THE TALKIES

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LII, Issue 55, 10 July 1931, Page 3

THE TALKIES

SOUTHBRIDGE TO-NIGHT.

"THREE LIVE GHOSTS."

SCOTLAND YARD METHODS,

Strange as it may seem, Scotland Yard detectives, England's crack corps of criminal investigators, do not carry arms. The law violator knows this, but it is extremely seldom that a Scotland Yard officer is ever attacked. The difference between English and American police methods is revealed in "Three Live Ghosts," United Artists' all-talking comedy, to be shown to-night in the Southbridge Town Hall. When Shayle Gardner, as the Scot' land Yard detective, enters the home of Beryl Mercer in "Three Live Ghosts" and discovers a kidnapped baby and valuable loot, he does not whip out a gun and order the occupants of the room to stand with their faces against the wall while he summons help. Instead, he follows the custom of conduct set down^ by Scotland Yard and calmly goes about questioning the occupants of the place and, satisfying himself that a crime has been committed, Gardner summons his assistant, who is standing outside the door, and tells him to "call the van." It is a serious offence in England to resist an officer. Hence no effort is made by Beryl Mercer, Charles McNaughton, Joan Bennett, Robert Montgomery and Hilda Vaughn to resist Gardner, despite the fact that they know he is not armed. When "Three Live Ghosts," based on the sensational comedy-drama success of New York and London stage, went into production, Thornton Freeland, the director, personally communicated with the British consul general's office in Los Angeles to learn how a Scotland Yard officer should deport himself. Max Marcin, famous playwright, who produced the original stage production of "Three Live Ghosts," likewise staged the all-talking film version, which features an all-star stage cast, including Beryl Mercer, Charles McNanghton, Joan Bennett, Robert Montgomery, Claud Allister, Hilda Vaughn, Harry Stubbs, Shayle Gardner, Jocelyn Lee, Jack Cooper, Tenen Holtz and Nancy Price.