MYSTERY TALKIE RUNS AT CIVIC THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 62, 14 March 1931, Page 21 (Supplement)

MYSTERY TALKIE RUNS AT CIVIC THEATRE.

“ Colonel Haviland shot dead on Plymouth Express by unknown assassin Plans of ‘Death Ray’ stolen Such is the alarming message received at Whitehall on the night

of July 1, and such is the commencement of the story known as “ The Hast Hour.’’ The “ death ray ” is a machine capable of bringing- to certain destruction the most powerful of aircraft and the loss of the plans of this machine is attributed to a foreign spy organisation, headed by the unscrupulous Prince Nicola de Kovatch. The plains are to be smuggled out of England by airship, nothing less than the Prince’s own airliner. The authorities are well aware

of the headquarters of the gang, and dispatch Byron (Richard Cooper) to the Coat and Compasses Inn from where he is to make observations and report to headquarters. Within a few minutes of the appointed time for the departure

of the airliner the Prince escapes from the closely-guarded inn; but he is followed by Charles Lister (James Raglan), an escapee from Dartmoor prison and lover of Mary, the daughter of Tregellis, the inn-keeper. From this point right until the airship is wrecked by the

“ death ray ” itself the plot is mystifying and the ultimate revelation as to who is “ The King of the World ” leaves one gasping. Stewart Rome, a celebrated actor from the London legitimate stage, and Kathleen Vaughan play the parts of the Prince and Mary respectively: Richard Cooper, the English “ Johnnie!” is again seen and heard to advantage in “ The Last Hour.” The management announce a reduction in the admission charges, and also advise that thfe plans will be at The Bristol until this morning, and thereafter at tile Civic.