The Cinema
"The Kid from Spain." With Eddie Cantor. At the Adelphi Theatre.
rimy Mr. Cantor, on whom the sound of a whistle acts as red rags act on a bull, so that he assaults and batters everyone within reach. Pity Mr. Cantor, who is expelled on grave charges from a co-educational establishment where the pupils are the reverse of backward. Pity Mr. Cantor, who is involved in a bank robbery and driven over the border to Mexico. Pity Mr. Cantor, who all unwittingly borrows the identity of a famous bull-fighter and must sustain that role in the arena. And pity, in the last analysis, the bull, so adroitly chloroformed by the impostor. . . .
This is the funniest film for some time. A one-man show, It owes its success to an actor who now ranks with—though still below—Chaplin as a comic genius of the screen. Mr. Cantor's face is, except for his eyes, not peculiar ; nor is he over-assiduous to exploit the humorous possibilities of
those gigantic and often converging orbs. He is more temperate in his grimaces than—for instance—Mr. George Robey with his eyebrows, or than Mr. Leslie Henson, who has a funny face, but is inclined to overwork it ; we go away with the feeling that Mr. Cantor still has a leer or two in reserve—that those expressive sockets could stage Some further convolutions. Ile is a buffoon who knows the value of restraint.
Originally a stage comedian, Mr. Cantor relies to a large extent on verbal wit, in the delivery of which his timing is irreproachable. The wise-crack is an epigram hard-boiled, and Mr. Cantor's mastery of it reminds us once more that the Americans, alone among the peoples of modern civilization, can make words work their will, whatever may be thought of the results.
The decorations of the film are irrelevant, but acceptable, and the shadow of a romantic plot is defined by vigorous, straightforward acting ishich, while having no great intrinsic merit, is a background that sets off to the best advantage the Puck-like vagaries of the central figure. No one should miss such delightful and inspired
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