"LEGION OF VALOUR"

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 112, 7 November 1935, Page 5

"LEGION OF VALOUR"

Tomorrow at the Regent.

"In a nation beleaguered by crime between those who obey the law and those who defy it. there can be no compromise." That is the motto of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation—the equivalent of England's C.l.D.—and it is a motto that is carried out to the utmost of its thrilling consequences in "The Legion of Valour," the film released by United Artists which will start tomorrow at the Regent Theatre. The Legion of Valour is the name given to the secret service agents of America, a handful of picked men who are pledged to wipe out the menace of organised crime in their country, and this film of their exploits makes quite the most exciting detective story ever put on the screen. Not the least interesting feature of a completely fascinating film is (he insight which it gives into the amazing technique of modern crime detection. Richard Arlen, Harvey Stephens, and Eric Linden play the Three Musketeers of the Bureau "of Investigation who relentlessly hunt down the daring criminal who, under the guise of a chauffeur, has organised and carried out a reign of terror. Romance is brought into the story by the fact that Linden's sister (Virginia Bruce) is loved by Arlen, and complications follow when her brother is killed "in line of duty," and she blames Arlen for haying persuaded him to become a detective. This makes the remaining two friends even more determined to bring the killer to justice, and the suspense of the film is brilliantly sustained as they draw the net ever closer round "Public Enemy No. 1." lAs that sinister personage. Bruce Cabot 'gives the best performance in the film and the best of his career. He is ter- ! ribly ruthless in a quiet way, and therefore he is far more effective than the average screen villain. For good measure there is thrown in a sterling comedy performance by Alice Brady, who recently scored such a success in "Lady Tuhhs."