FILM: "Intermezzo."
Saturday,
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH
May 4, 1940.
MAGAZINE PAGE
STARS: Lealle Howard, Ingrid
Bergman.
VERDICT: Perfect.
ESCAPE
"INTERMEZZO” is
perfect.
What makes it shine HO much is the really lovely performance, the unaffected artistry of Ingrid Bergman, a brown-haired young Swede, who brings n very sweet breath into the studio.
There were times, a dozen times, when I entirely forgot the unrolling of what, with- out her, would have been distin- quite an unusually guished film.
I was watching her face, fascinated and absorbed in the supreme delicacy with which she allowed the play of her sensations to be written there.
She has a simple face, not beautiful so much as nice- looking, and with it she can range the whole compass of human feeling with a perfec- tion which I honestly believe has never before been seen even in the distance..
In the story the little musle teacher enters almust unnoticed upon the scene and stayn to put a spell upon the famous fiddler.
He is led to jettison his wife, his children, his home, even his career, in pursuit of her elusive-
ness.
I fancy that will be something like the effect of Miss Bergman upon the world of men. It is a strong story, told with many neat touches of dramatic value and a sure sense of situation.
The
uver-
best moments ነገር when the man and the girl first come together over their intertretation of a piece of music, the way she slowly disappears from him as they of each other, gaze, to conscleus of
curiosity into the window of a shop, and that brilliant throw of the conventional formula who when his little daughter, comes so near playing the part of the "little che-lid," is mown down by a motor-car at the precise in- stant where sentimentality rears its hend.
want to you will not think
n milestone in miss so pleasant film history as this.
FILM: "Magnificent Fraui," STARS: Akim Tamiroff, Steffi
Dina.
VERDICT: Fair Entertainment, AKIM TAMIROFF has al most the entire film to him- self.
The Bim deals with oh actor who has been wluning the plaurits un obscure of the multitudes in
South American republic.
The president of the republic is negotiating a amanetal deal when he is assassinated.
But the dead must go through,
to
Leslie Howard and Ingrid Bergman in "Intermezzo."
ON GUARD!
I'
TF you want to understand the lamentable condition of Euro- pean man in 1940, and yet not to lose all hopes of the future, you should read "The Politics of Democratic Socialism," by Mr. E. F.. M. Durbin, published by the Labour Book Service.
For years the, faith and achievements of democracy have been frontally attacked by, the Fascists and insidiously weakened by the Communists.
And now the appalling consequences of sacrificing demo- cratic institutions and relapsing into organised' tyranny are plain for all the world to sec.
The tyrannical States, Nazi and Communist, join hands to rob and murder such of their near neighbours as they think too weak to resist.
Violence, brutality and destitution are jointly extended by the Nazi-Communist aggression machine, while Stalin and Ribbentrop shake hands in the Kremlin.
Mr. Durbin, in this book, explodes the propagandist and doctrinal play-eting of the Nazis and Communists for the worthless nonsense that it is.
He does much more than this. He shows from what deep and evil springs and human nature the lust for destruction und cruelty now threa- tening Europe ly aroused.
So he leaves in no doubt that the eternal aspirations of the common minn for freedom, Justice and security have to fight a bitter struggle against ancient and formidable forces.
But he believes that neither in psychology, nor economies, nor polities, is there any fundamental reason why the battle should not be won if we have the determination and Intelligence to go on fighting.
After a fair and square analysis of all the main
Titl
snags, he concludes that the
HAPPINESS
WHATS ON
TO-DAY
QUEEN'S AND ALHAMBRA: "Disputed Passage."
KING'S: "Intermezzo," MAJESTIC: "Chump at Ox-
ford.' ORIENTAL: "Prince
and
the Pauper." TO-MORROW KING'S: "Intermezzo." QUEEN'S AND ALHAMBRA: "Disputed Passage," ORIENTAL: "Magnificent
Frand." MAJESTIC: "Chump at Ox-
ferd."
and for that it must appear that the president is alive.
So the actor is persuailed to take task which Ceres his place, at easily to une who has had no dif-
Admirers of Akim Temiroff have to enjoy lis opportunity ample elaborate histrionies.
a romance between a promis- ing student and a Chinese girl.
The girl is double crossed by the Kelenust so that science shall nul- ly claim her own.
But the hero's reaction is the quest of the maiden in Chinn and there she appears as an ombulance driver.
