THE “LONE WOLF” AGAIN

Evening Star, Issue 22326, 30 April 1936, Page 1

THE “LONE WOLF” AGAIN

POPULAR CHARACTER FOR ST. JAMES Comedy and drama are reported to be admirably blended in the St. James’s new attraction, ‘ The Lone Wolf Returns,’ which will be initially screened to-morrow afternoon. It has been classed elsewhere as good fare for theatre patrons who relish excitement, spiced with romance. The plot is founded on the brilliant novel by Louis Joseph Vance, and concerns the romantic adventures of an international jewel thief turned honest. Melvyn Douglas, who acted with distinction in ‘ The Dark House ’ and ‘ She Married Her Boss,’ is the suave, handsome type for the role of the gentleman cracksman, Michael Lanyard alias the Lone Wolf, the very mention of whose name is enough to spoil the sleep of the detective chiefs of the world’s capitals. Specialising in the theft of jewels, the Lone Wolf succeeds in lifting a priceless pendant from the home of a wealthy New York society girl, played by the beautiful Gail Patrick, but when he sees the girl and talks with her a miraculous desire to be honest overcomes him, and his future actions are shaped accordingly. He returns the pendant, and wins the love of the' girl, but a gang of former rivals in robbery take the girl’s of jewels and “frame” -the Lone Wolf as the perpetrator. His swift and clever escape from the unjust accusation makes a good climax to the picture. The thrills of the film are about evenly balanced by abundant humour, supplied by two semi-comic detectives and a super-serious man-servant. A varied and interesting lot of supports will round off an excellent programme.