PICTURE THEATRES.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20915, 24 July 1933, Page 4

PICTURE THEATRES.

+ CIVIC THEATRE. « THE LODGER." It would be difficult to imagine a more entertaining mystery drama than the British production, "The Lodger," which began a season at the Civic Theatre on Saturday, with Ivor Novello in the main role. It is outstanding in three days—in acting, in plot, and direction. Every character is admirably suited, the plot is startling yet feasible, with the solution of the mystery concealed until the very end of the picture. The ability of the direction makes what would be an average production one of the finest British films that has been seen in Christchurch. , . Six years ago Novello, who is recognised as one of the leading actors on the legitimate stage in England, brought the story of "The Lodger into prominence as a silent film; but the art of film photography has since Ihen grown remarkably, and into this film have been brought all the arts of the cameraman with telling effect. As An gel off, the foreign musician suspected of a number of ghastly murders on the Continent and in England, Novello gives a polished interpretation. He is "the lodger," whose air of brooding melancholy and questionable habits draws suspicion on him. His custom of walking about the streets of the city at night, his return to his lodgings after another murder has been committed, and his similarity to the description of the murderer, are incidents which lead up to his arrest. With his escape from custody, the action develops rapidly. The interest never (lags and excitement is intense until the solution of the mystery is given in the thrilling climax. The supporting cast is adequate, and lends a convincing touch to the production. Elizabeth Allen, who will bo remembered for her work in "Michael and Mary," is an excellent choice to play opposite Novello; she invests her part with daintiness and simplicity, subordinating herself neatly to the main character. A. W. Bascomb, a leading English character comedian, brings in a typically English humour to set off the atmosphere of mystery and tension to advantage. Without the flashes of humour for which he is responsible, and which are but one phase of the cleverness of the direction, the production would be the poorer. Other:; in the cast are Barbara Everest, Shayle Gardiner, the New Zealander who has been seen in a number of English productions in detective parts, Peter Gawthorne, and Jack Hawkins. The high standard of the entertainment is maintained in the supporting programme, which includes an unusual type of newsreel, an interesting study of the habits of peregrine falcons, the largest of the British birds, in their native haunts, and an instructional film showing the evolution and growth of the scarlet runner bean.