Elisabeth Bergner has come out of hiding,--that is an event in itself. But the picture she appears in, "Stolen Life," is also an event. Miss Bergner's position is peculiar, for with comparatively few pictures to her credit she was heralded as a great actress, a reputation which many actresses have found hard to live up to in later pictures. Miss Bergner's latest picture shows that she has met the challenge with colors flying.

The situations encountered by identical twins have fascinated writers from the days of Plautus. The comedy of those situations has been explored often, the tragedy seldom. Yet placed in modern-day sophisticated settings, Plautus's bouncing Dromios take on a deeper tone. Miss Bergner's choice of the part, or parts, was indeed a wise one since it does much to divorce her from the adjective "elfin," which might type her dangerously, and shows her ability to handle tragedy in a mature way. The amazing clarity of her two characterizations transcends the realms of trick photography. Her ability to be a character, not merely to act it, shows again that she is what she has been proclaimed to be,--a great actress.

Benes's plot and Miss Bergner's acting form the weight and the quality of the picture. The supporting cast is adequate but not colorful. The scenes do a remarkable job of globe trotting, covering the Alps, the Himalayas, and the Aeropolis,--sort of hitting the high spots generally. Yet when the Himalayas play supporting roles to a very small young lady named Bergner, there's no doubt that that very small young lady has got what it takes!