AMUSEMENTS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 202, 3 July 1939, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

“TIME OUT FOR MURDER' 7 ' ' ' . ~ ■ ! ... . 'V'~V> Every mystery fan knows that ' the essence of a good.- alibi is time. There have been all sorts of “time” alibis both ill fiction and in actual crime, but none more ingenious than that used by the guilty one in “Time Out For Murder,” new mystery thriller which comes to tile Regent Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Gloria Stuart, Michael Whalen and Chick Chandler featured in the cast. Announced as the first cf 20th. CenturysEox’s new Roving. Reporter series, the film goes straight to thesource of time, so to speak, for the central idea of its cleverly fabricated story—the source being, .in this case, the New York telephone operator who answers when.you call Meridian 7-1212, and who announces the time at quart-er-minute intervals. Without revealing the actual method by which the ..murderer uses the telephone company to establish his alibi, Executive Producer Sol M. Wurtzel stated that the story device is completely plausible—and perhaps for that reason was just as completely battling to the amateur . sleuths on the 20th. Century-Fox who tried to solve the mystery before they were shown the final thrilling sequence‘of the picture. Yet all the necessary clues are included, according toi Wurtzel, giving audiences an equal break, with Michael Whalen, who. plays the resourceful reporter who finally works out the solution. The picture, as outlined by the producer, opens with Whalen and his wise-cracking photographer, Chick Chandler, covering what appears at first to be a routine murder ca.se. Their story filed, the two return to their apnrtinent to. pursue their separate hobbies: Whalen is learning tc. play the slide horn and is making private recordings of liis progress, while Chandler picks up the phone to listen for hours at a time to the dulcet voice of the time l signal operator, with whom he imagines lie’s in love. , „ ■«*"■ ** The two newspapermen arc interrupted by Gloria Stuart, a determined bill collector who refuses to leave the premises until the improvident Whalen pays the last installment on his trombone. Whalen can’t nay so Gloria pays. Then, when startling new '.'.'developments suddenly occur in the murder case, she becomes an involuntary party to Whalen’s neck-risking investigation. After a quick succession of harrowing encounters' with the police, the underworld and the murderer himself, the"three finally bring matters to an exciting conclusion. And Gloria —a thrilled young woman--is still unwilling to let Whalen out of her sight, though this time more romantic reasons. “LITTLE MISG SOMEItUDY” “Little 'Miss Soinebcdv”, which screens at the Regent Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday stars Binkie Stuart. Britain’s wonder baby star cf “The Rose of Tiafee,” in another human comedy-drama that will linger sweetly in your heart. Love, laughter and song are ciitM'taii.iingly blended with pathos, act it n. and adventure. “Little Miss Somebody” is a picture that will appeal to every member of the family.