STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 689, 14 June 1929, Page 14

STRAND

“THE CANARY MURDER CASE” “Who Killed the Canary?” With the opening of the “The i Canary Murder Case,” the new Para- i mount talking detective drama from 1 the story by S. S. Van l>ine, at the Strand Theatre this evening, an excit- j ing mystery is placed before the ! people in this city. “The Canary,” beautiful chorus girl, j played by Louise Brooks, is found murdered in her apartment. Six men and one woman have motives for wishing her dead and each of the seven persons performs suspicious actions about the time of the crime. Hr. Ambrose Lindquist, played by Gustav von Seyffertitz, is a halfcrazed nerve specialist madly in love with “The Canary,” and jealous of her attentions to other men. On the night of the murder he is seen around her apartment. Jimmy Spotswoode, gay young offspring of a millionaire father, has gotten into the power of “The Canary” and she threatens to marry him. This part is played by James Hall. Charles Spotswoode, played by Charles Lane, a wealthy broker, father of Jimmy, offers “The Canary” money to release Jimmy and is scornfully snubbed. Just as he leaves the apartment of “The Canary” on the night of the murder, a scream is heard from the apartment, but, when he, with the night elevator man, knocks on the door of the chorus queen’s apartment, “The Canary’s” voice assures him everything is all right. Alys L<t Fosse, played by Jean Arthur, chorus girl friend of “The Canary” who lives next door, is shown to possess a key to “The Canary’s” apartment. She has quarrelled with “The Canary” over Jimmy Spotswoode’s affections. Charles Cleaver, played by Lawrence Grant, is another wealthy admirer of “The Canary.” whom she holds in her power. She threatens him with exposure unless he buys her silence with a good-sized cheque. After the murder, he is questioned and tells a story which is disproved. Louis Mannix, played by Louis John Bartels, a fat and disagreeable person whom “The Canary” has been using for the money he supplies her, is also brought into the case. It is revealed that “The Canary” threatened him with exposure also unless lie gave her a large sum of money. He admits he was desperate at “The Canary’s” repeated demands. Tony Skeel is a criminal, recently released from prison. He holds “The Canary” in his power and forces her to pay him money. He is infuriated when, on the night of the murder, “The Canary” tries to keep some money she owes him. He leaves her apartment early but promises to return later. This part is played by Ned Sparks. Thero are the suspects. There is the evidence. Now “Who Killed the Canary?” And why? The supporting programme is notable for the introduction of the first British talkies. These include a record of the recent Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph, and a comedy, “Smith Wakes Up.” There is also a Fox Movietone News.

Two important featured roles in Jannings’s latest starring picture for Paramount, "Sins of the Fathers,” are played by Ruth Chatterton and Barry Norton. Ruth Chatterton, previously a famous Broadway star, will be seen and heard for the first time in “The Doctor’s Secret,” A Paramount all-talking picture shortly to be released in Auckland.

A famous tribe of Soudanese natives, who are known as the most reckless fighters of the Soudan, appear in many spectacular scenes of the Paramount sound synchronised production, “The Four Feathers.” Those scenes were filmed on the actual locale of the story of the two adventurers, Merian Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack.

“The Canary Murder Case,” the Paramount all-dialogue picture, which will soon be seen and heard in New Zealand, was recently released in Sydney, Brisbane, and other capital cities of Australia for extended season, features William Powell in a talking role as the detective, Philo Vance. Others in the cast include Louise Brooks, Jean Arthur, James Hall and Eugene Pallette.

Clara Bow’s first all-talking picture for Paramount, titled “The Wild Party,” is completed and ready for release. The popular red-headed star, Clara Bow, is supported by a big cast, including Fredric March, Marceline Day, Jack Luden and Jack Oakie in her latest picture, “The Wild Party.”