ARRESTING DRAMA.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 492, 29 June 1932, Page 3

ARRESTING DRAMA.

Marlene Dietrich Starred in “ Shanghai Express.” The Plaza Theatre lias' added another success to Its already notable list in the acquisition of the great film “Shanghai Express.” It is difficult to know just where to start when describing this picture, for it has so many facets to its excellence. The story itself is powerful and convincing, with plenty of action and a sustained suspense that holds an audience from start to finish. Then, the tale is so built round a set of first-class characters that it shines as a character study pure and simple. Thirdly, there is a strong love interest, which has more of the element of freshness than most, and is rounded off in convincing fashion just when the author seemed to have severed his hero and heroine for good. Again, there is a glimpse of -modern China which has been denied the majority of people to date. Lastly, but by no means least, the photography is a thing to marvel at. The Shanghai Express is leaving Pekin for Shanghai. On the train, among others, are Captain Donald Harvey, of the British Medical Corps, and Shanghai Lily, a lovely girl with whom Harvey was once in love, but who in the meantime has acquired for herself no slight reputation. Civil war is raging in China, and there is every possibility of some interference with the train. Another passenger, Chans', apparently a wealthy merchant, is in reality leader of the revolution, and when the train is stopped and his righthand man arrested, he takes steps to get him back again. It is then that events begin to move with some speed. The acting is wonderful. Marlene Dietrich takes the part of Shanghai Lily, and it is probably the best she has ever had. Opposite her Clive Brook plays Captain Harvey to perfection. A fine programme of “shorts” completes the programme.