"THE CAT AND THE CANARY."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19171, 30 November 1927, Page 6

"THE CAT AND THE CANARY."

FAMOUS STAGE PLAY ON. THE SCREEN. In "The Cat and the Canary" one has a mystery pl»r that mystifies, a picture so perfectly timed and mechanically correct that it never "lets down" for one second, but develops from one tenso and bloodcurdling situation into another with convincing realism This justly-famous and popular stage ploy which was seen on the local boards a few years ago, has been transferred to tho screen bv Universal, and with Miss Laura La Plante heading an all-star cast, will open at the Liberty Theatre next Monday. When touching on a comedy-mystery picture one naturally reverts to that other success, "The Bat" for purposes of comparison. The Bat" was an excellent picture, really baffling, immensely humorous, and eerily dramatic A scream of delightful fear was evoked while watching that film with as much ease as a scream of aughter; it had humour,, deep mystery, and tho inevitable and very necessary lovo interest. Conceive, therefore, a picture that is a? different from "The Bat" as it is possible for twin pictures to be; related only m exteriors. For "The Cat and the Canary" has a more eccentric plot, a more capricious story, and an infinitely more weird and creepy development than the former, and that helps make this' more recent screen achievement so much tho more entertaining and clever. The management of light and shadow is effectively used to enhance the dramatic quality of every scene — a nd that quality is always very much apparent—but no scene is kept too dark for the full benefit of tho action to be appreciated bv tho audience. Many things aro done for""effect," but since tho effect accomplished its purpose, one cannot quarrel with that. Ghosts, greed, a house with secret doors, a maniac, a murder, jewels, and a light love story winding through tho whole aro the ingredients of the plot—they are mixed with the hand of a master, and transferred to the screen without losing any of their essential "punch." Nearly overyono dislikes the dark; and while one loves to sit over the ghost of a lire on howling evenings and listen to delicious but highly improbable "ghost stories," the idea of ascending those lonely stairs is not conducive to airy nonchalance. But to seo "the other fellows" going through all those familiar and melodramatic antics is entertainment at its highest point, and "The Cat and tho Canary" embodies in its fascinating and mysterious entirety all these excellent aspects of an excellent photoplay. Appearing with Laura La Plante are Arthur Edmund Carewe, Croighton Hale, Tully Marshall, Forrest StanIcy, and Gertrude Astor. On Thursday morning the box plans will open at The Bristol Piano Company.