Screenland (Nov 1935-Apr 1936)

52 SCREENLAND Peter Ibbetson — Paramount ONE of the rarely beautiful pictures of all time! Here is your cinema escape from the realities of light love, easy laughter, and manufactured mystery, to the heights of exquisite emotion. You remember the Du Maurier story — or do you ? It is perhaps the sentimental classic ; it has been a play, an opera, a silent film ; and now it has been really immortalized in a practically flawless production. The mood of the motion picture is one of mystical love, beginning with Peter and Mimsey playing together as children : "dreaming true." Later the lovers are separated, Mimsey marries another, becomes the Duchess of Towers. Such is the subtle appeal of the romance as enacted by Ann Harding and Gary Cooper, you will forget your modern notions, and before you know it you will be swimming in sentimental tears. The story of "Peter Ibbetson" may date, but the romantic atmosphere is so skilfully contrived that the picture becomes a truly poignant experience. Gary Cooper's Peter is his finest portrayal. Miss Harding also surpasses herself. The supporting cast is just about perfection : Virginia Weidler and Dicky Moore, charming as the young Peter and Mimsey; John Halliday, Ida Lupino splendid. Metropolitan — 20th Century-Fox PROVING that grand opera can be fun! Lawrence Tibbett's new picture, as big and impressive as his own fine baritone, is grand entertainment, a feast for the ear and the eye. Cleverly plotted to humanize Mr. Tibbett's glorified song recital, it has a most amusing story with a background of the great opera house in action — and of Alice Brady in action, which is perhaps even funnier. You will like Miss Brady as a temperamental prima donna who manages to give grand opera the most hectic moments in its dignified and dramatic history. When the capricious Miss Brady finally walks out, Mr. Tibbett takes over, and everybody's happy. Lovely Virginia Bruce is the love interest with Luis Alberni contributing another one of his inimitable Italian characterizations, and George Marion, Sr., superb as the maestro. As for the star, he is prodigal of his talents, flinging magnificent music about with abandon from "Glory Road" to "Pagliacci." What's more, he sings with such genuine heartiness that I'm afraid we'll be spoiled for any singer less robust and vital. Why not a full-length movie opera, now that Mr. Tibbett has proved himself a picturesque screen personality? That man makes old opera young and human! b)SEAL OF) Reviews of the best Pictu res Transatlantic Tunnel — Gaumont-British THE spectacle of the month : a mighty and impressiv, picture foretelling a future in which England and the United States are united by a tunnel under the ocean. It is one of the pictures which will be widely discussed, and you will want to see it. "Transatlantic Tunnel" was produced in England, with prominent American players in the cast : Richard Dix, Madge Evans, Helen Vinson in the leads. This makes it of particular interest to American as well as British film audiences. If you are fascinated, as I am, at glimpses of an imaginary future, you will be held enthralled as this story unfolds. Richard Dix has the principal role, that of the engineer who plans and executes the daring work of the transatlantic tunnel, at the cost of his personal happiness. His wife leaves him ; his son is sacrificed to — The Tunnel. But eventually the great work is completed and the man who dreamed and achieved it can rest content. Madge Evans and Helen Vinson are excellent as the wife and "other woman." There is human and artistic interest in the fact that two fine actors, Walter Huston and George Arliss, are seen in portrayals of the President of the U. S. and the Prime Minister of England. A gracious idea !