"MISTER CINDERS" AND "JAVA HEAD"

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 29, 25 January 1935, Page 16

"MISTER CINDERS" AND "JAVA HEAD"

Two Splendid British Films Are Privately Screened HERD are a couple of British films tucked up the sleeves of British International Picturés waiting to provide the New Zealand picture-goiny publie with first-rate entertainment. ‘Mister .Cinders" and "Java Head" were privately screened in Wellington last Friday evening. There is no doubt about it that Elstree is now producing films equal, if not superior, to these of Hollywood. The voices of the players ‘in the two films under review were a . delight to listen to, polished and sophisticated, ‘Mister Cinders," as the name implies. is a male Cinderela. Prom beginning to end the film is one ripple of laughter, This skit on tbe favourite fairy tale savours of light opera. "Jimmy" (Clifford Mollinsen) who is Mr, ‘Cinders, the hero, rescues a-Imillionaire from drowning, but because be has other: things on his miud, goes off after the rescuing and his two rich cousins get the credit; . The millionaire’s daughter, Zelma O'Neal, full of pep with a good dash of mischief, after knocking over a policeman in. her car, dresses up in a maid’s outfit to nut the policeman off her tracks, and froin then on she ‘finds herself in. the’ unéspected role of maid to the social-climk-ing neighbours next door to her new home, She and Mr, Cinders naturally fall in love, and when the rich cousins go to the ball and make Myr. Cinders stay at home, Sarah, the disguised millionaire’s daughter acts as fairy god-mother to’ him. There are comica! situations when the mother of the two cousins plans to marty off one of the boys to the niece of the millionaire whom she thinks is his daughter. There is a robbery: and poor Cinders

who g0es disguised as a famous explorer and dressed in armour is accused of the theft, A bowler hat left at the ball is the glass slipper whici . proves that Mr. Oinders is the hero The singing of the two Weston Brothers who play the part of the rich cousins is a feature in itself, and their faces, apart from their voices, should be their fortune. "Java Head," adapted from Hergisheimer's book, is a tale of the old ‘days with: picturesque settings and frocking. The cast of players includes Anna May Wong, John Loder, Ralph Richardson and Dlizabeth Allen. An old shipowner has two sons, one who follows his father’s tastes and goes to Sea, and the other who prefers the land. Owire to a‘ long-standing family quarrel the daughter of the father’s rival is separated from the sea-going son, He brings home a Chinese princess ag hig wife and horrifies everyone in Bristol, the home town, As time goes on he realises he loves the BEnglish girl and not lis Chinese wife. The latter, learning of this, drugs herself and leaves the way clear for the English girl (Blizabetn Allen). Without any hesitation, whatever, these picttires can be definiteiy written down on the "must be seen’ ist, .