REGENT

Evening Star, Issue 22449, 21 September 1936, Page 2

REGENT

Ernst Lubitsch, the gay emancipator has freed Marlene Dietrich from Josef von Sternberg’s artistic bondage, and has brought her vibrantly alive in ‘Desire,’ the Paramount production which is f»atured at the Regent. Permitted to behave like an ordinary human being with a sense of humour, instead of like an oil-painting. Miss Dietrich reveals a freshness and gaiety of spirit which her previous American pictures have merely hinted at. The change is delightful. and so is the picture. But, while ‘ Desire ’ is notable for the acting of Marlene Dietrich and the far-famed Lubitsch “ touch,” one should not overlook the excellent performances of Gary Cooper, John Halliday, Alan Mowbray, William Frawley, and several others. All are in the best mood for comedy and romance, and all contribute importantly to one of the most exhilarating pictures of the season. Handsomely produced, ‘ Desire ’ tells the story of an adventuress who is quite the loveliest jewel thief ever to victimise her prey through a cleverly daring ruse. To give the conspiracy would be to spoil the fun of watching it unfold. Therefore suffice it to say that Marlene secures the pearls and speeds towards the border to escape the law. But the escape becomes complicated, when Gary Cooper; a gay young engineer on. holiday, blunders naively into the picture' and insists upon extending unwanted aid and companionship to the glorious girl he encounters through/ 1 a roadside accident. Through exciting, tomantic, and suspenseful sequences, he story moves swiftly to its climax, nd love, as is its fictional wont, ultimately finds a way.