Evening star., 1935-07-06
:ESCAPADEPUTS
|LUISE RAINER
IN HIGH EAVOR
Palace audience Sees
'StOry of an Incident
That AMUSED VIENNA"

The dear dead days Of duello and
polanaiSe are celebrated N "Esca-
pade," a bit of Viennese "truffie" in
stalled at Loew's Palace yesterday to
exhibit for the first time in this
country the silken charms of Holly
woods latest discovery, Luise Rainer
of Vienna. According to the advance
pronouncements of M-G-M press
agents, who should know about such
things, Mile. Rainer was meant to
make her American debut merely as
Mr.. william Powell's luscious new
girl friend" in a tale presenting that
suave gentleman as an irresistible and
politely wicked Austrian painter.
On the contrary, the lady from
Austria remembered her hands across
the-sea courtesies only about min
utes after her first appearance before
camera in Hollywood, U. S. A.
Thereafter she stepped forth and
rudely, If effectively. relegated Mr..
Powell to the role of Mile. Luise
Rainer's luscious new boy friend.
Amused Vienna.
Even La Rainer's scene stealing does
not quite manage. however, to lift
"EScapade" to any great dramatic
heights. A printed foreword to the
picture says, This is the story of an
incident which amused Vienna at the
turn of the century" or words to that
effect. II It's so. the VienneSe must
have been in the habit of laughing at
some exceedingly obvious whimsy.
This especial fantasy deals with the
embarrassments suffered by Mr.. Powell
when a distinctly intimate drawing of
friends wife accidently gets printed
and wearing nought but certain furs
easily identifiable as the lottery prize
at a recent ball In an effort to shield
the guilty hauSfrau, the artist invents
q girl and declares she was his model
for the painting. The name chances
to fit a certain modest young lady
living in Vienna. Who? Why La
Rainer, who turns out to be perhaps
the best idea the gay bachelor has pro-
| duced in long and family immoral
career. An actress who can be coy,
hiccough, weep and dispense whamsy
with equal skill she at once becomes
the center and the raiSon de etre of
''EScapade." The one unfortunate
circumstance Of her debut cannot be
blamed upon her. When Director Rob-
| ert Leonard discovered he had an
I actress on his hands he apparently de-
| cided to convert the incidents of his
play into a series of set-ups for her
varied talents.
Charming Ability.
Thus the instant a scene begins 1t
is easy to predict that Mile. Rainer is
now about to demonstrate her charm
ing ability to cry, to be shy and en-
gaging, to handle light comedy. One
is reminded of that scene in Merton
of the Movies" where Merton was told
to walk across the room and pick up a
book, on the theory that a real actor
can make something of such minor
detail.
If the latter portions Of "Escapade"
| degenerate into mere screen test for
Mile Rainer, then it is certainly one
of the most important and successful
trials yet conducted. With more apt
material and less stilted direction, she
is unquestionably destined 10 become
significant person In Hollywood On
this very day she is the most refresh
ing.
Her supporting cast includes Frank
Morgan, Mady Christians, Virginia
Bruce, Laura Hope Crewes and Reg
inald owen, all Of whom acquitted
themselves honorably. with the pos
sible exception Of Mr.. Owen. who
rather overdid a good thing.
The Palace program as usual in
cludes short subjects. r. B. p, Jr.