MURDER AND MYSTERY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 986, 31 May 1930, Page 16

MURDER AND MYSTERY

“WHO KILLED COCK ROBIN?” REGENT’S THRILLING STORY Who killed Cock Robin? No, i 1: is not a nursery rhyme, but the principal clue in the first of a series of murders, the unravelling of which rivetted the attention of a large audience for almost an hour * and a half at the Regent Theatre last evening. The “Bishop Murder Case” is a thriller adapted for the screen from one of S. S. Van Bine’s popular mystery tales. It is a gripping story superbly enacted. The story opens when Robin, an intimate friend of a group of scientists is found dead. By his friends he is nick-named Cock Robin, and it is an ironic jest of fate that he should be found with an arrow through his heart and that his friend Sperling, which is German for sparrow, should be arrested for the crime. A note signed by “The Bishop” is left at the house drawing attention to the old nursery rhyme. it is proved, however, that the arrow is only an artistic effort on the part of the murderer to give his crime an unusual aspect, Robin actually having been killed by a blunt heavy instrument. An old hunchback who lives next door is one of the prominent characters and it is apparent that he knows something but the district attorney and Vance, the famous detective who is called in, can get nothing out of him. Then Robin’s friend is found shot. The old hunchback becomes more and more mysteriously connected with the plot, but his interest ceases suddenly. He is found at the foot of a high wall with his neck broken. In another ironic note the Bishop points out that “Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall.” As the stage detectives say, the plot thickens, and one can excuse the remaining characters for mild attacks of nerves. “HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT" John Pardie, famous chess player and one of the group also comes under suspicion, but he also is eliminated being found murdered. The “House That Jack Built,” is indicated by a house of cards carefully built on the table-near the body. On the top of it is a chess figure, the Black Bishop. Vance, the detective, is of the Sherlock Holmes type, suave and very self contained. His theories work along the lines of a chess problem. The murderer apparently works out his evil plans by a game of chess. One by one the Black Bishop clears the board and each night some one is killed It would not be advisable at this stage to show how the mystery is finally cleared up or who the murderer is. Sufficient to state that it is an extremely interesting story. Basil Rathbone plays the part of the detective with considerable skill ana conviction, and he is well supported by Alec B. Francis as the Professor, George Marion as the Hunchback, and Leila Hyams as the girl. A supporting programme ol a lignter nature adds pleasing variety. Ail Teed Up,” a Hal Roach talking comedv featuring Charlie Chase, is a very amusing golfing comedy. There is also a Metrotone News and bod Nelson a singing comedian. Mr. Whiteford Waugh’s orchestra played an overture, and, by request a selection from “The Student A solo “I’m Following You,” was sung by Mr. Jack Davey.