Sequel to “Penguin Pool Murder" Case

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 201, 23 August 1934, Page 5

Sequel to “Penguin Pool Murder" Case

EDNA MAY OLIVER, IN •‘MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD” Hildegarde witliers and Police inspector Oscar Piper return to the screen in ‘‘Murder on the Blackboard,” their latest adventure into crime detection, at the State theatre to-day. The show is charged with comedy, thrills and romance greater than those which the same team highlighted in ‘‘The Penguin Pool Murder.” ; ■ Hildegarde and Piper' are again characterised by Edna May Oliver and James Gleason. In ‘‘Murder on the Blackboard,” they have new material for their rapid-fire exchange of repartee and expert naadling of very funny situations, interspersed througn a senes of spooky thrills. From the pen of Stuart Palmer, ‘‘Murder on the Blackboard” takes place in a school where Mildegarde is employed. A beautiful music teacher is murdered and Hildegarde discovers the body. She summons Piper, and, together, they find clues as mysterious as the slayer, including, a, dead ant in a whiskey glass, -a high-heeled slipper used as the death weapun, incriminating letters, and musical exorcise written on tho blackboard. The finger of suspicion points to the school principal, tho assistant principal, the janitor, and tho murdered girl's room-mate. Hildegarde challenges death in her pursuit of tho murderer, but unravels the mystery in a series of thrilling events relieved by much comedy. An ideal cast was selected for this RKO production to enact tho various difficult supporting roles. Eruco Cabot, Gertrude Michael and Regis Toomey are splendid, and in other parts Edgar Kennedy, Tuily Marshall, Barbara Fritchie, JacKie Searle and Predrik Vogeding contribute fine work. Thrills, mystery and intriguing romance are entertainment elements which George Archainbau-J . combines in his masterly direction from a swiftly moving adaptation by Willis Boldbeck, who also scenarised the popular ‘‘Penguin Pool Murder.” Who killed Louise Halloran? That’s the burning question of the new feature. Before Edna May Oliver and Janies Gleason, a variety of spooky chilis und thrills aro said to be supplied, along with a generous measure of chuckles and guffaws. Louise Halloran is the pretty music instructor in tho school where the spinsterly Hildegarde Withers teacnes. Louise’s body is discovered in the cloakroom, and tho search for the one who killed her immediately begins. Was the murderer Olaf, the janitor, who was known to have, quarreled with her? Could it havo been Jane Davis, tho dead girl’s room-mate, and her partner in a lottery venture if Then there is tho handsome suitor, Addision Stevens, who once showed romantic interest in Louise. Or could MacFarland, the principal, who had written indiscreet letters to the murdered victim, be the giulty one?