ST. JAMES THEATRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 149, 21 December 1938, Page 8

ST. JAMES THEATRE

"Fast Company."

Adapted from Marco Page's bestseller novel revealing the inside of the stolen rare book racket, "Fast Com-' pany," which opens at the St James Theatre on Friday, presents Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice in a hilarious blend of romance and fastmoving adventure. Claire Dodd, Shepperd Strudwick, a newcomer from the Theatre Guild,, in New York,- Louis Calhern, Nat Pendletori, and Douglas Dumbrille share acting honours with Douglas and^ Miss Rice. Melvyn Dpuglas as a rare book expert hired by an insurance company to track down rare book thieves, runs his business with the help of his wife, played by Flor ence Rice. They combine domestic and business life with unusual results as. revealed in the picture. The open ing scenes show Douglas and Miss Rice in the office of their rare book business with more leisure* time for domestic bliss than any customers. When their young friend, Ned Morgan (Shepperd StrudwickX is sent to prison on a false charge by Otto Brockler (George Zucco), things begin to happen. Douglas starts an investigation of the case that leads him through a maze of adventure involving a murder, assaults on his life, pursuit of a book gang, and the final capture of the murderer Through all the fast-moving action he is aided by Miss Rice, who extends her wifely duties to the daily life of her husband. The picture, ably directed by Edward Buzzell, who demonstrates his ability to make an entertaining blend of adventure and romance in screen fare, presents Douglas in a role "tailor made" to suit his sense of high comedy. Florence Rice undergoes a complete personality change from the ingenues of her past roles to emerge a sophisticated and dramatic actress.