Evening star., 1933-07-29

tried to end her own life, the
Voman-and the curtain drops on
II it were not for the strong clear
cut performance Kay Francis gives to
this, Mary Stevens, M. D." might
easily have gone on the rocks. AS 1t
is. you feel that there is very decided
marking line half way through it and
that there are two distinct stories which
don't properly merge. The brightness
of some of the lines will, however,
please those who prefer to be amused.
and the various scenes of the baby and
its mother and the bitter tragedy she
goes through will please the ladies.
Yesterdays first audience, almost ex-
clusively devoted to the fair sex, really
enjoyed the film. They laughed
Though the first part and cried through
the last, and then were properly stim-
ulated by The Worlds Greatest
Thrills" Graham MacNamee bel
lowing party, which is, nevertheless, one
OF the most exciting films We have ever
seen.
What we enjoyed most about the fea-
ture film, apart from the acid comedy
supplied by elena Farrell (She has
about IL of the best tag lines on rec
ord, is the work of its star. While we
have always admired Miss Francis and
thought her both handsome and dis
tinguished, she has never seemed to
ils so Vitally real a. she is in this. She
makes neither a false gesture nor does
she everyday a single scene. She is
{Mary Stevens to the life-every min
lit Of the picture-and the only fault
we have to find is that toward the
end she should have been made to,
want to take her life
That is not part of her makeup.
a l1xr
bit assemble the traits of her char
acter you are convinced that she is
built of finer stuff, and that she would
never succumb to such weakness. She
Is prevented, of course, from this
further and final catastrophe. but as
she toys with the idea you are saying
to yourself, mo, that is not Mary
Stevens"
Otherwise, however, she is very
line and a very real person, and you
Will enjoy her no end. Opposite her is
Lyle Talbot in the difficult role of a
good fellow, bounder, a cad, and final
y a good fellow all over again. Mr..
Talbot, at first not too sure of himself.
grows in wisdom through the film. and
before it is over he has convinced you
that he knows his business. The scenes
he has with Miss Francis are very pleas
ant indeed.
x x X X
MUCH of the vast audience that
A'A storlned the Earle Tneater yester-
day went there to see Miss Ethel Bar
rymore in Mr.. Barrie's The Twelve
Pound Look" a combination which has
gone along most happily through the
years Apart from the fact that the
first few minutes reminded us of silent
movie the sketch is still one of the most
delightful of its kind, and Miss Barry
more still plays with spunk the role
which suits her so nicely Now as soon
as the others (and the star, too, in the
first few minutes) learn how to throw
their voices around the picture house,
al should be well. Miss Barrymore re-
ccived a warm welcome yesterday at
the first show.
Other stage acts this week land it
must be really nerve Wracking to have
to act just in advance of Miss Barry
more) include the Four Trojans, four
tumhiing gentlemen who have a fast
and and well-timed opening act; Major,
Sharp and Minor, one of those newt
able radio trioS which sings nicely but
not excitingly. and Mary Goss and
Charles Barrows, who precede Miss Bar
rymore.
Be sure not to miss "The Worlds
Greatest Thrills" film which more or
less knocks you silly for a full five min
utes after you have seen it.