Word: le
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...than she acted. Olive Fremstad's impersonation was abundant with feeling but often uncontrolled. Johanna Gadski sang so long past her prime that her first excellent performances grew dim in memory. The current outstanding Brünnhildes are Frida Leider and Gertrude Kappel. Both give the rôle its true heroic proportions but their voices are no longer young...
...Kirsten Flagstad's performance last week was the best that has been heard in Manhattan for many a year. The audience cheered her at every curtain call and critics fairly wallowed in superlatives. The amazing part of her success was that she had never sung the rôle before, never had an orchestra rehearsal, never practiced with any member of the cast. Withal she seemed sure and confident on the stage. Her strong rich voice was expressive in every phase, her gestures admirably restrained. Most critics led their readers to believe that her interpretation was practically perfect...
...misadventure of Jones's maiden aunt when she meets Killer Mannion; Mannion's astute revenge on a rival gangster who mistakes him for Jones-are brilliantly used to make the doings of little Jones the more strange, heroic, touching and preposterous. In his dual rôle, as Jones and Mannion, Edward G. Robinson gives his best performance since Little Caesar. Good shot: the mean, mysterious little man (Donald Meek) who first tells the police to arrest Jones, trying to collect the reward for capturing Mannion...
...nice little girls since 1895. "The Little Colonel" was full grown and on the road to matrimony before Mrs. Johnston was through with her. Shirley Temple is not quite six but, dressed up in flounces and high-button boots for this picture, she steps into a rôle cut down to her size with all the assurance of the capable actress she is. She reviews a regiment which has made her honorary colonel; tap dances with Bill Robinson; plays soldier with Lionel Barrymore; is the comfort of her mother's lonely life (Evelyn Venable) and even dresses...
...Kruger's presence in this picture will not add materially to its suspense. Nonetheless, his performance is the most convincing single feature of the entertainment. As Vanessa, Helen Hayes, who last week announced that she would return to the stage for good after one more cinema rôle, contributes her anguished smile and her catch-in-the-throat voice. Robert Montgomery's efforts are improved by the exchange of his customary whimsey for a set of sideburns...