STATE THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 21, 25 July 1939, Page 6

STATE THEATRE.

"The Saint Strikes Back."

The adage that it takes fire to fight fire is again borne out in the theme of RKO-Radio's "The Saint Strikes Back," second in a series of thrillers adapted from the famous "Saint" stories, which opens tomorrow at the State Theatre. The current film deals with the further exploits of Simon Templar, a modern Robin Hood otherwise known as "The Saint." The most amazing character in the annals of crime, this smiling, deadly killer carries on a one-man campaign against gangsters. But unlike law enforcement agencies, "The Saint" is an outlaw himself, fights murder with murder, and steals the illgotten gains of other criminals. It is "The Saint's" ruthless crusade against the mysterious leader of the crime ring in a large city with which the current picture deals primarily. Becoming interested in the plight of a beautiful girl whose father has been victimised by the underworld overlord, the lonewolf avenger co-operates with the police in bringing the criminal to justice. In his second starring vehicle, "I'm From the . City," which is the associate attraction, Joe Penner is a circus, bareback rider. But normally he has a marked "horsephdbia"; horses j terrify him. Richard Lane, as the ring-1 master of the big top, always hypnotises the young man before each performance, and then Penner puts on a sensational exhibition. _When c the circus closes for the season, Lane,'who passes himself off as the boy's personal manager, rents Penner out to a woman rancher as a cowboy rider, to become the ranch's sole entry in an important sagebrush race, which is an annual event. The hilarious efforts of Penner to avoid entering the big race because of his unusual complex, and Lane's clever scheme to pass off the innocent young, man as the long-lost son of a wealthy rancher, add complications to an already hilarious plot, which reaches an uproarious climax in the exciting race. The supporting cast includes Lorraine Krueger, Richard Lane, and Kay Sutton. .