"THE GOLDEN FLEECING"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 17 May 1941, Page 9

"THE GOLDEN FLEECING"

Machinations of racketeer? are turned to hilarious use in the comical adventures of Lew Ayres among a group of the toughest denizens of a big city in “The Golden Fleecing ” It’s the story of a timid young insurance clerk. His sweetheart stirs him to ambition, so he goes out and sells a £IO.OOO insurance policy. The next day he learns he’s insured a racketeer *leader, now a fugitive from the authorities and likely to be “rubbed out” any minute The boss, seeing a £IO.OOO payoff near, sends the clerk out to find the gangsters “or else.” A comical denouement ends the story in a gale of laughter. Ayres’ performance as Henry Twinkle is whimsical and in striking contrast to

his “Dr. Kildare’ role. Miss Johnson, last seen as Spencer Tracy’s wife in Edison, the Man. ’ is convincing and also adept at comedy in her role as the sweetheart. One of the funniest sequences is provividly Leon Errol as Uncle Waldo, the xylophone playing ex-vaudevillian who insists on singing a song he’s written and is trying to sell to anyone within reach. Comedy highlights include the town where nobody is ever arrested, Ayres’ adventure or. the ledge of the building, his discovery that his big sale is his downfall, and his adventure in gaol with the racketeers, his "public hero” appearance.