"FAST LIFE,” SPEEDBOAT RACING DRAMA.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 July 1933, Page 3

"FAST LIFE,” SPEEDBOAT RACING DRAMA.

WILLIAM HAINES HEADS ALL. STAE CAST. • The fastest moving action picture ©f the season conies to the Regent Theatre on Tuesday, with the appearance of William Haines and an all-star cast in “Past Life,” the breath-taking motor-boat racing picture recently completed at Catalina Island and in the Los Angeles Harbour by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Haines is given one of the strongest portrayals of his career as the irrepressible “Handy,” a motor-boat mechanic who has a new idea for an engine that will break the world’s records. He drives hie boat through a race that will send thrilling chills down the spine of even the most apathetic theatregoer. Clift Edwards pokes his expressive countenance into a series of comedy situations with Haines through which they both have many hilarious adventures. Madge Evans is seen in a sparkling role as the daughter of a wealthy racing boat builder who obtains jobs for Haines and Edwards in her father’s company. The two-mile-a-minute story is based on E. J. Rath’s novel, “Let’s Go,” in which a young motorboat mechanic and his assistant are determined to get backing for their new type of engine. When they finally do get a

.wealthy boat builder to construct a craft using their plans, they have a serious accident and are forced to resort to piracy among the millionaires’ yachts in the harbour, giving 1.0.U.'s for the money they take. The way the two speed boat demons finally do get their boat in international competition leads to a smashing climax. Advance comment on the picture by motorboat experts hat* established that the camera work on race scenes is the most realistic ever accomplished in motion pictures. With the added punch of sound, recorded -while the huge water monsters were roaring on their way, “Past Life’’ is said to top all previous talking picture thrills. Ihe “heavy” in the racing feature is portrayed by Conrad Nagel. Arthur Byron, well-known stage actor, fills the role of “Jameson,” builder of racing boats who finances Haines and Edwardff with their new type engine. The remainder of the strong supporting cast includes Warburton Gamble, Kenneth Thomson, Albert Gran and Ben Hendricks. Following his outstanding work on “Shipmates” and “When a Feller Needs a Friend,” Harry Pollard handled the direction on the motor-boat thriller.