AMUSEMENTS.

Press, 1 February 1930, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

LIBERTY THEATRE

"BEHIND THAT CURTAIN."

GREAT ALL-TALKING MYSTERY DRAMA.

There are three things necessary fur a successful talking picture; there must De a plot, and a, very sound one at that; the players must have very real acting ability [.something that was not always necessary in the days of silents), and the actons must bo capable of clear and precise diction. In "Behind that Curtain." the talking picture to be presented at the Liberty Theatre next week, these three essentials are very much to '.. he fore-, with a result that there is a picture that at first eight must be written down as one of the best "talkies sten to date. Tho picture is adapted from Earl Derr Biggers's book, "Bruce of Scotland Yard," and the readers of the book will rejoice to hear that the very colourt-.il and dramatic story lias boon expertly handled by the director and his cast. Lie story is in the mystery class, but may not b» summarily dismissed as a "mystery drama"; certainly, the picture opena most promisingly with a surreptitious pair oi hand* putting Chinese slippers on dead feet, but quite early the murderer takes some of the characters into his confidence, and there is none of that conventional and stiff mystery that one often sees in talkies. "Behind that Curtain* i« original, virile stuff, ranging from London to »an Francisco, a diverting, co ourful story against an ev?r-changing background allied closely to the mystery part of tftedrama is a. rwo-.ided love affair, and this is every whit ss important to the plot as the other half. And always tn the background is Sir Frederick Brace, of Scotland Yard trailing his man, and his man very adroitly playing; hie hand, so that Bruce will not look so spectacular at the •»•'• It is a vastly thrilling story, beautifully acted bv a cast of actors whose -voices are always pleasantly modulated, a most successful picture in every department, ranK,r» with "Black Watcb," in perfection of speech and fascination </ atory. AYarivr Baxter. Lois Moran, Philip Strange and G : lbert Fn-.err are the principal players, wl patrons will note with pleasure the reappearance of Baxter on the talking screen, for he is one of the best audible actors in HoJlvwood The other artists are eminently satisfactory in their mles. Amor» the supporting numbers are an all talking oomedv. "Tho Interview. w-.tn Clark and McCullough. a musical number "Old Tunes for Sew." with t>r Sigmund Spaeth at the piano, showing the evolution of popular songs from the classics, and the Fox Kews, which includes a speech from the n-w Australian Prime Minister, the Hon. J. Scullin. The box plans are at Th» Bristol Piano Company, where *~ats may be reserved.