"MANTRAP,” UNUSUAL FILM, WILL BE SHOWN AT CRYSTAL PALACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18055, 15 January 1927, Page 6

"MANTRAP,” UNUSUAL FILM, WILL BE SHOWN AT CRYSTAL PALACE.

SATIRICAL PICTURE WITH COMEDY VEIN. Clara Bow may not. be a blonde, but., with dusky locks and a pair of sparkling eyes, she ensnares many a helpless and unsuspecting male, professionally, of course. In “ Mantrap,” the Paramount comedy-drama which opens at the Crystal Palace Theatre on Monday, she has a typically alluring role, but with her elevation to stardom she has discarded a number of her trick mannerisms, and. her, has played her part with excellent dramatic and humorous effect. ” Mantrap ” is »a subtly clever and vastly amusing satire on the ” great open spaces” subject, and

angle, which, for all this sardonic huntoyr of treatment and satirical badinage, are refreshingly intelligent. The producers of the picture have put intelligence first in making it, and the happy result makes for something different in screen diversion. Coming from the mature pen of Sinclair Lewis, the story bears the imprint of drama, which element has been skilfully embellished by a clever director with boldly original heart interest an and equally high order of comedy. Although the story holds ing feature iif ’ the picture. Although her brilliant personality loses none of its piquant appeal, she is no longer the somewhat flamboyantly sophisticated young person of other films. She is an artist with an appreciation of the artistic. She is supported by Ernest Torrence and Percy Marmont, the former humorous and wholly likable as the rugged character from the Canadian buckwoods. and the latter polished, bored, a weary divorce lawyer, playing a different role with effective simplicitv. Sally O’Neill, who has made a meteoric line in the film world, stars in ‘Don’t,” the second picture, a whirling, breathless comedy-drama of ultra-mod-ern life, with a snap and a sparkle imparted as much by this actress’s personality as by the brilliant little story itself. In a dramatic scene, Miss O’Neill is never at a loss, and in comedy Sequences she. takes the matter into her own capable, modern young hands, and the standard of the picture is raised aclooks most optimistically upon this best of all possible worlds, which belongs, after all. to the youth thereof. John Patrick plays the chief supporting role with nonchalant ease and effectiveness. The .Symphony Orchestra, under Mr Alfred J. Bunz. will play a selected or* cliestral programme, including the following numbers:—Overture, ” Mignon ” (Thomas); "Quite” (Lalo): “In the ” Don’t Wake me Up” (Jolson); "Don’t Waste your Tears” (Jolson): “Don't. Cry, Swannee " (Jolson - ); “Don’t Bring Lulu, but Do” (Cohen); Don’t Blame it All on Me” (Cohen); “Don’t be Too Sure" (Cohen); "Don’t Mind the Rain” (Cohen). The box plans are at The Bristol Plano Company, where seats may be reserved.