REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1939, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

“DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES.”

A thoroughly unpleasant yet curiously attractive character is created with sinister brilliance by the young Welsh prodigy of stage and screen. Emlyn Williams, in "Dead Men Tell No Tales,” which will be screened at the Regent Theatre tonight. This is a murder play par excellence, and again something a good deal more important than a mere murder play. In fact, by reason of the curious psychology of the murderer, a cynical witty and attractive fellow; by reason further of the speed and sparkle of the dialogue, harnessed to the flashing action of the story, it takes precedence over all the long list of thrillers, as a pure masterpiece of cynical, witty character drama. Emlyn Williams scored in the role of a maniacal murderer in the British thriller . “The Case of the Frightened Lady.” and as the utterly callous blackmailer of “Friday, the 13th." But all his successes have been eclipsed by his brilliant study in this ’Dead Men Tell No Tales" drama, a performance, according to the critics, at once debonair and spine-chilling. So that patrons should be assured of a feast of character acting. Based on the Francis Seeding best seller “Norwich Victims,” the piece gives the subtle Mr Williams every chance to lay bare the character of an intellectual, suave and superficially charming "thriller." There are four victims. One is the mistress of a small preparatory school, who has just won a large prize in a Paris lottery; another is a young master who stumbles upon knowledge that is not good for him to know; the third is a small-time "crook" who gets in the way; and the girl marked down as victim four is the pretty matron of the school, whose romance with the harassed detective gives a glowing touch of beauty to offset the crime motif.