MODERN COMEDY

Evening Star, Issue 21742, 9 June 1934, Page 11

MODERN COMEDY

SMART FILM AT THE OCTAGON A modern comedy embracing life from quite a sophisticated point ofyiew, excellently portrayed by Elissa Landi and Warner Baxter, is shown in ‘ I Loved You Wednesday,’ which entertained large audiences at the Octagon Theatre yesterday. The paths of romance followed by four people produce situations that call for much amusement and sympathetic appreciation on the part of the audience, and . the variety and wide scope; introduced into the scenes stamp the production as one which merits attention.

The versatile side of Elissa Landi’s talents is brought out in ‘ I Loved You Wednesday,’ for she is required to fill a .part entirely different from her, previous roles. Instead of the more serious, characterisation. she plays a.modhru' girl, Vicki Meredith i who is studying dancing, in Paris. The man with whom she first becomes enamoured is Randall Williams, played 'by Victor Jory. and up'to the time that she learns, of the existence of his wife, their friendship is full of happiness. The tone in the story, is tinged with old-time romance, although the treatment of , the situation provides that particular type of, entertainment with appeal to pre-sent-day audiences. Dialogue that is to the point, amusement which is to be found m a whirl of gaiety, and the capabilities of the producer in introducing settings which blend into the story, all combine to furnish a high standard of filmeraft. When Vicki Meredith decides to forget her unhappiness in Paris, she chooses South America as her venue, and it is there that Philip Fletcher (Warner Baxter) is encountered. Meeting with success in her dancing,' Vicki Meredith finds herself in New York some years later, and she and Fletcher become engaged. But fate brings up some of the past that she has tried to forget when Randall Williamstappears again and endeavours to influence her in the same way that he used to. Randall Williams’s wife, Cynthia, is also in New York, and the four of them display a disinterested curiosity in each other’s affairs that is productive of unusual humour. The supporting programme contains a number of interesting and amusing items.