PHILO VANCE AGAIN

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22242, 5 November 1937, Page 16

PHILO VANCE AGAIN

“Night of Mystery” and “Don’t Tell the Wife”

When Philo Vance, the greatest of ' modern detectives, gets on the job action and speed and thrills are assured. S. S. Van Dine’s famous detective character finds himself right in the middle of a quadruple killing < that taxes even his ingenuity to the : limit in Paramount’s “Night of Mys- 1 tcry,” which begins to-day at the I Crystal Palace, with “Don’t Tell the Wife.” “Night of Mystery” features ' Grant Richards in the role of Philo Vance, with Roscoe Karns and Ruth Coleman heading a brilliant cast. Thrown into the midst of a series of murders that threatens to extinguish a whole family forced to live in a mysterious mansion, Vance unearths clue after clue that leads up a blind alley. Ho finds pitted against his coldly scientific methods of crime detection a maniacal strength that eludes each trap. Grant Richards, as the suavely polished Philo Vance, adds something to the role that gave William v Poyoll a high repute in the older Van Dine mystery films. As a more agile Heath than that portrayed by Eugene Palette, Roscoe Karns presents a completely different characterisation of a favourite film ;

character. Ruth Coleman, Harvey Stephens, Purnell Pratt, and Elizabeth Patterson give excellent performances. “Don't Tell the Wife” features three of Hollywood’s most popular comedians in a rollicking screen play bubbling over with entertainment and humour. Guy Kibbee, Una Merkel, and Lynne Overman are supported by a cast of the same fine quality —including Thurston Hall, Guinn Williams, Harry Jans, former Broadway musical comedy star; Hattie McDaniels, of “Showboat” fame; Frank M. Thomas, Hollywood’s busiest actor; Harry Tyler, screen veteran; William Demurest, and George Irving. The plav is based on the operations of a gang of confidence men, who sell stock in a gold mine they have never seen. Guy Kibbee innocently agrees to head the firm end they, do a tremendous business until Kibbee discovers he has been selling a PP?T ently worthless stock to many of his friends. Una Merkel, who backed the venture in the belief it was legitimate, plays the wife of Lynne Overman, who finds himself headed back to his alma mater, “Sing Sing,” for a post-gradu-ate course. „ _ . , ~ From the play “Once Over Lightly, by George Holland, a Broadway success, “Don’t Tell the Wife” was adapted for the screen by Nat Perrin.