A MYSTERY THRILLER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 638, 16 December 1932, Page 3

A MYSTERY THRILLER.

Sherlock Holmes Film for Crystal. “Mr Bill the Conqueror,” starring Henry Kendall, will finish at the Crystal Palace to-night. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson appear at the Crystal Palace Theatre tomorrow night in Conan Doyle’s great mystery drama. 44 The Missing Rembrandt.” This is a picture of clean, entertaining drama, and it is packed with thrills, mystery, suspense and dry humour. Produced with meticulous regard for the detail which forms so essential a part of the personality of Sherlock Holmes. 44 The Missing Rembrandt ” is as vivid a story of the great detective as Conan Doyle ever wrote. The story deals with the efforts of a. powerful gang of 44 high class " criminals who aim at gaining possession of a precious work of art which has been cut from its frame in Paris. The painting is smuggled into England in a chest of tea, and passes into the possession of an art dealer, who will resort to any means to secure what he is after. Sherlock Holmes, played by Arthur Wontner, is called in to restore the painting to the French authorities, and in his adventures he is assisted by his friend and colleague, Dr Watson (lan Fleming), with Inspector Lestrade (Philip Hewland). of Scotland Yard, a mystified looker-on. Woven into the story is a tragic romance and a dastardly blackmail theme. while the operations of a counter gang to “double cross ” the criminals who have possession of the priceless picture, are always apparent in the background, stimulating the Interest and intensifying the dramatic appeal. Arthur Wontner. who portrays the part of Sherlock Holmes, is a distinguished stage actor. He has been starred in several British pictures, including “ Eugene Aram ” and “ The Sleeping Cardinal." Other players in “The Missing Rembrandt” are Francis L. Sullivan. Jane Welsh, Herbert Lomas. Minnie Raynor. Miles Marnier and Ben Weldon. Tlic direction and acting reach a high standard. Another great attraction will be ’Bill and (Too ”, starring Billy Merson, the celebrated English vaudeville and revue Comedian.