AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1930, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

■ EVERYBODYS PICTURES r “THE PHANTOM CITY.” TO-NIGHT. No .greater compliment can be paid a .motion picture star, or his story, than "to- ; say. that he has the habit of surprising -his audience with unexpected thrills and situations. ..This has long held .true of Ken Maynard, the young Western, star, and his latest picture, “The Phantom City,” is no exception. In: fact, it proves the rule, and from now q» Maynard will have to live up to his reputation. His fans have come to expect; it of him. “The Phantom City” deviates from the usual Western in ■that.-the plot, while not strongly new nn theme, has many deviations from the- stereotype “WesteAi” and one forgets- that the theme is not new. For instance, whoever thought of injecting a; creepy, shivery mystery into a West- . erpi thriller? But that js exactly what happens in this picture. The story smarts with several men talking in a tiserted town, amid the straggly and rlorn looking buildings and torn-up streets cl the mining location. All of these characters are of a mysterious mein. They have apparently no business there—but there they are. Soon after, Ken appears. Later, a girl appears- and more complications arise. The mystery angle is neatly worked out and defies solving until the denouement. Ken appears to excellent advantage, and gives a great performance, injecting some miraculous stunt riding. “The Phantom City” is a highly entertaining picture throughout It maintains its suspense and continuity with perfect logic. An excellent all star cast, including Eugenia Gilbert, making a pleasant heroine; -Tames 'Mashn,' the “heavy” and 'Blue Washington, the coloured comic and Ken’s bodyguard. Albert Rogell direcopening chapters of the new ser■i, gazette and - comedy make up a Hood programme. The orchestra ren- 1 PdOrs the..,musical, programme. •'