“Anthony Adverse” An Outstanding Film

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 11 (Supplement)

“Anthony Adverse” An Outstanding Film

FINE CAST ASSEMBLED FOR MEMORABLE PRODUCTION

(Regent: Screening Saturday.) “ Anthony Adverse,” an outstanding film which unfolds the vivid story of Hervey Allen’s monumental literary classic, is magnificent entertainment and ha 3 been everywhere received with enthusiasm. The picture follows tho romantic adventures of Anthony Adverse through five countries, across the seas and over three continents. For mammoth sets, for colourful and picturesque back grounds, for dynamic action, for the unusual characterisation of its tremendous cast from Fredric March, the star, down to the smallest bit player, for the glamour of its romance, its human interest and sheer, unadulterated entertainment, this picture is unsurpassed. It has a tremendous cast, with 98 speaking parts and 2500 bit players aud extras. But all this, while full of colour, is but the background for a drama of human life, its loves and hates, its hopes and its disappointments; its desires and its passions; its vain and futile struttings and its vast achievments. Fredric March has given the screen somo wonderful portrayals in the past but never has he risen to the heights of dramatic fire as in the title role o.f this picture, llis Anthony is a living, breathing i>erson, stepping out of a book into real life on the screen. He is ably supported by Olivia do Havilland, who came to screen prominence with her work in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “Captain Blood.” This is Miss de Havilland’s first great emotional role, and she rises to it with true artistry. Other loves of Anthony are found in the characterisations portrayed by Steffi Duna, a fiery half caste with whom he lives in his African slave mart and Gale Sondergaard, a coluptuous and passionate housekeeper. Both give unusually fine interpretations. Edmund Gwenn, the famous English actor, gives a wonderful portrayal of John Bunnyfeathcr, the grandfather of Anthony, who sells his daughter into a loveless match for the price of a title. Anita Louiso has never appeared more beautiful, nor has she ever given a better performance than as tho daughter, who, married to a Spanish grandee, refuses to givo up her handsome Irish army officer. Claude Rains gives an excellent portrayal of the grandee of Spain as docs Louis Hayward as the youug Irish lover. The members of the cast aro too numerous to mention in their entirety, but among those of spcciai prominence who do exceptional work are Billy Mauch, Donald Woods, Henry O’Neill, Pedro De Corodba, and George E. Stone. Two operatic sequences, staged by Natale Carissio, add to the beauty and magnificence of the picture. Original music that fits not only the scenes, but the moods of tho scenes, was written for the production by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Special tribute must be paid to the direction of Mervyn LeKoy, and the screen play by Sheridan Gibney.