MAJESTIC THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 11

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“CRIME SCHOOL.” The immense impression made by the “Dead End” kids on the screen in the film version of that famous play lends interest to their appearance today at the Majestic Theatre in ‘Crime School,” Warner Brothers, First National’s latest piece of material for the youngsters who are now no longer small boys, and whose ability unfolds still more with the y # ears. “Crime School” might be called the opening up of the “dead end” in which the boys were shown growing into thugs and murderers, crushed by their environment and needing to fight for everything they got. In this film the youngsters are encouraged by a modern Fagin to steal everything that presents itself to the eye, and then are refused what they consider to be adequate payment for what they take. They revolt against this and the revolt ends with their commital to a “Crime” (reform) school. Their adventures there under a harsh administration which results in the production of confirmed criminals on a large scale, and the efforts of a humane criminologist to alter the situation, thus winning the confidence of the boys and giving them some idea of responsibility of making an effort for themselves, form the theme of the film. It is new ground, and forms a scene against which the swift action of the story unfolds convincingly and excitingly. Humphrey Bogart, who won fame as the killer in “Petrified Forest” and who was also that other killer Baby-face Martin in “Dead End,” has a sympathetic role this time, and plays it easily and with sincerity. But the great draw in “Crime School” is the kids. There must have been many people who wondered it they could do it again as strongly, and as frighteningly as they did in “Dead End.” Without the toughness and the staccato writing of that play the boys, it seemed would lack the same ability to score points. But that is not true. The boys have developed their own personality, they score, one after the other, in the same style, and though the film moves towards a more conventional ending, and the crime school leaves them as on the way to being good and useful citizens (even the unprepossessing Spike) they are just about as tough and just as good a team.