AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19174, 3 December 1927, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE CAT AND THE CANARY." A REAL THRILLER. For those theatro patrons who enjoy a good mystery story, above the average, and containing a lion's share if ihrillß, chills, laughter, and all the other thig3 usually mentioned in the advertisements, the tN'ew York critics recommend "The Cat and the Canary." And not only the New York critics but Dominion ones as well aro unanimous _ in regarding this picture as the cream of mystery entertainment Tho production will be presented at the Liberty Theatre on Monday next, with Miss Laura La Plante heading an all-star cast. The much-abused term, all-star, is used in this connexion literally. All the artists are famous on the screen, and all aro consummate masters and mistresses of then art, sj the picture, which, in its weirdness and wonder, might so easily havo descended into tin regions of cheap and sensational melodrama, is kept on a high plane throughout. The story is immensely entirtaining 'i.-nng eerie mystery with a generous share of pure corredy, and a lavish measure of very bloodcurdling and jumpy thrills, the of thrills that do not belong to the eamo house as tho western variety, but the genre that consist in secret panels, hidden jewels, eccentric wills, haunted houses. moving shadows, clanking chains; thrills that aro cheerfully redolent of childhood's 'ghost stories," but in "The Cat. and tho Canary' that are cloaked in the guise ot stern drama, and may not be laughed at. The} are familiar thrills but nevei hackv.eycd, for the director, Paul Leni, is a German aitist, especially brought to Hollywood by Universal. to make unusual dramas, and he has used all thosp e-nmcntly successful trick camera effects and technical gadgets that are such a prominent featvre of Ger man films. Thus, tho wnr.'.e picture, photography, acting, development of the ?apric ious and baffling slot, are fat above the average American mystery comedy-drama. Langdon Post, in tho Now York "Evening World," suggests rhat the brilliant tuccoss of tho picture is due entirely to the photography and direot'-.a While Mies I-a Plante Arthur Kduuurl Carowe, Martha Mattox, and Fonvs'. Stanley supply all the drama and the light love storv tli-n runs through the pbee it is Creighton Kale and that reliable o'd veteian, Flow Fi"ch who furnish the ieceanry comedy lcliei The box plans for "The Cat and the Canary" are now open at The Bristol Piano Com pany, where 6eats may be reserved.