ST. JAMES' THEATRE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20169, 23 February 1931, Page 4

ST. JAMES' THEATRE.

FINE GALSWORTHY PLAY. "Escape," which was presented St. , James's Theatre for the first time on Satur* j day evening, is one of the two or three most , distinguished talking pictures which England has yet produced.. , To it* making Iwent the, combined geniurf of three of the most out* standing figures, of the stage, in the .world to-day—John Galsworthy, playwright, Basil Dean producer and director, and Sir Gerald du Maurier. a favourite ot tho lionddn West End for the past decade. The picture has a particular significance since It is the first oroductlon in England of an' American combine Radio Pictures, which has lately &C----miired extensive theatrical holdings throughout Great Britain. It is suraly high flattery for the success of British films In the,past that' this American company should" have been content to let the direction, chsting, and ni-tine remain completely i» British hands. In fact, -att that Radio Pictures seem to haro contributed are improvements' in technique and a sound-recording rather ' better than the average in England. - "Escape," which is one of Galsworthy B later plays, describes the imprisonment and escape o'f a cultured English gentleman and the reactions to him of the different groups of people with whom he meets on his dash for liberty across, the moors. In general, the women are'with him and the meat against' him -He hides beneath a lady's bed, masquerades as a fisherman at her connivance, steals a car, is recognised and pursued. and seeks refuge in a church. As the pursuit becomes keener and more keen," as' special constables are turned after him- in dozens like hounds after a fox, gradually the strain of mind and body begins to tell upon him painfully, and his (H»ht weakens and is done. The picture ends with an exceptionally fine scene' in a ohurch, into, which the convict has run for sanctuary. Not only are there three great names at the head of the picture, but the-whole cast is , finite remarkably distinguished. Such well-known actresses as Edna Best, Mabel Poulton, ' Ann Casson, Madeleine Carroll; and Marie Key are cast for only minor roles. Lewis Casson and Austin Trevor have the chief parts among the mPri. ."Escape" opens with some fine scenes of an English hunt" and' throughout the settings of England the moors, the countryside, the Inns. > the streams, even the fog—are exceptionally good. Finally, a word must be added for dii Alaurier's brilliant acting and the effec--1 tive, unusual direction of Basil 1 Dean.' "Es- , cape" is definitely a new experience in talk'' i lng pictures. » i The remainder ot the programme is, of a I very good standard. , It includes an Oswald; I cartoon, a Universal news, a new series- of . the R.K.O. "Humsnettes,"' 'and a hearty, slapstitfk comedy. "Broken Wedding Bells,"