Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-12

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the Russian Embassies in
London. set against the terrify-
ing prospect of World War III
AS "just suppose" fictions GO
this one which opposes the Oldest
of human tendernesses against
the greatest of human terrors
Is irresistible.
Directed and acted with the
restraint characteristic Of Brit
fish thrillers, Chance Meeting
drives to the heart of the periods
most exciting situation. There
1T probes every dramatic aspect
OF a touching human relation
ship opposed to what the worlds
two most powerful and suspicious
states regard as their paramount
interest.
The single sentimental chal-
lenge to logic which Anthony
Asquith INDUCES in his direction
of Chance Meeting" is to be
found in its ending. The i'm
plications of this are that love
conquers all, a dubious promise
in spite Of the summers gestures
Of friendship, but not a serious
fiaw in Chance Meeting"
4 y
Odile Versois, a lovely French
actress, and David Knight. an
American, play the leads in the
screenplay which won a British
Oscar for author George Tabor.
Her role is that of the daush-
ter Of Moscow's minister to Lon
don, his that Of a handsome
aristocratic young code clerk IN
the American Embassy. Their
meeting could not be more inno-
cent, at the ballet where she
fees weeping from a perform
ance Of Swan Lake" Its result
could not be more inevitable,
mutual fascination while he is
drying her tears later over cup
Of coffee.
The relationship could not be
more personally absorbing, nor
its impact more officially ex-
plosive. 1t is in this that the
pictures excitement lies, the
contrast between the effort OF
the lovers to maintain the in
nocence Of their romance and
that Of their official elders to
corrupt it with suspicion.
$3.50
Alfred Hitchcock at the top of
his form could hardly improve
upon the suspense OF Chance
Meeting"
It is a screenscript that has
everything, fuFtive lovers meet
ings in the face of every frus-
tration embassy intelligences can
devise, the girls special but I'M
availing relationship to the Rus
slams top man in London. hid
den voice recorders and all the
rest.
Director Asquith uses it all to
the hilt. but with a cool detach-
ment that accepts the logic of
the embassies point Of view no
less than that Of the harrassed
young couple. At the same time,
he never denies the probability
that all the world. save foreign
service personnel, will go on low
ing lovers.
The desperate people OF
"Chance Meeting" are played
with almost perfect meditation,
Miss Versois is deeply moving as
the disillusioned Russian girl
vitalized by love for one last
fight for personal freedom,
Equally effective is Knights
portrait of the young American
who, in his quiet way. is ready
to take on the two most power
full nations in the world to main
tain his rights as an individual,
Affecting. too, are such por-
traits as that of David KosSef1
who chooses his Russian father
land over his fatherhood; and
John McClaren as the American
Embassy head torn between his
respect for young love and his
fear Of a Washington investiga-
ton.
Chance Meeting" to skirt q
pun. is one you should not miss
COMING, THE LUNTS: It's
definite that the Lunts will be
ut the National this fall, equally
definite that the play will be
in the Theater Guild American
Theater Society subscription
series.
Their vehicle. of course, is the
new Lindsay-Crouse play, The
1rAAk 80 ~ will