COMEDY AND RACE DRAMA

Evening Star, Issue 22711, 27 July 1937, Page 3

COMEDY AND RACE DRAMA

PITTS-GLEASOH HILARITY James Gleason, who has portrayed the blustering Inspector Oscar Piper iu all the previous screen adventures of Oscar and his feminine aide, Hildegarde Withers, again enacts the role in RKO Radio’s newest detective thriller, ‘ The Plot Thickens,’ coming to-morrow to the Grand. A new Hildegarde, however, makes her bow in the new offering with Zasn Pitts playing the part of the sharp-tongued school teacher. Edna May Oliver impersonated Hildegarde in the first three pictures featuring the sleuthing duo, * Penguin Pool Murder. ‘ Murder on a Blackboard,’ and ‘ Murder on a Honeymoon,’ and Helen Broderick took up the role in the fourth adventure, ‘ Murder on a Bridle Path.’ AVith the fluttering Miss Pitts teamed with the cigar-chewing Gleason , the'comedy situations of the new offering are said to ho the most hilarious to date. The plot deals with the daring effort of a gang of Jewel tliieves to steal the famous Cellini Cup, ami it attains new “ highs ” in suspense and excitement before the surprising climax is reached. ' Owen Davis, jun., Louise Latimer, Richard Tucker, Margaret Armstrong, and other favourites are in the supporting cast, directed by Beu Holmes. Like its predecessors, the story is by Stuart Palmer. A young girl gives a smug automobile magnate a lesson on sportsmanship in Damon Runyon’s thrilling story of the turf, ‘ Racing Lady,’ produced for the screen by >R.K.O. Radio, and which supports. Ann Dvorak, Smith Ballew, and Harry Carey are co-ieatnred. An automobile manufacturer played by Smith Ballew engages a young girl, Ann Dvorak, steeped iu the fine traditions of ‘The Sport of Kings,’ to train his string of thoroughbreds. To him, his horses are nothing but a publicityaid. and he cares only about “ winning.” The girl is finally caught by his mania for tho spectacular, until tho financier wants to keep out of the running the horse she has raised from a colt because he is not sure it can win. She then rebels. Recognised as one of the greatest American sports writers, Runyon has fashioned a throbbing story about a subject which has long been a favourite with him. Other angles are adapted from the story, ‘ Odds Are Even,’ by J. Robert Bren and Norman Houston. Miss Dvorak. Ballew. and Carey are supported bv Frank M. Thomas, Berton Churchill, Ray Mayer. Hattie At‘Daniels, AVilii-o Best, Lew Payton, and others. AA'allace Fox directed. Many of the exciting racing scones in the photoplay were filmed at the famous Santa Anita track.