Britain Introduces New Star in Bright Comedy Film

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 27, 11 January 1935, Page 14

Britain Introduces New Star in Bright Comedy Film

Dolly Haas, Continental Actress, Makes Screen Debut in "Girls Will Be Boys"

(By Our Film Critic.)

A new star has been discovered by B.I.P. in the person of Dolly Haas, an attractive Continental actress, whose first British film, "Girls Will Be Beys," was privately screened in Wellington last week.

ISS HAAS is fortunate in making her screen debut with-so accomplished an actor as Mr. Cyril Maude as co-star. Since he made "Grumpy" this brilliant comedian has not been very fortunate in his screen plays, but in "Girls Will be Boys" he has a part that suits him to perfection, and he provides many of the biggest laughs. Briefly the story tells of the» Duke of Bridgewater who is, for some reason not explained, a+ confirmed womanhater. We see his immense male staff doing his washing, and polishing his brass, and going about on tiptoe for fear ‘of their jrascible master. His son, of whom he was evidently very fond, he dismissed from his house for

daring to marry the woman he loved ---a Frenchwoman, but when a letter comes containing a photo of a slight handsome youth, who claims to be his grandson, the old Duke forgets his quarrel in his delight at having an heir; and the heir, whose name is, it seems, Pat, is sent for at once, Unfortunately, the. heir is not a boy but a. girl earning her living on the stage in Paris and she ‘has sent him one of her professional photos by mistake. When she hears of the Duke’s dislike of women, she decides to continue her impersonation,.and arrives at the historic home of the Bridgewater's, dressed as a boy. From here the farce becomes fast and furious, until eventually all the misunderstandings are explained away, and everyone is prepared to live happily ever after.

This light-hearted type of farce is the sort of thing that Britain seems to handle best. We have had many fine examples in the same manner from the British studios before, but "Girls ~ Will be Boys" breaks new ground in that the heroine is required to be something more than a pretty doll-which igs all that the Aldwych farces have ever demanded of the leading ladyand in Miss Haas hag been found an actress who is more than equal to all the demands made upon her. She is not beautiful in the American sensethe Samuel Goldwyn "pulchritude" but she jis truly beautiful none the less, and the only complaint I could make against her part in the picture is that

she spends about three-quarters of her time on the screen in man’s clothes, and it is not until the final scenes that we have an opportunity of seeing how attractive the new "find" really is. The necessary love interest is well provided, and many old faces are to be seen among the supporting players, including Jimmy Godden, who has been seen in the flesh on the New Zealand stage. The photography is well above the British standard, which in the past has not been very high; in this film some excellent "shots" of country scenery have been secured, and the camera hay assisted the director in many of the scenes in obtaining some notable effects. Here is British comedy at its best-put this very definitely on the list of films to be seen.