VARIED SCREEN FARE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20340, 25 June 1934, Page 3

VARIED SCREEN FARE.

Hilarious Comedy and Fine Mystery Drama. A rich vein of hilarious comedy runs through “The Dark Horse,” a delightful burlesque on political methods, which began at the Liberty Theatre on Saturday. It is packed with laughs from beginning to end. and it is doubtful if the films have produced anything more humorous than this storv of a “dark horse,” who is chosen for Governor as the result of an attempt to stampede a party convention. Although it is essentially a comedy, the picture contains some telling satire on the efforts of campaign managers to secure the election of party candidates by means of a “ballyhoo” programme of publicity. Warren William, whose suave and yet curiously forceful acting has brought him rapidly to the front rank, gives one of the best performances of his career as the dynamic Hal S. Blake, who comes out of gaol to conduct the election campaign of Zarchary Hicks, a rosy-cheeked and and simple farmer, the unexpected “dark horse” produced by the surprise tactics of the leaders of one partv at the annual State convention. How Blake capitalises the simplicity of Hicks, and sweeps the State by his fast and furious methods, is the real story of an unusual and highly amusing picture. William dominates most of the scenes by his personality, but it is Guy Kibbee who raises the most laughs as Zarchary Hicks. His ingenuous look, and his habit of chewing a rosy apple at every opportunity, are two things which endear him to the audience. “The Crosby Case,” which forms the other part of the double-feature programme, is an ingenious mystery drama with a surprising climax. It shows the inner workings of the New York Police Department, and gives a remarkable insight into the psychology of persons under suspicion of murder. Wynne Gibson and Onslow Stevens take the leading roles, and excellent support is given by Warren Hymer and Allan Dinehart. , I