The hero is wounded to the point of death and is only saved by a marvellous operation and the urg- ing to life by the Chinese girl.
Akim Tauniroff makes a faith- ful gure of the smured selentist, with John Howard every inch a
hero romantic
onct Dorothy Latour as the lady of the Orient, FILM: "Chump at Oxford." STARS: Laurel and Hardy. VERDICT: Good slapstick.
STAN and Ollie always make me laugh,
ficulty in impersonating manTheir only novel departure from famous historical figures.
the regular slapstick in this show is when, in their Oxford experi ences, a college servant recognises as on athletic lord who lost Laurel
a bump on his memory through his head, and Laurel, after an ad- ventitious knock from a descending window frame, re-enters this past.
of his existence, talks with
Most of the laughs come from Mary Boland, and Stell Duna gets a chance to show how she can dance.
FILM:
Disputed Passage." STARS: Akim Tamiroff, Dorothy-
Lamony. VERDICT: Oriental Flavour.
THIS is a romantic drain dealing with a cynical old scientist's efforts to break up
perist an aristocratic drovi, and, survey- ing the bewildered Hardy, derians to know who is this coarse persun with a foreign secent.
This becomes extremely funny, a fresh and gives their humour
absurdities Otherwise the nole, are more or less on familiar lines.
Political Capitalism must be re-
anarchy and formed, and can be reformed, by the method of de-
beratie. Socialism.
His book faces all the major diMculties.
So, it will convince you all the more, if you rend it thoroughly, that there are still precious things that must be defended, and can be defended-and later extended-in the deporratle sector of the world.
DOUGLAS JAY.
Week-end Readin
W
By Robert Lynd
TE seem to be getting a new anthology almost every week just now. Per- haps amid the distractions of war-time there is particularly good reason for keeping a book at hand which is so varied in its contents that it can be dipped into 'in, almost any mood. A good anthology, more than any novel, has something of the unfailing quality of the widow's cruse.
Hitherio I do not think we have any anthology compiled by a soldier.
We hand, it is
a line anthology by Mr. Hot need.. distinguished both rervice in the last war and in iterature, but We do not think of Mr. Reed
soldier. What lends primarily as a
lo General exceptional interest Sir Tom Bridges's anthology, "Word From England" (English Universities Press), is that it is the work of a soldier who was in many respects a type of his pro- fession.
bud
I
in
I was he, it will be remembered, who rullied his men during the Great Reirent by buying penny whistles and a drum in a French Loyshop and marching then back into the mood of victory.
The tastes literature 1st
such a man in be interesting.
to
'Bridges was faithful the old Invourites of the Victorian school- reader, such ሲዱ "Lord Ullin's Daughter" and "Young Lochinvar," and at the same the got as near
the lyrics. modernity as
of Mr. Walter de la Mare and Mr. Ed- ward Shanks.
He was, perhaps, too fond of snippets. Some of his quotatious would seem more in place in tear-olf calendar than in an an- thology. Still, there is plenty of great and high-hearted literature of his Doelry in the prose and book which Wos-Tom Bekiges aled before it was published- compiled, we are told, especially "for the King's forces."
THOSE who make a hobby of collecting shining examples of the tuisuse of the word "literally" should get hold of Miss Medora Fiek's thriller, "Who Killed Aunt which con- (Jarrolds). Maggie?"
specimens. excellent
tains The
of the two occurs in better a description of breathless silence which runs: "You could literally her the conds of time dropping in
mythical hour-glass. would be hard to beat.
There are other reasons for read- in an ing this story of murders American country house, however. It is as exciting us it is incredible.
You Can't Possibly Get All These Right
CHALLENGE TO THE GUESTS OF THE
Try to answer each of these questions here- and get each answer right. Answers next week.
CRIME
WEEK-END PARTY
1. What murderer made the Masonic sign to the judge be- fore he was sentenced to death?
2. Who was the famous murderer who, when stepping on to the gallows, put forward one foot gingerly and inquired: "Are you quite sure this is safe?"
3. What animal has fingerprints closely resembling those of humans?
4. In what recent murder mystery did Scotland-yard con-
sult a botanist?
MELODY
1. What famous opera was written round an American nnvál officer?
2.
Which composer wrote a symphony in which the players walked off the platform one by one?
3. Which violinist was popularly supposed to be possessed
of the devil?
