CHARLIE CHAN AGAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 956, 28 December 1933, Page 3

CHARLIE CHAN AGAIN.

Famous Oriental Detective Booked for Majestic.

George O’Brien is featured in ” The I-.ast Trail,” the talking film adaptation of Zane Grey’s novel of the same name, which heads the current programme at the Majestic Theatre. Good supports are also being shown.

The sunlit islands of Hawaii do not seem an appropriate setting for a murder mystery, but in ” Charlie Chan’s Greatest Case,” which will be the headline attraction at the Majestic Theatre on Monday (New Year’s Day) this beautiful and difficult locale is made by skilful direction to emphasise the realism and effect of the plot. Warner

Gland appears in the role he has made famous, that of the astute and wily Chinese detective, Charlie Chan. Chan's talents are employed by the Honolulu rounding the death of Gan Winterslip, a member of a n aristocratic Boston family Winterslip’s circumstances and past life were such that many cheerfully would have seen him die. The task of solving the mysterv with its many paucity of clues, is pursued quietly and smoothly by Chan, who. v-h«n hurried by his superior officers, sagely observed. ‘The cat who chases two mice goes supperless.” The final scene, where Chan, with a handful of cigarette ends and a few odds and ends of jewellery, fixes the guilt of the murderer, is a masterpiece of direction and sustained suspense. John Warburton, as the murdered man’s nephew, plays the part of an aristocrat in uncongenial surroundings with a convincing re-

serve, and his awakening: enthusiasm "'hen he meets Carlotta Eagan, whose father is implicated in the murder, is an authentic piece of character acting. The part of Carlotta is taken by Heather Angel, an actress whose vivacious personality and beautiful!v-modu-lated voice will earn for her a wide popularity. Box plans at The Bristol.