STATE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 148, 18 March 1939, Page 15

STATE THEATRE

* “Road Demon” And “While

New York Sleeps”

Automobile racing has suddenly become a favourite topic again with Hollywood producers. Perhaps that is because it is a topic which so readily allows the putting into practice o£ the Hollywood precept: “If you can’t make it different, make it fast.” With a story about automobiles, there are naturally races —and races are always good for excitement aud suspense, even when it is fairly obvious from the story who must win. In addition to this, however, “Road Demon.” which began at the State Theatre yesterday, has some enjoyable comedy from the foreign dialect comedian, Henry Annetta, who is head of ati amusing family known as the Gambinis. They intervene in the tangled romance of Henry Arthur aud Joan Valerie, with rather mixed results.

"While New York Sleeps” is the second of a new series of films featuring Michael Whalen as a bumptious reporter, and Chick Chandler as a comical cameraman. It is, however, not “just another picture,” for the story, which involves the unorthodox solving of a murdermystery, contains rapid-fire comedy, a plot which isn’t disclosed in the first reel, a very pleasant performance by Jean Rogers as the heroine; and one or two songs. Best of all, perhaps, is tli-e acting of Harold Huber as a racketeering night-club owner with a passion for prac-tical-joking. Huber makes this unlikely person genuinely funny.