Chinese Pirates Steal British Submarine

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 212, 5 September 1934, Page 5

Chinese Pirates Steal British Submarine

And Give Jack Hulbert Brilliant Scope for Scintillating Comedy (State Theatre on Satm-ay.’ JACK lIULBERT “fans,” and that means evryboW have a treat in store for theem when “Jack Ahoy” comes into port at the State theatre on Saturday. In the story of the film, Jack is descended from a long line of admirals and in the prologue to t lie film we sec a forebear of Jack’s at the Battle of Trafalgar, bravely defying the enemy from the poop of his ship until a sail descends with a run and obliterates him. He flouts tradition when, after being “ploughed” at Dartmouth, be joins the Navy as an A.B. He has the temerity Jo fall in love with the Admiral’s daughter a proceeding which leads him into all sorts of scrapes and finally to the cells.

Jack redeems himself when his ship,] the Stupendous, is ordered 1o Far Eastern waters to check the activities of pirates who have captured a British submarine. When tlie Admiral and iiis daughter, who has gone Fast to join her fattier, are captured by Larios, the chief of tlio pirates, Jack and his faithful- but rather dim-witted associate, Dodger, hold the pirates up at the business end of a niachino gun, whilst the captives retreat to the submarine. Jack and Dodger join them and thereafter their attempts to work tho submarine is provocative of a host of hearty laughs. Finally, they get away to sea, where they arc chased and shelled by tho pirates in a speedy, armed motor launch. Alternately sinking and rising, sometimes turning turtle, the submarine with its passengers experience a real thrill when tho British Navy arrives and, deeming it to be still in the hands of tho pirates, proceeds to shell them and also to drop depth charges.

The submarine sinks to the bottom of Hie sen, and Jack, bravely donning the necessary equipment, goes through the coning tower —only to find that tho submarine has run aground and that he is surrounded by laughing and cheering sailors. Of course, Jack is promoted to commissioned rank, and again, of course, he wins the Admiral's daughter. Jack Hulbert is at the top of his form in this film, singing, dancing and performing a number of extremely mirthprovoking stunts. Nancy O’Neil is charming as the Admiral’s daughter, whilst the Admiral is finely played by Alfred Drayton. Tamara Desni docs a spot of vamping with Jack as an unwilling victim, and Henry Peterson is sinister in his role of the pirate chief. Finely directed by Walter Fordo, whose film, “Orders Is Orders,” will be remembered bj r everybody, “Jack Ahoy!” provides a feast of happy laughter, a real tome for everybody.