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Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 188, 11 August 1936, Page 12

STATE THEATRE TO-MORROW—“WITNESS CHAIR” Ann Harding and a cast of able players bring to the screen all the dramatic connotations which the title of her new screen triumph imply—“ The Witness Chair,” which opens to-morrow at the State Theatre. Strongly reminiscent of "The Trial of Mary Dugan,” the Broadway success in which Miss Harding took the town by storm, "The Witness Chair" is packed with entertaining drama, intrigue and romance. A series of dramatic episodes in a courtroom lead to a thrilling climax in which Miss Harding calls forih her entire repertoire of histrionic artistry. A man’s life at stake for a crime ho did not commit, his daughter on the brink of disgrace, tho woman wno loves him trying to protect him—such heart appealing situations authored by Rita Waiman in her Cosmopolitan magazine story are forcefully developed in this KKO-Radio picture. Miss Harding portrays the secretary of a man who is accused of the murder of his business partner. She lierself accidentally shot this partner, and is forced to live through a harrowing trial in which the prosecution seeks to obtain a. murder conviction against her boss. Her courtroom coniession is recommended as one of the most dramatic Screen moments ever seen. Most of the action of "The WitnessChair” is confined to a courtroom, but flashback sequences indicating pertinent situations leading to the trial offer a variety of interesting action. Performances equal the drama of tho story m excellence. Waiter Abel as the accused business mail and Miss Harding’s lover turns in a convincing characterisation. Douglass Dumbrille offers his customary hign calibre performance as the "heavy.” Moroni Olsen as a police officer is impressive, and Frances Sage, a recruit from Broadway, handles her initial screen role with veteran skill. Margaret Hamilton, William Benedict, Hilda Vaughn,. Paul Harvey and Murray Kinnell are worthy of mention for their splqsdid contributory roles. MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-MORROW MURDER AND MYSTERY IN "THE THIN MAN” A strong cast, headed by William Powell and Myrna Loy, appear in "Tho Thin Man,” a murder thriller with an unusual plot, which has enjoyed a great vogue and is enjoying a return season to the city. Clyde Wynant, a tall, thin man and a noted inventor, has been divorced by his wife, Mimi, because of a liaison witn liis secretary, Julia Wolf. His daughter, Dorothy, disliker her mother but adores her father. The mother's favourite is Gilbert, Dorothy's younger half-brother, Mimi’s second husband is a handsome idler, Minii is infatuated with him, though she knows ho only married her for her money. While busy with a new inven- [ tion, Wynant decides to go into seclusion. He even refuses to tell Dorothy where he is going, but promises to return for her wedding during the Christmas holidays. He leaves all his affairs in the hands of his attorney, MacCauley, and plans to get money from him, when needed, through Julia. Before his departure he discovers tho absence from his safe of some bnods which lie had hoped to give Dorothy as a wedding present. Tanner, his bookkeeper, suggests that Julia may have taken them. Wynant visits Julia and learns that she did take the bonds. He also discovers that Julia has been untrue to him and has been dividing her money with another man. Wynant gets a fair idea who the other man is. Christmas arrives, but Wynant does not return. Dorothy is worried. Mimi, wanting money for her husband, Jorgenson, goes to see Julia and finds her murdered. Wynant is suspected of the murder. Thereafter the plot proceeds along startling lines and the final solution makes an arresting climax.