4. In which song was the heroine's brow likened to a snowdrift?
ANSWERS
DOMINOLOGY-Deduct 14 from the total. If given number is (way) 57, the Comino a 4-3: 12 80 IE is 6-0, and so un. BRIDGE BAFFLER Queen of spades taken the trick. Then a rounds of dia monda leaven Wext squeezed holding spaces 10, 9, 7; hearts Queen, Jack, 0 clubs King, Queen. One of these con trol- must be discarded. That suit in played out and he is made to discard one of the other sults.
pliot. HOTCHPOTCH. — Balekaman, photographer magician, stenographer. dentiat, miperintendent, chauffeur, model, mechanic, bartender, pharmacist.
PICTURE PUZZLE-The day is Tues- day. It can't be Sunday because the be selling the new vendor would not Daily Express, Monday because contents bill refers to share boom, and Stock Exchange does not open on Sundays, Wednesday because shop which closes at 1 on Wednesday would be shut at 1.30 (shown by bank clock). Thursday be- enuse nottee on bus front indicatca Thursday is coming. Friday because shop would be closed. Săjurday bocnuso bank would be closed at 1.30, and it is open.
LEGEND
Give names of:-
1. A plant which is supposed to scream when uprooted,
2. A fabulous creature supposed to have the power of killing with its nyc.
3. A legendary person capable of turning to stone any one who looked in her face.
4. A nine-headed monster which grew two heads in place of each one chopped off,
SPORT
1. Can a boxer be knocked out and still win his fight?
2 Which great "Soccer player caused the present change in the offside rule?
3. Which world champion boxer was known as Li'i Arthur?
4. What famous Soccer teams are known as (a) The Bashers, (b) The Throstles, (c) The Toft- (e) The men, (d) The Gunners, Pensioners?
FOOD
mary CHES 1. Roughly, how should a back-yard hen lay in a year?
2. Is there any food in which Britain is entirely self-supporting? 3. Does a country at war need more food than a country prace?
at
4. An allotment, 10 yards wide by 30 yards long, will provide fresh vegetables for how many people and for how long?
FILMS
1. Who were the Three Smart Girls?
2. Give names of Garbo's lead- ing men in (s) Anno Karenina, (b) Anna Christie, (c) Mata Hari, (d) Queen Christina
3. Who is Mrs. Ronald Colman? 4. In what one film did the fol- their lowing British stars make debut: Merle Oberon, Joan Gard- ner, Diana Napier, Wendy Barrie?
READING
1. What Dickensian character shouted in court: "Put it down a we, my lord, put it down a we."
2. What woman murderer nction was arrested while sleeping under Stonehenge?
of
3. Who pushed Sherlock Holmes over the precipice?
4. Who was it whose red nose with a flen on it was likened to hellfire with a damned soul burn- Ing?
Learn some new parlour tricks
Dominology. Dazzle then with dominoes, spread a set out on the table, face downwarus. Turn your.back, have some one pick one out, look at it, put it face downwards again. Then make him multiply
onc
side of the domino by five- add seven-mul- tiply the total by two- add
the number on the other side of the domino-
two
the answer.
A
expression,
#dynnee
the
tabic and select the domino he picked up.
How's
It done?
Bridge Baffler
Like it or lump it, South his to niake thirteen trick. here diamonds trumps and Jack of Spades led. Set out the cards like
tils and try to
PUZZLE PicturE
LAST DA
What day of the week is it?
Answer in Column One.
find the answer in thirty minutes. Hotchpotch.
North:
S, A, K, 8, 2. H. 7, 3, 2.. D. Q. 5. 4.
C. A, 10, 8.
West:
S. J. 10, 0, 7. HQ, J, 4.
D. 3.
South;
S. Q, 5. H.
K, 10. D. A, K, J, 10, 6. C. 7, 0, 3.
East:
S. 0, 4, 3.
H. 9, 8, 5. 4. D. 0, 8, 7, 2. CK, Q, 3, 3, 2. C. D, 4.
minutes Two aplece to rearrange these jumbled letters into names of well-known trades and professions.
SMELNASA-LIPTO — THEPO- GARRPOI — CIGNIAAM -- HER- RPASTGONE SETTIND-NIT- PESTNERNUDE - HEFRUCUFA -EDLOM-CNICEHAM-BREAD-
TERN-STAMFCHAIR.
Answers to all thèse in Col One.
Wracy, increme Cours
3
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