"Harmony Lane."

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1938, Page 16 (Supplement)

"Harmony Lane."

The plot of "Harmony Lane," starring Douglas Montgomery, Evelyn Venable and Adrienne Ames, has been based on the life story of Stephen Foster, the eminent composer of popular ballads, and although his lot was an unhappy one, the picture does not leave one dispressed. The reasoh for this is that Foster's compositions, such as "Oh Susanna," "The Old Folks at Home" and many others are featured in the film relieving the heavy atmosphere caused by the tragedy of Foster's life. "Souls at Sea." Based on one of the most strange a:r' tragic dramas of the sea, "Souls at Sea" is one of the most thought-provoking films seen for some time. Opening dramatically with a fiery court scene, the story traces the events that lead to the sinking of the William Brown in midAtlantic and how, when the captain and his officers dies, a passenger, a seafaring man himself, assumes command of the situation, and to preserve the lives of the majority in an overcrowded lifeboat causes the, death of a minority. When he successfully brings the party to port he immediately faces a charge of murder, and refuses to defend his actions. Gary Cooper, as the seafarer, gives an excellent performance, and is well supported by Frances Dee. Others -in the cast are George Raft and Harry Carey. "Tliunder Trail." Gilbert Roland plays his first Western role in "Thunder Trail." Roland plays the part of a young man whose father has been killed in a raid on a waggon train, and who has been adopted by a Mexican prospector. "Alcatraz Island." Production on "Alcatraz Island," a thrilling story of life on "the rock" — America's grim prison for incorrigibles in San Francisco Bay— has been completed and the picture will be screening in New Zealand shortly, according to word from Warner Bros.' studios at Burbank, California. John Litel, Mary Maguire, Ann. Sheridan and Gordon Oliver head the cast of the picture. which was directed by William McGann.