“BOMBAY MAIL.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20311, 22 May 1934, Page 3

“BOMBAY MAIL.”

Majestic Has Good Mystery Drama. “ Eombay Mail,” a well-executed mystery drama, played by a cast of screen favourites, opened at the Majestic Theatre yesterday. It has many facets which lift it out of the ruck of stories of a similar type. The plot, although it utilises the time-honoured single setting for a murder mystery, has considerable atmosphere in excellent simulation of the authentic, and makes use of complications to good effect in casting suspicion on the quota of passengers involved in the crime. Needless to say, the person least suspected is revealed as the murderer, but the drama loses nothing by its use of this trick. Rather, it gains, for this is a most important feature of any mystery play. Actually, there are two murders, so the audience gets good value for its money. The leading roles are well handled by a pretty young newcomer, Shirley Grey, and one of the oldest of favourites, Edmund Lowe. Shirley Grey gives a distinctly clever performance. Lowe, of course, needs no introduction. He is aptly cast as a police inspector, and obviously reveal in the characterisation, to the complete satisfaction of the audience. Ferdinand Gottschalk, the noted character actor whose appearances are all too few, has an important part as Sir Anthony Daniels, the governor of an Indian province. His wife is played by the sophisticated Hedda Hopper, who makes a small role noteworthy by clever handling. Ralph Forbes, who gained prominence years a &° "’ith the production of “ Beau Geste,” and Onslow Stevens, who is now being groomed for stardom, give interesting performances. A good supporting programme includes a comedy, a cartoon, a musical novelty and a Fox Australian Newsreel.