GRAND THEATRE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 107, 28 December 1931, Page 7

GRAND THEATRE

TO-NIGHT Plenty of things are likely to happen when you start playing with matches in a powder factory — or when you introduee a hard-boiled young lady from the East Side among wealthy and conceited society people. This latter situation supplies the explosive effect to "The Brat," Fox Films' delightful screen version of Maude Faulton's play, which . opens to-night at the Grand Theatre, and most of the picture is devoted to hilarious results of the combination. The young lady's introduction when a wealthy author, attending a night court session for "material," brings one of the culprits home with him to study her primitive reactions. The reactions come, and rather unexpectedly. She champions the family black sheep, drives away the author's girl friends, defies the entire family and all in a manner that kept the spectators in constant gales of laughter. Sally O'Neil in the title role gives a performanee that is nothing short of perfection. We liked this saucy,

impish eomedienne a lot when we saw her years ago in Marshal Neilan's silent picture, "Mike," and more so when she played in "On With the Show," but we must admit that never befpre has Sally made such a hit with us as she did yesterday. With a supporting cast that includes Frank Albertson, Allan Dinehart, William Collier, sen., Virginia Cherrill, June Collyer, Farrell Macdonald, Mary Forbes, Albert Gran and Margaret Mann, every part is splendidly portrayed. John Ford's clever direction, unusual camera angles and notable settings all help to make "The Brat" a genuine treat for any audience.