UNUSUAL MYSTERY DRAMA

Evening Star, Issue 23699, 5 October 1940, Page 8

UNUSUAL MYSTERY DRAMA

ANOTHER "CASSIDY" WESTERN SUPPORTS Wayne Morris, Margaret Lindsay, and 'William Gargan share stellar honour's in Universal’s ‘Double Alibi,’ a new kind of mystery picture which heads the new bill at the Strand. Morris plays an unusual triple role as a murder suspect, a detective, and a newspaper reporter, while Miss Lindsay likewise is a reporter, and Gargan her lovelorn editor. ‘ Hidden Gold,’ which supports, features William Boyd in a thrilling drama of tho AVest in the frontier-busting days. Russell Hayden and Britt AVood back him up as the two other members of the famous Bar "0 trio.

A new trend in mystery films is established by ‘Double Alibi.’ Morris, famous as the screen’s foremost portrayer of prize-fighter roles, reaches new heights in one of the most unusual screen assignments of the season. He fills what might be termed a triple role, appearing to the police as a murderer, to the newspaper reporters as one of their fellow-workers, and to Miss Lindsay as a gay, if mysterious, young Lothario. Morris, who rose to stardom as the screen’s outstanding portrayer of prize-fighters, does the most dramatic work of his career. He has the bizarre role sof an engineer who is suspected of murdering his estranged wife, and who masquerades as a reporter so that he can take part in the investigation while he seeks out the real killer, in the unravelling of the unusual plot, the three stars contribute some of their best work to date. Supporting them in important feature roles are Roscoe Karns, James Burke, William Pawley, Frank Mitchell, Wade Boteler, Cliff Clark, and other well-known players. Suspense and mounting suspicion are climaxed with posse gun-play in Paramount’s latest “ Hopalong ” Cassidy romance, ‘Hidden Gold.’ t There is plenty of action for two-fisted, hardruling William Boyd, as he plays another “ Hopalong ” role. “ floppy ” is on a vacation from Bar 20 this; time looking for.the robbers who stop shipment after shipment of the Colby gold. Everything points to the owner,- as the toll of stage-coacli robbers and suddendeath to the men riding guard continues to mount. Then “ Hopalong ” rides into the story, accompanied by his two inseparable pals, “ Lucky ” and “ Speedy.” “ Hoppy ” figures the surprise answer to the mystery by dint of some clever detective work. His two pals pitch in at the close of the story irith gun fire and Hying lists to bring a ruthless gang of outlaws to justice. Russell Hayden as “ Lucky ” and Britt Wood as “ Speedy,” support him as his scrapping, laughing pals.