"MANTRAP."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18898, 13 January 1927, Page 14

"MANTRAP."

A COMEDY OF ERRORS. There's no mantrap like a clever woman, regard /Lorerei, the little blonde gold-digger for an instance. But Clara Bow, who has recently been elevated to stardom by Paramount, is an even more astutely amusing example, : and in "Mantrap," the chief attraction at the Crystal Palace Theatre,next week, Blie is bs airy and effectivo catcher of men as either of the fanous characters recently introduced by Miss Anita Loos. Clara Bow has set all Broadway critics by tho cars with, hor acting in "Mantrap." 'No longer is she merely a vivacious child .shaking a mop of bushy hair and acting mainly through the medium of-a pair of sparkling, eyes. _ She reveals that she possesses an appreciation of straight drama and sheer comedy, and tho combination, together with her irresistible personality, makes for a pleasantly diverting picture; As for the story, itself, it is a yuiei, subtle, and exquisitely amusing one on "the great open spaces" and the eternal triangle. Both aspects, which have, in the past, been .most- painfully distorted and exploited, have heen handled with a rare humour which at times, like all good satires, tends to the sardonic. Tho producers of "Mantrap" have worked upon the excellent premises that intelligence is abroad, and that it stalks among motion piture patrons occasionally. As a consequence we have what is, sadly enough, a comparative rarity these days—a picture which is basically a comedy, one with the spice of '-amaand action, the incentive of bold originality, the eternal lure of romance, the piquancj of tho aforesaid satire. Sinclair Lewis wrote the story, and shows his hand in a lighte- vein, one which is moro fascinating that his usual style of rather ponderous drama. Supporting the star aro Ernest Torrenco and Percy Marmont, the former acting with easy ingenuity and an excellent comedy touch, aud the latter playing a somewhat difficult rolo with his customary effective simplicity. The box plans open at' the Bristol Piano Company this morning.