THRILLS AT PLAZA.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20424, 1 October 1934, Page 3

THRILLS AT PLAZA.

“On Secret Service” Provides Great Entertainment. Roaring, flashing guns—’planes flying in the glare of search-lights, while shrapnel bursts around them—warfare amid the snowclad peaks of the Tyrol —spies in the cities, flying over the lines and into enemy territory, risking their lives for the sake of their country, endangering those they love and even abandoning them to death at the call of duty. These are some of the highlights of the film “On Secret Service,” which opened at the Plaza on Saturday. An English film produced at Elstree by British International Pictures, “On Secret Service” reaches an exceptionally high standard and is excellent entertainment. The keynote of the story is not. new. It is ‘‘love or duty” with duty winning. It is splendidly acted by a cast headed by Greta Xissep, the beautiful Norwegian star who recently left Hollywood to play leads in British films. A notable German star. Carl Ludwig Diehl, plays opposite Greta Xissen and enacts the role of Herr Hauptmann von Hombergk, an Austrian officer on the General Staff, whose love for a beautiful Italian. the Marchesa Marchella Galdi (Greta Xissen) leads to his disgrace. \on Ilombergk does the unexpected. He refuses to blow out his brains, following his dishonour, enlists in the ranks of the Austrian army, and eventually is given a chance by his old colonel to clear his name. The chance that is offered him means almost certain death, but von Hombergk takes it. He flies over the fighting lines and lands in Italy and it is here that the major portion of the story is enacted. The action of the film from now on is fast and interest never wanes as the actors move from scene to scene until a thrilling climax is reached. The Plaza programme has very strong supports consisting of an Australian Cinesound Review, Pathetone Weekly News, a Corni-Colour Cartoon, “Jack and the Beanstalk.” and a charming New Zealand film, “Amokura,” a legend taken from the rich store of Maori folklore.