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Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7493, 18 June 1934, Page 10

STATE THEATRE TOM WALLS’ NEW COMEDY A GEM! In- his new picture, "Just Smith,” I which opened to a capacity house on | Saturday at the State theatre, Tom Walls I takes us aboard a yacht to further his j plans. Although something of a man of mystery by his ingratiating manner he is received into, if not heartily welcomed by “society.” To himself and his friend Mortimer he is a crook, high-class, "Toney,” but still a crook. Hoodwinking dear Mrs. Linkley, a lady in love with "titles” and all the tinsel implies, he entertains her and a titled party aboard Mortimer’s yacht. In this way he secures an invitation to the lady's country home, where a jewel robbery occurs, police are called in, everybody suspected and all cleared, if not cleared, up. This is the mere skeleton of the comedy, written by Frederick Lonsdale and staged as "Never Come Back,” which Gaumont-British have adapted to the screen and Tom Walls playing the title role directed. Smith Is a character very much within the orbit of Tom Walls, and he makes that very presentable gentleman-crook an engaging personality. Unfortunately for his nefarious plans Mrs. Llnkley’s daughter Mary falls in love with him at a time when her mother is wishing her on to the Duke of Bristol. Leslie Perrins is his . Grace and Carol Goodner the daughter who very much prefers Smith. Between these charactex-s and Anne Grey, one of the Duke’s discarded affairs, there is a good deal of clever by-play and the delicious situations are cleverly handled. The comedy on the yacht turns to seriocomedy at the country house when a valuable necklace is missed from a wellsafe and Detective Inspector Rolls (Peter Gawthorne) suspects everybody in turn, fastening at last upon Smith who, however, never stole the jewels. Rolls was non-plussed. The mystification of the detective officer is the high light of the play and here the varying situations are bright and amusing. -The competence of the cast raises “Just Smith” to a high standard, and this new Tom Walls feature is an excellent popular attx-action. Technically “Just Smith” reaches highwater mark. In settings—Monte . Carlo, on board the yacht and at the country house—photography and recording this Gaumont-British production again reflects the resources of the Shepherd’s Bush studios. Brilliant featurettes contribute to an excellent programme.