FIRST MAJOR ROLE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 390, 26 November 1932, Page 7

FIRST MAJOR ROLE

! KAY FRANCIS STARRING IN "THE FALSE i MADONNA." NOTABLE SUCCESS. "The False Madonna," which comes to the Grand Theatre on Thursday next, is the first picture in which Kay Francis has played the featured leadrole. She shared the lcading honours with Lilyan Tashman in "Girls About Town," was teamed with William Powel in several of his big Paramount productions, and had important parts in a number of other screen plays, huf the forthcoming entertainment at the Grand Theatre is her first major role ! — and she carries the distinction with high honours. "The False Madonna" is a story that brings Miss Francis forward into the full scope of her acting powers. She 1 is seen as the "counterfeit lady," the j woman of refinement who operates with a group of skilful crooks who are very successful in promoting their international confidence games. When ; they go to Paris, with her posing as j the lost mother of a frail but wealthy i youth who is to come into a great for- ; tune, her well-practised callousness l leaves her. She develops a whoh ihearted sympathy for the hoy because 1 of his honest love for her based on his i belief that she is the real mother who deserted him when he was an infant. Of course there is the eventual showdown, when Kay must either admit the deception ahd loss the fortune the crooks have plotted for — or carry on a trickery that has now become

. distasteful to her, and betray the hoy she loves. The ensuing action, leading up to the dramatic elimax, is hloodstirring and hectic. Very compelling chiaracterisations are provided in the picture by William Boyd and by Conway Tearle. Marjorie Gateson has a delieious comedy part, and Charles D. Brown furnishes further amusement as her partner in fun. The character of Phillip, th'e wealthy youth, is played by John Breeden.