AMUSEMENTS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 86, 27 June 1930, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

KING 1 * THEATRE. CHE&S AND MOTHER GOOSE. 'The Bishop Murder Case" loses nothing by comparison with other mystery stories seen on the King's Theatre. The circumstances of; the story differ from those of other similar films and the climax is worked up to in a novel manner, so that the popular slogan "if you see one you see them all" has no force as regards "The Bishop Murder Case". To start there is on© murder, and it is followed by others, indications being that the one hand is responsible in each case- In all cases a black bishop from a chess set is found near the body, and a rhyme on Mother Gioose lines is also in evidence. Suspicion falls on many people in t-urn-ahd, quite curiously enough some, of 'these are among the murdered. Basil Rathbone has the leading role aa Philo Vance, the scientific detective, who succeeds at last in unravelling the mystery. Ifc must- be confessed, however, that Philo is misled by a subterfuge of the real culprit, but while on this .scent he strikes the real solution. With the main features baldly stated, the story might appear to be a wholly grim one, but actually a great deal of delicate comedy is introduced, toning down the tenseness of the (At the same time, in the closing stage.?, when the. climax is near, dramatic events follow each other in.rap'd succession and the line .acting of th . cb+ra'cters produce's a real thrill. A rplendid company of acfors ha* been got together for the pieces and the fact that no hint of the final .solution is given until the close, of the story is the strongest possible testimony to the lrga-elass acting df all the characters-. 'The Bishop Murder Case" will be shown for the last time to.night.