't like music Ike
il. a screen star who knows how to en-
tertain, and radio act Whlcn Is py 1af
the best radio act on the market.
This astounding matter of an all-star
stage show is accomplished (ln the
above order) by Gracella and Theodore
two dancers who are good enough not
to need all that scenery they are sur
rounded with; Don Zelaya, a popular
pianist. who appeals this week to the
"senses" Che has been here, you know,
many times, and is always gooo ana
always amusing; Dick Powell, 1resh
from Hollywood, via Pittsburgh, and the
Three Radio Rogues. who pack more
fun into their act than any otner 1N
such acts available.
Mr. Powell is a screen find" who
should be catapulted around the coun-
try as one of the better film entertain
ers. Assisted by the agile June Carr,
whose dancing is loose and eloquent,
he sings and trumpets and talks In the
manner of a born comedian. known as
Pittsburgh's favorite actor, his first ap-
pearance here is marked by obvious en-
thusiasm from the audience, ana pe1ore
he is through, he has been MADE 10 sing
almost the entire score OF "Forty-sec-
ond Street" ~.
The Three Rogues are, however, the
particular bright spot OF the program.
they are better even than the raolo
stars they mimic.
The only other thing to mentlon IN
an this is that Maxine Doyle. loveEer
than ever, appears in a hat-which, II
YOU look closely, you will md Is no1
q hat.
Admirers of Ruth Chatterton and
George Brent will be glad to see these
two together again on the screen. Ineir
new Aim. however, Lilly Turner, Is
nothing to write home about. one Oh
those I-married-the- -wrong-man- and
had a-baby- and -husband-ceserted-me.
themes it is about what you'd expect
from a play which was not so gooo on
broadway that there was any excuse
for turning it into movie. Miss Chat-
ferfon appears as a nice girl" VINO
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