"THE SQUEAKER"

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 150, 27 June 1931, Page 6 (Supplement)

"THE SQUEAKER"

B.D.F. FILM AT DUCHESS i “TEMPLE TOWER” IS COMING I Gordon Harker, who was starred by Edgar Walaee in tho original stage role, and in tho talkie version of the B.D.F. feature “The Squeaker,” declares that ho has what ho considers his best screen role to date. Harker, who has appeared in, and made famous, stage performances in “The Ringer” “Persons Unknown” and in “Tho Calendar,” conferred with Edgar Wallace regarding his screen role. The result is that tho role of tho sinister night club porter has grown in humour and strength. Particularly in the former, as both tho actor and author are real students of the Cockney type of humour. “The Squeaker” is now playing a T the Duchess Theatre. “Temple Tower” vommg What happened in Temple Tower? The girl inside, prisoner of a giant criminal and a half-crazed jewel thief —the intrepid “Bulldog” Drummond outside, baffled by spiked walls and barred windows from access to the girl he loves—neither knowing if the other were still alive or not —behind them both the sinister figure of the. Masked Strangler, with murder in Lis chilly heart, and things happen. This is the powerful centra! situation in “Temple Tower,” Fox Movie-

tone all talker, the spine ci 1: which introduces local film fans to something new in. the way of screen entertainment when it opens at the Duchess Theatre net; Wednesday. Kenneth Mac Kenna, MarccJno Day and Henry B. Wagtail hav: th? ieadn roles in this sneen rcniitim of H. C. McNeile’s interesting novel directed by Donald Gallaher. “Grumpy” on Saturday “Grumpy” comes to the Duchess Theatre next Friday and Saturday. Grumpy (Cyril Maude), in his day a famous criminal lawyer (now retired), lives in his English country house with his grand-daughter (Frances Dade). He is a terror, constantly pretending to have a bad temper, but really is a lovable, clever, big-hearted old codger with a rare sense of humour. Jarvis (Paul Cavanagh), a recent acquaintance of Virginia’s, is their weekend guest, when Ernest Heron, Virginia’s sweetheart, comes home from South Africa sent back to England as the secret bearer of a valuable diamond. This he tells only to Grumpy, who likes him and wants him to marry Virginia. That, night, in the dark library, Ernest is attacked and knocked unconscious. When ho is found, the diamond is gone. Clutched in his hand is a flower—a camellia. Grumpy sets out to find the criminal and recover the diamond. He believes the camellia to be an important clue, which it proves to bo.

The filming of “Merely Mary Ann,” which will co-feature Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor, will await the return of Farrell and Virginia Valli from their two months’ honeymoon in Europe. Farrell and Miss Valli almost, succeeded in keeping a secret until sailing, tho fact that they had been married in New Rochelle, New York, two weeks before.

Universal’s Spanish version of “Dracula,” the vampire thriller, scored a big success in its first-run engagement at the Mundial Theatre, City of Mexico. It played to capacity business since it opened, and the first Sunday business was so big that the management was forced to suspend sale of tickets. The< Spanish “Dracula,” produced in its entirety at Universal City, has Carlos Villarias and Lupita Tovar in the leading roles. It was directed by George Mel ford.

Anna May Wong, the only Chinese American actress playing a leading role on the Broadway stage, has just been signed by Paramount to a long-term contract, according to an announcement by Jesse L. Lasky, first vice-president in charge of production. Miss Wong, who has scored one of the notable hits of the New York theatre this season in the Edgar Wallace success, “On the Spot,” playing the Chinese sweetheart of the Chicago gang leader, who is the central figure in this melodrama. She will appear for Paramount in “Daughter of the Dragon.” Miss Wong, -who was born in San Francisco of Chinese parents and who speaks English fluently, appeared in early American motion pictures in tho silent era and also in stage productions. Her command of French and German enabled her to make her mark in a variety of roles in Europe. Her last theatrical work was done in Vienna, where she was a pronounced favourite, appearing in operetta as well as straight drama.