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Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 189, 12 August 1936, Page 8

STATE THEATRE TO - DAY—’ ‘ WITNESS CHAIR” Ann Harding and a cast of able players bring to the screen all the dramatic connutuiions which the title of her new screen triumph imply—" The Witness Chair,” which is snowing to-day at the State Theatre. Strongly reminiscent of “The Trial of Mary Dugan,” the Broadway success in which Miss Haruing took tho town by storm, "The Witness Chair" is packed with entertaining Urania, intrigue and romance. A series of uramauc episodes in a courtroom lead to a thrilling climax in which Miss Harding calls torih her entire repertoire of histrionic artistry. A mail's liio at stake for a crime he did not commit, his daughter on the brink of disgrace, the woman wno loves him trying to protect him—such heart appealing situations autnored by Rita Waiman in her Cosmopolitan magazine story are lorcefuliy ueveioped in this RKO-Radio picture. Miss Harding portrays the secretary of a man wno is accused of the muruer of his uusuiess partner. She herself accidentally shot this partner, and is forced to five tnrougn a narrowing trial in which tho prosecution seeks to obtain a muruer conviction against ner boss. Her courtroom comession is recommended as one of tho most dramatic screen moments ever seen. Most of thtf action of "The Witness Chair” is confined to a courtroom, out lUisnback sequences indicating pertinent situations leading to the trial offer a variety of interesting action. Performances equal the drama of the story m excellence. Waiter Abel as the accused business man and Miss Harding's lover turns in a convincing cnaracterisation. Douglass Dumbrille otters his customary higu calibre performance as Uio "heavy.” Moroni Olsen as a, police olficer 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 splendid contributory roles. MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-DAY MURDER AND MYSTERY IN "THE THIN MAN” A strong cast, headed by William Powell'and Myrna Boy, appear in "The 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 VVynant, a tali, thin man and a noted inventor, has been divorced by liis wife, Mimi, because of a liaison with his secretary, Julia Wolf. His daughter, Dorothy, disliker her mother but adores her lather. The mother’s favourite is Gilbert, Dorothy’s younger half-brother, Mimi’s second husband is a handsome idler, Mimi is infatuated with him, though she knows he only married her for her money. While busy with a new invention, Wynant decides to go into seclusion. Ho 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 the absence from his safe of some bnods which he 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 thats 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.