STRAND'S ATTRACTIVE OFFERING

Evening Star, Issue 21992, 30 March 1935, Page 21

STRAND'S ATTRACTIVE OFFERING

gripping mystery picture ‘ The Case of the Howling Dogp an intriguing mystery drama, and ‘ High Finance,’ an English comedydrama, arc two highly entertaining pictures in an attractive and varied programme at the popular Strand Theatre. Few mysteries shown on ilwi screen hold the interest of an audience as completely as does 4 The Case oi the Howling Hog.’ The utory is that ol a most battling murder, in fact, ot three murders, and of the shooting of a police dog, but the audience is not aware till the end that more than one murder has been committed, and the final exposure by William when he makes known his deductions which led him to the correct solution are sensational, but logical. Right from the outset the story grips the audience, and Warren William, in the role ol Perry Mason, an attorney with a flare for crime detection, in his clashes with District Attorney Drnmni (Grant Mitchell) provides many thrilling situations. Two families are involved, the Foleys and the Cartwrights, and Arthur Cartwright (Gordon Westcott) is annoyed by the howling at night ot the dog owned by Ins neighbour, Foley 1 Russell Flicks). Cartwright instructs Mason to draw up a will, but next day Mason finds that the instructions have been altered, and this ho regards as peculiar. The murder ol Foley is discovered by Mason himself, and from that moment the. mystery develops. rapidly becoming more baffling every hour. ‘The Case ol the Howling I)og ’ is genuinely one of the finest mystery pictures

shown for a lung time. Throughout the acting is excellent. The cast is a strong one. and in addition to those mentioned above, includes Mary Astor, Helen Trenhohne. and Dorothy Tree. In 4 High Finance,’ the English comedy-drama, there is considerable interest in that it has among its cast the young New Zealander, John Batten. It is a drama of the lives of men who make a living by gambling with finance. Gibb M'Lauglilin is the financier, who. in the words of his niece, is “ cold and hard—like iron,” and who looks upon 44 love as one thing and business as everything a man who never made a mistake until he made one serious one which put him into prison. Ida Lnpino, daughter of the famous Stanley Lupino is his niece, and John Batten is her friend who finds himself in favour and out of favour and in favour again with her father, according to the trend of his business. 4 High- Finance ’ has a good deal more comedy than drama. It is a delightfully funny picture.