OSCAR WILDE ON THE SCREEN.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19173, 2 December 1927, Page 14

OSCAR WILDE ON THE SCREEN.

"LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN."

Oscar Wilde called his play, which shocked, charmed, and thrilled Victorian audiences of the early 'nineties, "a play about a good woman," just as Hardy sub-titled his "Tess." Victorian audiences, however, fell into heated and whispered controversy about the goodness of Mrs Erlynne, and her virtue; even now; when some of Wilde's brilliant plays fail to intrigue and shock modern playgoers, it is still a subject of gossip. "Lady Windermere's Fan," tho film version, is to bo presented at Everybody's Theatre next week, directed by the one and only Lubitsch, and enacted by a particularly interesting cast, with Irene Rich as Mrs Erlynne, Ronald Colman as the cynical Lord Darlington, Bert Lyttel as Lord Windermere, and May McAvoy as his charming lady, the loss of whose fan is the basis of .the entire scintillating drama. It is quite wrong to believe that Oscar Wilde's plays are old-fashioned for present-day audiences; that he staked his success on the satire and biting wit of his epigrams. They have exactly tho same "kick" as of yore, the same sharp humour, the same sophisticated love interest, and the same even and concise drama. "Lady Windermere's Fan," for sardonic wit and delightful human interest, is a splendid example of that erratic genius's art, but we venture to suggest that as a picture it would cortainly not have been as intriguing and piquant had it not been directed by Ernest Lubitsch. This explosive and corpulent young German, whose "Passion," with Pola Negri, gave tho Du • Barry a new aspect, placed him as the foremost maker of films in tho world; even now, when Americans and Swedes are turning out accepted masterpieces, Lubitsch. with his broken-English and naive manners, is the king of them all. His "Lady Windermere's Fan," for sparkle, subtlety, and essentially Wildean situations and complexes, is his most matured effort. True, it has not the fascinating frothinoss of "Kiss Me Again," nor the volcanic impulses which gave "Passion" its apt title, but it is in evory scene, and in every title, the spirit of Oscar Wilde, his insolence, his gay romanticism, his piercing appreciation of emotions and passions. It is a wonderful triumph for'the little German, just as it is a crushing retort to those who affirm that on tho screen and in 1927 Wilde is wild no longer. As the sportive, reckless, and engaging Mrs Erlynne, Ireno Rich has, of course, the break of her career. All the fine stars of Hollywood were after Mrs Erlynne, just as all the worldly male artistß wero seeking diligently Lord Darlington, who could resist anything except temptation. Ronald Colman, English, poised, cynical, makes a perfect Darlington, though the Lord Windermore of Bert Lyttel is not so successful. Mr Lyttel, although a very fine actor, is obviously an American, and while it is always difficult for an American-born to play an Englishman, it is doubly difficult for him to piny a Wilde Englishman. May McAvoy, last seen in "Ben Hur," plays Lady Windermere, and is all that could be wished for in that delightful rolo. The box plans for this attractive season are now open at The Bristol Piano Company, where seats may be reserved.