OUTSTANDING TALKIE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 31 March 1931, Page 3

OUTSTANDING TALKIE.

The perilous rescue of a huntsman from a deep crevasse in the ice of a Rocky Mountain pass, magnificent snow scenery, extremely pleasing singing, good acting and a well-knit plot are some of the features that place "Under Suspicion.” now showing at the Majestic Theatre, above the majority of the many jtales that have been told of tlie famous Royal Xorth-West Mounted Police. The principal characters are in the capable hands of Miss Lois Moran, ns Alice Feril, the police commandant’s daughter, and J. Harold Murray, as the mysterious John Smith, with whom Alice falls in love. John Smith’s arrival in the North West Mounted might have ojitailed nothing more than a commonplace love-affair if it had not been for ihe rivalry of Inspector Turner, who also loved Alice, and had the advantage of being Smith’s superior officer. Like all true villains Inspector Turner has a contemptible nature, and his first blow at. Smith is to send him up a perilous ice-covered mountain pass in search of a missing huntsman; but Sihith returns with his man to find Alice waiting for him. Meanwhile Turner has been in touch with the War Office and has distovered that during tlie war Smith, who v. as a noted Air Force “ace.” met disgrace in connection with information tl.at leaked to the enemy. Turner attempts to use this information to blackmail Smith into resigning, but he forgets to disclose the fact that Smith, who is really an English peer, was shielding a younger brother. In a spectacular forest fire Smith’s flying experience enables him to save the commandant’s life, and the story closes with the discomfiture of Turner and the wedding of Alice and her Englishman with full police honours. J. Harold Murray is the owner of a resonant baritone voice and his singing is a feature of the production. “Saskatchewan” is perhaps the best of the three songs speciallv written for the picture. The rest of the programme includes two laugh makers (a sound cartoon and a comedy featuring Lloyd Hamilton), a fascinating travel talk dealing with Bombay, the “Gateway to India,” and a talking gazette of more than usual interest. Several pictures are shown of the closing of the recent India Ro*md Table Conference, and speeches by Mr Aamsay MacDonald and the principal Indian delegates are heard.