... . By L. P. HARTLEY. DESTINATION CHUNG KING is the auto biography of a Chinese lady, born in Honan and bred in Peking, who, in 1937, when barely twenty, came to London to study obstetrics. Her natural bent was for literature, but Science was our god, a beneficent god to make of China a rich and happy nation. At that time she was a pacifist, and had many bitter arguments with her childhood ...

... . By C. A. LEJEUNE. IT is so pleasant to watch those ex cellent artists. Gaby Morlay, Michel Simon, Eric von Stroheim and the rest at work again, that few people will grumble if the new French film at Studio One, DERRIÈRE LA FAÇADE, is not arranged quite as impeccably as their talents merit. Derriere la Facade was in pro duction when the war broke out. It was actually showing in Paris when ...

... . By L. P. HARTLEY. MRS. THIRKELL is one of the few writers who are able to make a satisfactory novel out of the material of wartime conditions as they affect the daily lives of ordinary English people. She does not specialise in air raids or evacuees, or Ministries or factories; still less does she venture on to the parade ground. or into the air or under the sea. She realises that such ...

... . By L. P. HARTLEY. THE MINISTRY OF FEAR is a superior spy-story, written in the grand manner and re calling, in the author's treat ment of his subject, the murky intensity of Conrad's Secret Agent. Mr. Graham Greene's scene is London in the blitz, and among the minor characters the German bombs must be reckoned as not the least amiable. The human beings who decorate the stage are, for the ...

... . By L. P. HARTLEY. THE author of Escape has written another novel, with a somewhat similar theme. But this time Miss Vance's scene is laid in a Breton village in France-- Occupied France. There is more than one flash-back; we have a glimpse of Paris on the eve of the German occupa tion, another of the roads to the south, crowded with refugees and made hideous by German bombers. But as the ...

... . Starred by The Sketch. highest value. WATCH ON THE RHINE (Aldwych). Diana Wynyard, Anton Walbrook, Athene Seyler, Margar- etta Scott. Anti-Nazis in U.S. 44 FLARE PATH 44 (Apollo). R.A.F. 44 ops.4* Adrianne Allen. 44 BLITHE SPIRIT 44 (Duchess). Noel Coward's play. Kay Ham mond, Cecil Parker, Irene Browne. 44 PINK STRING AND SEALING WAX 44 (Duke of York's). 1880 Brighton comedy. Iris Hoey, ...

... . By L. P. HARTLEY. MOST of Miss Delafield's novels can be divided into two categories: the comic and the sad. The comic are funnier than life usually is, and the sad are sadder. She sees the human lot through spectacles that are either rose-coloured or dark-tinted. Some times the colours get mixed, and sometimes we observe that traits in human nature which only serve to cause the first Miss ...

... . By L. P. HARTLEY. MODEST heroes are apt to be a little self- conscious about their modesty; one respects them for this, but all the same it may become an irritating trait, almost as irritating as boastfulness. une ot tne pleasantest features in the very pleasant character of Corporal Jack is his open- minded attitude towards his own achievements. We can not say that he was a hero malgre hti, ...

... . By C. A. LEJEUNE. PROBABLY the most contro versial film produced in this country during our entire screen history is THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP. It will rouse pas sions and debates wherever it is shown. It will delight some people, and infuriate others. It will prove a knotty problem when the ques tion of export comes to be considered. Will it do good to our reputa tion abroad ...

... . Starred by The Sketch highest value WATCH ON THE RHINE (Aldwych). Diana Wynyard, Anton Walbrook, Athene Seyler, Margar etta Scott. Anti-Nazis in U.S. 44 FLARE PATH 44 (Apollo). R.A.F. ops. Adrianne Allen. 44 BLITHE SPIRIT 44 (Duchess). Noel Coward's play. Kay Ham mond, Cecil Parker, Irene Browne. 44 PINK STRING AND SEALING WAX (Duke of York's). 1880 Brighton comedy. Iris Hoey, Dorothy ...

... . By C. A. LEJEUNE. THE old spacious days of the Continental cinema are recalled this week in TARAKANOVA, the French film at Studio One. inis is a costume piece about the court of Catherine of Russia, and it has been presented with a camera eye for beauty that amounts almost to a passion. Beautiful sets, beautiful faces', beautiful compositions of figures are tenderly lit and photographed ...

... . By L. P. HARTLEY. DESCRIBED by Mr. Priestley as a novel about an aircraft fac tory, Daylight on Satur day is a story with a strong topical interest. Many people who do not know how a factory works would like to; and many who do know will be interested to see the impression it makes on a writer of Mr. Priestley's understanding and discernment. duui groups, cue ignorant and the initiated, ...