Evening star., 1934-02-01
pY MOLLIE MERRICK.

NEw YORK. February / IN A.N.A).
IT has long been the custom to en-
liven molten picture shots OF New foIk
With a nanorama view of Broadway, ltS
winking signs, hodge-podge lights ana
helter-skelter traffic. Ihose Plc'ui:Hm
made during the next rev weeks WI win
have a piant sign dominating tne loEe-
rro,,nd of interest. For there, in
Sroadwav's very heart is the most in
teresting sign of its type I've ever SEEM
a one-Word Sign-"Garoo'
Gold. green, pink, orange, red are
the gargantuan letters They cover
the entire facade of the motion pic
f11re theater IN which queen Shis-
tina" is being shown. At least the
sign covers the entire front OF uie
building. Come to think OF IT, tacaoe
is going bit strong for such archtec-
t1,ral gems as our motion picture IN
dustry contributes.
Bv this time you all know that the
story of Swedens somewhat different
olleen is the comeback vehicle Tor
S5reta Garbo after one years absence
from the screen. Also after four Hep
hur,, successes. The idea OF compln-
ing the personality of Carlo. or rather
of identifying her, with that OF neE
nations most unusual monarch, "dS az
interesting one. 14lc AieVAio -.
the studio in achieving it was lar less
interesting. .;.,,,.
From the standpoint of dialogue,
s-fr,een Christina" is just one ghastly
Tong harangue after another. All apouI
Rpyalty. fealty. honor. country, ana tns
usual monarch line. I am conVlnceo
mat writers of clever dialogue can MAKE
vu1 listen to a 10-nlinute speech on
&he dullest subject in the world. BuI
not so in this picture:
You become painfully aware OF pass
%,p time, Even the sight of that DEATH
hess Garbo face cannot intrigue you
naIfficiently to blind you to the SNORT
eonninps of the dialogue. And, since
hart of the realism of the story-or OF
The whimsy of it, if you choose-con-
Edsted of combing the Carlo halr WIN
corners on either side so that II appears
absolutely square. we do not see our
beauty under the most ravlshing con-
ditionS.
Jack Gilbert has improved tremen-
Aos,sly and gives what is for him an
EScelient performance. His voice WORK
e splendid. his animation good he
Hoes not create any great emotlonal
S,,ornent. but neither does Garbo. SO lar
as he is concerned. Her big emotlonal
anoment is done alone Wnen sue
Glands over the body of her dead lover.
Ehen that wonderful face wakes 10 a
main and glory that is transceoent
Snd II has been worth sitting through
All the dull harangues to see the llshC
break through the Garbo mask.
AS for the love scene II taxes
more than bowl Of grapes ana JACK
Gilbert to make deathless passion. we
never feel that there is any going on
A. all. Garbo makes love to the 1ur-
Tishings of a room far more effecuVe!y
Than to the man for whom she is reaoy
and willing to throw up crown
pouben Mamoulian directed this
e.rbo nicture with one of the most
srazing close-ups of the great
cinema actress for it's closing shot that
Ses ever heen seen. When Christina
ir finished we have been gazing upon
. screen which has become, gradually,
fs,e face of Garbo. A very courageous
dramatic and effective thing;
Man1oulian'S work is always way
stove mar and often sheerly the tour
He force of a man destined to become
one of the greatest names in the enema
Srt He Is younger than many OF tne
1reat. ones today He will go lar ana
S1ways do interesting things: IN each
;,ict1ire he gives us he contributes some
3nnnvation This amazing Garbo close.
a., is the outstanding moment OF
SS.hristina" and can safely be done WIN
an actress whose countenance Is at
once 80 sculptural and so mobile.
Hc,nvr,oht. 1894. by North American News
paper Alliance 1nc)
sHIJNs "THE CRIME DOCTOR"