Ralph Lynn, Hare and Harker Co-star

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 100, 1 May 1935, Page 5

Ralph Lynn, Hare and Harker Co-star

BEN TRAVERS’ PARCE “DIRTY WORK," SCHEDULED

(State: Screening Saturday.)

A film farce -written by Ben Travers in his best vein, interpreted hy Ralph Lynn, Gordon Harker and Rober.Lon Hare in a kind of triple-lead, and directed hy Tom Walls is a screen combination hard to heat. With those appetising ingredients Gaumont-British produced “Dirty Work,’’ proving a savoury dish greatly enjoyed hy all •who partake of it. The “dirty work" concerns the prize-ass plan of Ralph Lynn, salesman, to trap thieves who have long cen looting the show stock of the Sterling Jewel Company. Robertson Hare, as sistant salesman and Gordon Harker, commissionaire, lend unwilling aid. The scheme involves the disguising of Haro as a burglar and Lynn as a policeman, the planting of the loot on tho real crooks and their subsequent arrest by the real police. Tho scheme suits tho crooks down to the ground, and they nearly get away with it—but not quite. The narrative scores heavily on tho

fast-moving fun of the action, on the characterisations and on the quick-fire witty dialogue, of which every character gets a share. The choice of Ralph Lynn for tho part of Jimmy, a wellmeaning earnest fellow but the world's prize chump, could not have been bettered. His freakish comedy stile is always a delight, while the self-import-ance of Gordon Harker ’s' commissionaire, a serious-minded, thoughtful person, is equally amusing. Nor could anybody, while almost passing out with laughter, fail to pity poor little Robertson Haro as Clement Peck, tho patient soul who puts up a perfectly ineffective struggle against being disguised as a burglar, They are a most satisfying comedy trio, whom GaumontBritish would do well to team again in other suitable screen stories. For the rest, Gordon James presents a devastatingly lugubrious night-watch-man, Lilian Bond makes effective play of her beauty in a clever study of a shopgirl, tho port and most attractive, but ill-used Eviej Louis Bradlield, Margaretta Scott and Basil Sydney arc a

smooth team of society crooks; Peter -■-Gawthorne is effective as a police sergeant and-Cecil Parker has a part as the shop manager, that fits him well.