NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1932, Page 11

NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE.

“IMPASSIVE FOOTMAN” TO-DAY.

When “Sapper” writes a story there is usually some kick in it, and. certainly “The Impassive Potman,” which opens at the Opera House, New Plymouth, to-day isi no exception to the rule. The crux of it is that a spinal surgeon is caught embracing Mrs. Marwood on the eve of an operation on Mr. Marwood. The operation is a Ine-and-death venture performable only by this surgeon, who is the inventor of the technique;- and Marwood must therefore trust-his life to the man who has everything to gain by his death. •Ihe cunning, blackmailing . way in which Marwood insures his life against any intentional slip of the surgeon s hand is an important part of the plot. In the end he is . checkmated by “the impassive fotman.” Betty Stockfeld, a fine actress and a good dresser, is brilliant, and Allan Jeaves, as the husband, makes iiimself so thoroughly disliked that it is easy for Owen Nares to win the audience’s sympathy in his attack upon Miss Stockfeld’s matrimonial fidelity. Ihe footman, who is a-silent avenger, walks through the story like, a potent shadow, and George Curzon makes a stately march of it, with an impressive finishing touch. There is far more cleverness in this picture than in most of the srceen attractions of this type, and. it is certainly a credit to British production,