Opera House

Grey River Argus, 23 April 1937, Page 6

Opera House

“Celling Zero,” now at Hie Opera House, is one of the most, thrilling and glamorous air lomanees screened. Jt co-stars that inimitable team, James Cagney and Pat O’Biien, introduces a charming new leading lady in June Travis and offers an exceptionally large all-star cast in support. In a picture dealing with the commpreial mail and passenger service of the air, the plot, is essentially dynamic diama, but in the every day events iji the lives of the flyers and ground men, there is plenty of humour. No one could keep the irrepressible Cagney nor O’Brien from injecting laughs in such situations. Cagney, O’Brien and’ stuart Erwin have the roles of three fly. ing war buddies who have turned to commercial aviation. Cagney is the d>vi]tmay r ’eare, stunting, irresponsible member of the trio, with O’Brien as the superintendent o* the flyers and Er. win as a somewhat steadier pilot than Cagney. Jimmy is als 0 given to making love to every pretty girl he sees, which lands him in plenty of trouble. He probably has given the best per. formative of his career' in this char, acterisation. He ig not. entirely frivolous, however, for he rises on the supreme occasion to a heroic deed by [taking the place of his rival in love on a Hight he knows will end in death. Jimmy manages to mix his quaint humour with thrilling action in a way

(that either keeps one laughing or holding the breath. Pat O’Biien is ov. cellent as the somewhat more sober air superintendent, but he- lends no inconsiderable humour to the comedy situations. June Travis does a commendable piece of work as the pretty air hostess, who is engaged to one- pilot and is fascinated by another. Stuart Erin does a good job as the third of the war buddies, a s does Barton MarLane as the big air boss. Henry Wads, worth is seen as the rival of Cagney for t(lie love of the leading lady. Others in the cast who are to be commended for their work include Martha Tibbetts, Isabel! Jewell, Ciaig Reynolds and Richard Purcell. Howard Hawks, famous war ace director of many screen hits, has given the picture an unusual and sympathetic handling, alternating thrills and comedy in a way that keeps the audience at the highest tension.