'MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD'

Evening Star, Issue 21936, 24 January 1935, Page 12

'MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD'

HEADS PROGRAMME FOR OCTAGON * Murder On the Blackboard,’ with Edna May Oliver and James Gleason, a sequel to ‘ The Penguin Pool Murder,’ will head the new programme at the Octagon to-morrow. In this bright detective comedy Edna May Oliver is again seen in the delightful role of Hildegarde Withers, the school teacher with shrewd ideas about crime detection. Gleason plays Police Inspector Oscar Piper, a fast-talking wise-cracking detective. They are excellent foils for each other, and with an effortless technique which is a delight to behold, make the most of a story rich in laughs, thrills, and sentiment. Bruce Cabot again demonstrates that he is one of the 'screen’s outstanding young actors, and Gertrude Michael, Regis Toomey, Edgar Kennedy, Tally Marshall, Fredrik Vogeding, and Barbara Fritehie perform splendidly in difficult _ supporting roles. A school is the setting for a baffling crime, ‘ Murder on the Blackboard.’ A beautiful young teacher is slain; her body is burned in the furnace; a detective is attacked from behind in a dark cellar; and the killer attempts to cut down Hildegarde with a hatchet. These events involve several suspects. Weird escapes and hilarious comedy alternate right up to the climax, when Hildegarde Withers manages to reveal the murderer to the dumbfounded police. ‘ Finishing School,’ featuring Billie Burke. Ginger Rogers, and John Halliday is the other picture on the programme.