ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 195, 17 July 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “CASINO MURDER CASE." In “The Casino Murder Case,” which opens its season at tlio Kosy Theatre tonight. I’aul Lukas, featured player of such successes as “Little Women’’ and “The Fountain,” brings to the screen a third distinctive portrayal of i’hilo Vance, S. S. Van Line’s famous fictional detective. Rather than present a purely dramatic mystery, Producer Lucion Hubbard has chosen to make the newest Vance thriller an unusually humorous yet mystifying story, with rapid-lire action and sparkling dialogue, suggestivo of the tempo of “The Thin Man,” ono of the year’s outstanding pictures. That the new picture has its tunny moments is assured by the fact that the inimitable Alison Skipworth, who scored in “Six of a Kind,” is prominently cast as the domineering “Mrs Llewllyn” around whom much of the action circles. Others who have promim ent roles in the production include Donald Cook, Rosalind Russell, Arthur Byron, Ted Healy, Eric Blore, Isabel Jewell and Louise Fazenda. The new Van Dine baffler concerns the latest adventure of Philo Vance and his solution of a series of poisoning mysteries that onvelop the wealthy and eccentric Llewllyn family. Vance receives an anonymous letter directing him to watch young Lynn Llewllyn, whose life is in danger, at a notorious gambling casino.. After drinking water supplied by his uncle, Kinfcaid the casino owner, Lynn collapses. At the same hour Lynn’s wife dieß of poisoning in Mrs Llewllyn’s home. Vance discounts a suicide note found at her side. A little later Doris Reed, the old lady’s secretary-companion, becomes unconscious after drinking water from a carafe intended for the elderly Mrs Llewllyn. Because the victims were mado violently ill after drinking water, Vance perceives a water motif - running through the case. lie learns Kinkaid and Dr Kano, fiance of Lynn’s sister, are experimenting with “heavy water,’’ believed to be poisonous. With Doris, who has recovered, Vance is trapped in Kinkaid’s secret laboratory but is later released by Kinkaid. Lynn’s mother, found dead with a gunshot wound, ’ has left a note admitting she had engineered the poison plot. Vance also discredits this “confession,” declaring the old lady was trying to conceal her son. Lynn traps Vance and Doris in the deserted Casino planning to tell them because they know too much. He boastfully tells everything. From thence to the final scene. “The Casino Murder Case’’ races to an exciting climax with lightning rapidity—with Philo Vance adding another startling crime solution to lus amazing record. A Pete Smith oddity. Rugby, depicts our national game, every phase being shown in slow motion, “Free Voyage, 5 ’ a Thelma Todd comedy, which, by the way, is a scream, and the latest newsreel. STATE THEATRE “THE LITTLE COLONEL.” Shirley Temple, world’s sweetheart and screen miracle .child, co-stars with Laonel Barrymore in “The Little Colonel. Ibis beautiful picture, which has been playing to phenomenal crowds at the State Theatre and which lias broken all records, will have its final screening to-day. “THE PHANTOM LIGHT.” The novel properties of the story of “The Phantom Light,” a Gaumont-British thriller which begins its season at the State Theatre to-morrow, are finely supported by the convincing atmosphere the picture presents of a lonely lighthouse on the rugged coast of \\ ales—an unusual sotting at which most of the action takes

place. It is this eerie remoteness, the cry of the pulls, the sigh of the wind, the fog wraiths drifting, the tiny, winking lights on distant ciifls, the something seemingly alive in the whispering wash of the sea that spurs imagination to liveliest anticipation of tragic happenings. T’lie plot is cleverly unfolded. No hint is given of what is actually to come, hut, moment by moment, the mind leaps to possible denouements—and the picture as steadily eliminates them all as being far from the ingenious form of villainy disclosed with the climax. Gordon Harker is in his element as’ the chief lighthouse-keeper, newly sent from London headquarters to take over duty. His first scorn of the superstitious tales of tho Welsh 'villagers gradually giving place to half-credence, lie l works himself into a state of nerves, but, when the real machinery of the villainy at work begins to disclose itself ho becomes a vigorous and effective man of action. Not only the greater part of the comedy falls upon Gordon Harker, hut also a share of the drama, throwing a strong light upon the versatility of this remarkably fine character actor. The atmosphere of mystery and suspense is importantly contributed to by the strong work of Herbert Lomas in the part of the sinister C’lafT Owen. Donald Calthrop is again outstanding for a sharply etched characterisation, that of the harbour master, who might or might not he in the f>lot to lure ships to destruction. Also ending excellent support are lan Hunter as a naval officer masquerading as a journalist, who is mainly instrumental in unearthing the mystery, and Binnic Hale as an attractive pseudo-chorine who is ultimately. disclosed as a female detective. On the same programme is an excellent supporting feature, “Lightning fcjl rikes Twice,.” a swift-moving story filled with laughs. It enjoys the rare farce ingredient of thrilling melodrama, and also boasts of laughs, romance, mystery and other elements which build to an unusual climax. REGENT THEATRE. “BELLA DONNA.” There is no doubt about “Bella Donna.” which commences ils screening t’oniglit at the Rcgt-nt. Theatre. being one of the most popular stories written. Its success as a novel and stageplay was followed by the screen version in which Pola Negri played the title role and again it was filmed as a “silent” with Tauline Frederick ns "Bella Donna.” In this screen adaptation of the hook, and tho play by Bernard Fagan, the producers are particularly lortunate in their choice of artists for principal roles. Although this is her first screen role, Mary Ellis gives a splendid performance .as “Bella Donna.” This fine stage actress had definite idoas as lo how the part should ho played. She determined to rouse sympathy for the character and not to make her merely a “wicked vamp,” as the. part had previously been played. She succeeds. As Mnhmoud Baroudi, tho evil Egyptian who fascinates the white woman, Conrad Veidt is a striking and sinister figure. No better choice can bo imagined for this difficult rolo. Then wo have that great actor, Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Dr Isaacson, ‘ flic medical mat. who saves tlie life of his friend. Nigel Armine, a part finely portrayed by John Stuart. , An excellent supporting cast includes Rodney Millington, Joanne Stuart, and George Carr. Tho Jilin was directed by Robert Milton, who lias captured the atmosphere of Robert Hitchens’ book with fine skill. Tho story of “Bella Donna” is one of romance, black treachery and tragedy. A woman with a not-so-good reputation in England is loved by a young man with expectations. He disregards the warnings of his sister-in-law and cievoted friends, marries the woman and takes hor to 'Egypt., On tho voyago she becomes infatuated with Mahmoud Baroudi, a wealthy Egyptian, and is so carried away by the glamour of the situation that she still further besmirches her

reputation, deceiving her husband light and left. In hor trickery she is aided by Ibrahim, an Egyptian in tho pay and eon-' fidence of.Baroudi. To hold the Egyptian and at his instigation, she endeavours to poison her husband. When Dr Isaacson, alarmed at the reports of Nigel’s state of health, visits him in Egypt, -she tries to prevent him examining tho sick man. The doctor diagnoses poison and suspects the wife, reveals the truth to Nigel who at first refuses to believe that his wife can act so vilely. Eventually ho _ challenges her; she admits the truth, is east away by Baroudi, who dreads scandal, and is left alone —deservedly outcast.