ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 215, 11 August 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. . “THE SCOTLAND YARD MYSTERY.” An atmosphere of intense thrill and mystery is created in a powerful detective melodrama now screening at the lvosy Theatre. Entitled “The Scotland Yard Mystery,” it deals with tho exposure of a tremendous lite insurance ramp by the Chief Inspector oi Scotland Yard, and, ontailing a continuous train of intensely gripping incidents and gruesome moments, including scenes in a graveyard and an undertaker’s, cannot possibly leave anything to be desired on the score of sensationalism, even by the most devoted lovers of sheer mlodrama. The development of the story turns on the complaints of an insurance company that several heavily insured people have, within a short period, died ol heart failure, attnough previously certified as fit by the company’s medical adviser. Tho Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard taeks a hand, and finds that the whole thing is an outrageous swindle, conducted by none otbei than tho Home Olliee pathologist. This man lias discovered a serum which, when injected, produces a state of living death —the fate of his victims, for whose bodies boons are substituted on burial. whilst the men are revived with an anti toxin and sent abroad with a share of the insurance money. A tense climax shows liow the villain is forced to use tile antitoxin on the inspector s daughter, whom he lias Kidnapped and injected with the serum, and now tie is finally caught ir. tho (rap of his own fiendish invention after injecting himself lo avoid tne police. The late Sir Gerald Du Maurier, whoso recent death deprived Ihe world of one of its greatest actors, gives in bis final film a polished performance as the Scotland Yard ln-speetoi. George Curzon makes ar. ideal crook, whilst Walter Patch, who supplies the comedy, Grete Nalzler, Belle Chrysfall, I.eshe Perrins ami Henry Victor all provide excellent support. ‘TRANSATLANTIC MERRY-GO-ROUND.”

“Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round” is a pleasure cruise of mirth and melody which is now showing at the Kosy Theatre.

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “WHEN THIEF MEETS THIEF.” The latest addition to tho romantic robber fraternity, and one whose riglth to membership will never he disputed, is Douglas Fairbanks, junr. The younger Fairbanks exhibits his legacy of aerobatic skill in his latest picture “When Thief Meets Thief,” his third picture under the banner of Criterion Films, his own production unit. The first- picture, was the highly successful romance “Tho Amateur Gentleman.” In “When Thief Meets Thief," which screens to-night at tho Mayfair Theatre, he becomes a member of that light-fingered fraternity of good standing with picture lovers— Robin Hood, Jnmny Valentino and Raffles. Ricky Morgan, faultlessly' groomed, specialist extraordinary in safe cracking, he flourishes upon a career in crime, leaping, punching, fly-walking his way through life until lie meets a girl in London and Ids whole, life is changed and lclormed under ttic influence o: iovc. The story, crammed with action, ranges far and wide beginning on the New Orleans waterfrontwhere Fairbanks indulged in a pretty bit of hard and fancy puiichbig. Later tho scene sliifrs to London where Fairbanks, leaps from an aeroplane in a parachute and stuns the redoubtable Scotland Yard with a series of “cat” burglaries. Incident is then pifed upon incident, culminating in a thrilling climax in which complications are straightened out. Fairbanks as Ricky Morgan gives a fullblooded, vigorous portrayal with athletic stunts that will cause gasps of astonishment. Alan Hale plays tho role of Jim Dial and Valeric Hopson is Glory Howard. Tne film was directed by Raoul Walsh and lias been adapted from the novel by Gordon McConnell and is released by United Artists.