AMUSEMENTS
“LETTER OF INTRODUCTION” Fine, great dramatic situations interspersed with hilarious comedy moments march grandly across the screen of Universal’s John M. Stahl production, ‘A Letter of Introduction,” which opens to-night at the JL)e Luxe Theatre. Adolphe Aienjcu, Andrea Leeds and George Murphy provide the drama. The drama is excellently taken care of by that remarkable pair. Edgar 13organ and Charlie McCarthy. Stahl, the producer-director. is known lor his intensely powerful and tragic creations such as "Back Street,” “Imitation or Life” and “Only Yesterday.” Yet. “Letter of Introduction” shows lie is also master of the art of creating. high comedy r apidly and effectively. A succession of vividly contrasting emotional scenes, forceful direction, superlative acting and a powerful and dramatic story, the picture stands as John M. Stahl’s finest- to date.
Dramatic Story. Andrea Leeds and AdoJphe Al.enjou o-nrry the story of an aging actor who discovers, through a Jotter of introduction. that lie is the father of a grown daughter, the role played by Miss Leeds. The actor’s ego. coupled with the fear of losing his screen-idol popularity, prompts him to conceal their true relationship from the world and to extract from his daughter a promise of secrecy. Through this deception comes a succession of events, some tragic, some dramatic, sonic* hilarious. Enhanced by the extraordinary acting abilities of Miss Leeds and Mr. Menjou, they merge to term a truly great screen offering. George .Murphy reveals unsuspected qualities as Miss Leeds’ suspicious h~ anee. Rita Johnson as George's •dancing partner. Ann Sheridan as Menjou’s society-fiancee, and Eve Arden as a sophisticated showgirl are excellently cast. Charlie Has Rival. McCarthy, however, emerges as tops in the comedy line, although lie lias an unexpected rival in Mortimer fcJnerd, a rural dummy who makes his screen debut in “Letter of introduction.” Mortimer nearly steals the show from Charlie in spots. The screenplay is by Sheridan Gibney and Leonard Spigelgass from the original by Bernice Boone and tlie photography by Karl I round, ASC.
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Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 138, 25 January 1939, Page 3
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331AMUSEMENTS Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 138, 25 January 1939, Page 3
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