GRAND THEATRE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 108, 29 December 1931, Page 7

GRAND THEATRE

TO-NIGHT With a gay, whimsical humour all its own and a series of delightful surprises scattered through the story, "The Brat" easily wins a place among the most enjoyable film offerings of the year. This Fox picture, with the piquant Sally O'Neil in the name part and a brilliant cast, proved highly diverting to last night's audience at the Grand Theatre, where the film began its local showings. Maude Fulton'a clever play about . the eonceited author and the Bowery girl he picks up as a heroine for his next novel, has gained much in both realism and entertainment through its translation on the screen. In "The Brat" Miss O'Neil is said to have the most colourful role of her entire career. It is that of a rowdyish, slang speaking Bowery gamin who is rescued from the night court by a snobbish and successful novelist. Thinking he can use her as material for his new book, the author takes her tb his ritzy Long Island estate, and in return for the favour Miss O'Neil supplies him with enough material in the way of romance, embarrassment and worry for an entire library. Allan Dinehart, late of the New York stage makes his talldng screen debut in the film in the eharaeter of the novelist and shares leading male honours with Frank Albertson, who was recently seen in "A Connecticut Yankee." William Collie'r, sen., Virginia Cherrill and June Collyer are the other featured players.