STATE THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 82, 4 October 1938, Page 8

STATE THEATRE.

New Kind of Adventure Drama.

The colourful activity of a Mediterranean city of Northern Africa forms the background of "Algiers/ Walter Wanger's romantic melodrama starring Charles Boyer opposite Sigrid Gurie and Hedy Lamarr, which is the next change at the State Theatre. Practically the entire action of the picture takes place in "The Casbah," mysterious native quarter of the capital of Algeria. This district is a haven of refuge for criminals of all countries of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Local colour of this romantic spot has been duplicated with uncanny accuracy by studio technicians, and all backgrounds for the action were actually filmed in Algiers. As the story opens, Boyer and his gang, fugitives from Paris, have lived in the Casbah for two years, never venturing outside its boundaries for fear of arrest. In the district they are safe from the police in the. adjoining French city, who dare not molest them owing the ' ferocity of the natives;! though the local inspector, Joseph Calleia, continually watches the genial crook.. The only hope of the officials is that some time they may lure the jewel thief outside the Casbah and thus bring about his capture. Boyer, however, is content to remain in the squalid quarter with his wildly jealous native sweetheart, Sigrid Curie, and laugh at the futile scheming of the police. But one day the Casbah is visited by a group of Parisian tourists, including the glamorous Hedy Lamarr. She happens to meet Boyer and a romance develops. The police inspector views the situation with satisfaction, hoping'that circumstances will eventually lure the fugitive outside the district. In furtherance of his scheme, he tells Miss Lamarr that Boyer has been killed, and she and her party prepare to sail for France. Learning that his new love is leaving the country, Boyer risks arrest to board the ship on which she is about to depart, and the picture reaches a thrilling climax in a series of dramatic scenes on the dock. Afforded the best role of his screen career in "Algiers," Boyer delivers an engaging characterisation of the debonair jewel thief. The picture takes on added interest through the fact that lit marks the first time the star's ncn I bass-baritone singing voice has been heard on the screen.