Leap Year Girl

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 442, 25 August 1928, Page 25

Leap Year Girl

MARION DAVIES COMEDY

“The Patsy” for Majestic

“NOTHING venture; nothing gain,” is the motto of Marion i’J Davies in the screen presentation of “The Patsy,” that will be offered shortly at the Majestic. “The Patsy” is a leap-year story with a leap-year love? theme. It is a delightful object-lesson for shy maidens and wary bachelors.

Hoio an ingenuous Cinderella captures the man she loves hy ’following his innocently-given advice is explained icith refreshing novelty in this new comedy drama.

Snub-nosed Pat is a little Cinderel girl who is overlooked in her fami circle because of the existance of h “vamp” sister, Grace. Grace is engaged to Tony, who is loved secretly by Pat. Cinderella’s opportunity comes when Grace neglects her fiance, and Tony finds himself rowing an attractive “little sister" over a moonlit lake. She tells him that she is “unable to attract the attention of the man she loves” and, innocently, Tony gives her advice.

Witli all the vigour and aggressiveness of a leap-year spinster, Pat follows Tony’s lead and the result is seen in the final close-up when, after many

vicissitudes, she nestles happily in his arms. “The Patsy” is a clean and speedy comedy of the most intriguing modern type, and Marion Davies adds materially to her laurels by her work in the leading role. She is a delightful ingenue and an actress of rare experience in this type of work. The clever people associated with her include ; Orville Caldwell, Marie Dressier, Lawrence Gray and Jane Winton. The name of King Vidor is all that need be mentioned in discussing the direction of the picture, and it may be said with all assurance that his work in this production is as sound and original as was his handling of “The Big Parade.” * The intrigue and novelty of the situations form the most attractive features of “The Patsy,” but there are a number of excellent straight comedy scenes, including the effective climax when the henpecked father and champion of Patsy turns on his domineering wife and, with tremendous gusto, vents the spleen of 20 years of silent married life, finally asserting his supremacy as head of the household.

The picture is being filmed with Dolores Costello and George O'Brien in the leading roles. To determine the nature of all details of the ark and the Tower of Babel, extensive research into Bible history was carried on dur- ■— ■. , ing the two years \ of preparation for the film. Warner Brothers’ j production of these • and other early Biblical structures ] is believed to be ’ the first of its kind ] in the history of \ the motion picture. ] Along with the f ————* picturisation of the Dolores Costello, deluge, they are said to promise a remarkable depiction of spectacular phases of early Old Testament incidents.

The environment of “Noah’s Ark.” however, is not restricted to Biblical surroundings. It is said to carry fundamentally, a modern theme with a Biblical source.

Michael Curtiz is directing the picture, the story of which revolves about a romance featuring Dolores Costello and O’Brien, with a splendid supporting cast including Noah Beery, Louise Fazenda, Paul McAllister, Guinn Williams, Nigel de Brulier, Anders Randolf, Armand Kaliz, William V. Mong, Myrna Ley and Malcolm Waite.