"THE CAT AND THE CANARY."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19176, 6 December 1927, Page 15

"THE CAT AND THE CANARY."

THRILLS AND LAUGHS. LIBERTY THEATItK. "The Cut aud the Canary" is a picture to which one can accord the highest praise, both from the point of view of tho plot, and from that of the production and tthe acting. The absolute maximum of effect is obtained by really skilful arrangement of lighting and grouping. Tho scone is set in a place iu which only tho one atmosphere could exist, that of eeriness and the horror of gruesome expectancy. A hill, surmounted by an old turrcted castle, clothed with ancient woods, overlooks the sea. The castle has many long passages where flapping draperies cast fantastic shadows, and human beings, revealed by the flickering lamp-light, assume grotesque proportions. In the leading role is Laura La Plante; sufficient to say that she does <!xtreme justico to a most exacting part.

Thu story tells of the will of ono Cyrus West, an eccoutric old rich mail, regarded by his relatives as insane. Before his death thoy had surrounded him, waiting for the promised spoil, like cats round a canary. On the night of the reading of the will, a night of storm and lightning, the interested parties assemble. , Lawyer Crosby presides. The will, after a preliminary statement 011 the attitude of the relativos bel'oro the old man's death, states that the fortune is bequeathed to the most distant relative bearing the name of West. This is Annabello West (Laura La Plante). Attached to the will is a disagreeablo provision—that the heiress shall be examined by a doctor, who shall certify as to her sanity. If his decision is adverse, the money goes to anothor person, whose name is contained in a sealed envelope, ponding the doctor's verdict. Then things begin to happen. While he is explaining the details of the will to Annabello, Crosby mystoriously disappears. Following instructions contained in a letter, Annabelle discovers the West diamonds. Sho places them on her neck. A hand, with claws like those of a cat, cmergeß from tho panelled wall and wrenches them away. Tho wall is searched, a hidden spring touched; a door flies open, and the dead body of tho lawyer falls out. Then comes .1 guard, ' searching for an cscapeo from a lunatic asylum, who has been traced to the grounds surrounding the castle. Disaster follows quickly. While searching for the jewels, one of the party touches the hidden spring again, and enters through the door, which closes upon him. He finds his way undereround passages to tho cellar, wliero lie meets a cloaked figure, who attacks him and leaves him lying stunned. The story, conies to an end, and tho plot is revealed m the subsequent capture and unmasking of this figure, whose name is that contained m the en VC Thfs excellent picture contains a . librrnl leavening of mirth and laughter. Most of f is supplied by the cheer f.il idiot of'the ' lr , v _ra„l. And tho actions and cscan'ldes of the other terrified members of tho rompany provido numerous humorous situations In all *he picture is a worthy one. Supports include two laughable comedies and excellent gaiettes., . The Libertv Concert Orchestra, under tho baton of Jlr Krnest Jamieson, plays an enjoyable programme of popular and classic, numbers. The entr'acte, which was encored was "Aloha-Oe," arranged for trumpet and strings by tho conductor. Other "umbers included 'TingaVs Cnvo'! and ! "Unfinished Symphony' (Schubert).