OSCAR WILDE ON THE SCREEN.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19175, 5 December 1927, Page 6

OSCAR WILDE ON THE SCREEN.

"LADY WINDERMERE'S FAN."

Oscar Wilde called hi? play, which shocked. < harmed, and thrilled A'ictoriau audiences of Ihe early 'nineties, "a play about a good woman," just as Hardy sub-titled bis "Tess." Victorian audiences, however, fell into heated and whispered controversy about the goodness of Mrs Erlvnne, and her virtue; even now, wheD some of Wilde'i brilliant plays fail to intrigue and shock modern P ln >'" goers, it is still a Fiibject of gossip. Lady Windermere's Fan." the film version, is to be presented at Everybody's Theatre todav, directed by the one and only Lubitscn, anil enacted b'v a particularly interesting cast, with Irene Rich as ilrs Krlynne, Ronald Colman as the cynical Lord Darlington, Bert Lyttel as Lord Wind'rmere, and May itcAvov as his charming lady, the loss of whoso '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 the same "kick" as >:f Tore, 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 ccrtainiv not have been as intriguing and piquant had it not been directed by Lrnest Lubit-oli. This explosive and corpulent voting- German, whose '"Passion." with Pola Negri, gave the Du Barry a new aspect, placed him as the foremost maker of films in tho world: even now, when Americans and Swede? are turning out accepted masterpieces. L'jbitseh, 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 frothincss of "Kiss Mo Again," nor the volcanic impulses it-iiirh gave "Passion" its apt title, but it is in every scene, and in overy title, the spirit of Oscar Wilde, his insolence, his gay romanticism, his piercing appreciation of emotions and passions. It is a wonderful triumph for (he little German, just as it is a '•rushing retort to those who aflirm that on the screen and in 1927 W r ilde'is wild no longer. As the sportive, reckless, and engaging Jfrs Erlyune. Irene Rich has, of course, (he break of her career. All the line star 3 of Hollywood were after Mrs Erlyune, just E9 all the worldly male artists were 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, und while it is always difficult for an American-born to play an Englishman, it is doubly difficult for him to play a Wilde Englishman. May MeAvoy. last seen in "Ban Hur," plays Lady Windermere, and is a" that could be wished for in 'that delightful role. The box plans for tliis attractive season are now open at The Bristol Piano Company, where seats may bo reserved.