AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22694, 20 July 1948, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

Regent.—Taking a leaf out of the Alfred Hitchcock primer of movie direction, a British company made a powerful psychological melodrama “I Met a Murderer,” which is now showing at the Regent, The melodramatic impact that James Mason and Pamela Kelliuo have woven into their story, and the brittle suspense that the director, Roy Keliino, has sustained in recording it on celluloid are immensely interesting. From a basically simple theme—the story of a man who, driven to distraction by his nagging wife, murders her and then, while attempting to escape the police, fails in love with a young author—they have made a film that piles thrill upon thrill until "I Met a Murderer” becomes an unusually effective chase.

Majestic.—"Killer McCoy,” now at the Ma* justic, witnesses the return to the screen of Mickey Rooney, the actor who during the past year has been appearing in vaudeville in London. Here is an exciting story of the prize ring, with plenty of thrills, and acted with convincing vigour by a competent cast. Beside the volatile Mickey Rooney, there arc fine players in the persons of Brian Donlevy, Ann Blyth, James Dunn, Tom Tully and Sam Levene.

King.—Now showing is a picture for which so many have waited with eager expectancy, "Monsieur Verdoux,” the film written, created, produced, and starred in by the almost forgotten Charles —no longer Charlie —Chaplin. The picture bids a long farewell to those oversize in dishevelled footwear, baggy pants, and rusty bowler hat. It is a new Chaplin, smart, suave, well-mannered and sophisticated who figures as M. Verdoux. How this rather fascinating little fellow becomes a sinister and hunted criminal, with a peculiar fatality where women are concerned, this film reveals.