PLAZA THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 290, 11 December 1935, Page 12

PLAZA THEATRE

“TRIUMPH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES.’’

Sherlock Holmes had retired and taken a cottage in the country, leaving his house in Baker Street to Dr. Watson, when news of an appalling murder at Birlstone Castle was brought to him. John Douglas had been shot at such close range with a sawn-off double-barrel gun that identification was impossible. The unravelling of this mystery is the theme of the British film, which begins a season at the Plaza Theatre to-day—- “ The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes.“ It is- reconstructed from Conan Doyle’s thriller “The Valley of Fear/’ and so successfully is it carried out that the audience is kept in breathless suspense right up to the last. Holmes’ failure to round up Professor Moriarty, head of an international criminal organisa-j tion. had been a sore disappointment to him, but his suspicion of Moriarty’s hand in this crime is a subject for derision on the part of Watson and Inspector Lcstrade, who has called Holmes in on the ease. But Holmes has more evidence than the code letter to make him suspicious. He remembers the farewell visit Moriarty had paid him when his retirement was announced, and his threatening attitude; he finds one dumb-bell—but not the pair; he finds a candle that must have burnt at an alarming rate. Other things, too, he finds, but with uncanny astuteness he pieces it all together, and in the ruined part of the castle brings it to a dramatic climax. Here Moriarty takes a hand and brings the story to a close as startling as it is unexpected. The part of Holmes is played by Arthur Wontner, who reveals a powerful personality, and gives the impression of an immense reserve of energy. The role of Watson is ably played by Tan Fleming, who- is so delightfully obvious and plays so directly into Holmes’ hands that the audience can forgive him everything. Lyn Harding makes a sinister figure .as Moriarty, and Leslie Perrins ais John Douglas, and Jane Carr as Ft tie Douglas, the broken-hearted widow, also display acting of a higher order. This engrossing film is supported by a newsreel and an original and highly amusing corned v.