LIBERTY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22769, 22 July 1939, Page 8

LIBERTY

“THE RETURN OF THE CISCO KID” Filmgoers who seek adventure will long remember “The Return of the Cisco Kid,” which opened a season at the Liberty last night, as a favourite. It is one of the best action pictures of the American west that have ever been shown in Christchurch. The Cisco Kid was a character created by O. Henry. The Kid escaped capture and death because he could shoot five-sixths of a second sooner than any other man. On the screen he has been brought to life by Warner Baxter, whose presentation of the Kid in this new film is as natural and attractive as it was ip “Old Arizona,” for which he won the Academy award. Warner Baxter is well adapted to the role he plays, a handsome, intelligent, and very courageous bandit, the terror of the desert wastes of Mexico, but the idol of the senoritas. Cesar Romero gives a convincing and amusing display as a faithful and bloodthirsty henchman, and Henry Hull scores as a sly old grandfather, who never finds a situation too serious to broach his bottle of medicine, which seems usually to be filled with grog. Lynn Bari is the heroine, and has her most important role as the beauty for whose love this romantic bandit risks his life on innumerable occasions, but whose heart he fails to win. A squad firing at a man who drops into his grave, but rises again unhurt, opens the picture in an old fort on the north Mexican frontier. The man is, of course, the Cisco Kid, who rides away through the cactus to plan the plunder of a stage coach. Among the passengers with whom he decides to travel are Miss Bari and Mr H«ll—her grandfather—a pompous old colonel. Events follow quickly and reveal that the newcomers have lost their option over a piece of grazing country, as well as 5000 dollars, to the boss ot a small wayback town, who is sheriff, banker, landowner, and villain all in one. Further, both Miss Bari and the colonel are thrown into gaol where they are able to join their partner in the ranching project (Kane Richmond). A match dropped in a tin of kerosene sets the gaol on fire, and the Americans free. To buy back the option the Kid raids the sheriff’s, bank to pay him the sum agreed upon a day before. Returning, he finds that Miss Bari and Richmond are to be married. In revenge he sends Richmond over the border, telling the police that the Cisco Kid is to ride through the pass that day. When he learns the true situation he regrets his action, gallops through the mountains, and bluffs a posse of 100 men that he has an armed man behind every rock. To prove his statement, a companion shouts along a whispering gallery of rock and brings the surrounding hills to life with shouts and oaths of allegiance. The authorities fall for the ruse, the rider rides through the pass to his new ranch, and the Cisco Kid back to the mountains of Mexico. PLAZA DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME A drama of the sea never- fails to raise enthusiasm with theatre audiences, and “King of Alcatraz,” now showing at the Plaza Theatre, fulfils all expectations. A crime thriller always has an interest following: but there is seldom a picture with such an unusual theme as “King of Alcatraz.” The leading parts are played by Lloyd Nolan and Gail Patrick. Fine photography at sea, never-failing action and the interesting life of a ship’s wireless operator, combine to give a performance which is tense from start to finish. Two brilliant radio operators fight over a girl and are relieved of their easy and conlfortable duties on luxury liners and put on board a coastal freighter which is bound for Panama on a vagabond cruise. Although appearing the worst of enemies, the pair are really firm friends, and it is by their co-operation that most of the action in the picture occurs. . . „ Unknown to the captain of the vessel, Harry Carey, ■ America’s Public Enemy No. 1, is smuggled aboard as an old woman. When the police suspect that the crime king might be on the ship, an inspection of the passengers’ passports reveals the criminal in his true- colour. Killing several men and wounding others, the criminal gets control of the vessel, and it is only by a clever ruse that he induces Nolan to send out a message. Not satisfied with remaining a prisoner, Nolan and his friend effect an escape. Nolan escapes, but the other man is wounded. In attempting to send out an SOS with primitive apparatus, Nolan is seriously wounded. The nurse on the ship, Gail Patrick, is in love with- Nolan, and commences to operate on Nolan by instructions by wireless from another vessel. Even the gangster is touched by the scenes which follow, and it is only by a miracle that Nolan’s operation is successful. After the scenes of the operation, the ship springs alive again with terrifying action. By a system of well-thought-out moves the crew gradually wins back control of the ship. _ Lovers of horses will again be thrilled with, another of the Hopalong Cassidy series, “Pride of the West,” the second feature on the programme. Partnered with his old colleagues, George Hayes and Russell Hayden, William Boyd gives another of his cool, but convincing performances. “Pride of the West” is full of action. The roaring of guns and cracking of whips are done, to perfection. George Bayess heated retorts to the interrogations of the’ gangsters rnever fail to raise a laugh., .r ■ , .. , The story deals with a shernf who has been wronged by some of the leading men of the town. He relies upon Cassidy and his friends to extricate hl The sixth chapter of the thrilling serial the “Lone Ranger,” “Redmans Courage,” adds to an already outstanding programme.