TOWN HALL TALKIES

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3237, 24 November 1934, Page 5

TOWN HALL TALKIES

MYSTERY OP THE WAX MUSEUM DARING MURDER STORY One of the most spectacular fires ever staged for a motion picture, and one which caused studio executives keen anxiety during its taking, will be seen in the Warner Bros, production. "The Mystery of .the Wax Museum," to be screened at the .Town Hall Theatre to-night and Monday. •

This was the burning of a set representing an okl Wax Museum in London, which contained scores of figures modelled in wax. Extraordinary precaution had been taken by the production department to' make the fire at once awe-inspiring, and yet j; safo : for the actors find workmen

Days were spent plotting the path of the flames with mathematical precision. A brigade from the Los Angeles fire department was on hand for emergencies,, while hoses were connected and kept in readiness. Every workman was provided with a fire extinguisher. Every Tcchnicolour camera available was pressed into service in order to get every possible angle on the fire and the terrific struggle waged amid the flames by Lionel Atwill and Edwin Maxwell, the two chief actors in the fire scenes. There could be no retake of this scene without involving great expense and delay. For that reason, every available precaution had to be, taken to make sure the scene was right the first time. ' ;

The flames raged most, of the night while the cameras ground away. The

sky was streaked with 'the first light' of dawn before Director Michael Curtiz find the weary crew of "actors 'and workmen were able to quit the; scene.

"The Mystery of the Wax Museum" is said to be one of the most exciting mystery thrillers to come to the screen. The action evolves about the strange movements of a terrible monster and a series of mysterious disappearances of famous people and the snatching of dead bodies.

Glcnda Farrell, Fay Wray and Frank McHugh arc featured with Atwill in the cast of all-star players. The picture is taken from the p'lay by Charles ■S- Bcklen and adapted for the screen by Don Mullally and Carl Erickson. "Baby Take a Bow" Next Friday, for one night only, will be screened the much-talked-of picture, "Baby Take a Bow," featuring tiftv Shirley Temple. A special announcement in connection with this picture is advertised on Page 8.