MAJESTIC THEATRE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 494, 30 March 1933, Page 3

MAJESTIC THEATRE

j TO-NIGHT. Siikli Stout-hearted persons wbo take their thrills unadulterated will find just what they desire in tbe new picture at the Majestic Theatre to-night. It's "The Phantom of Crestwood," RKO-Radio Pictures' mystery masterpiece, which .more than justifies the extravagant advance reports and its elaborate national -introduction radio braadcasts. Who killed Jenny Wren? That is the-question set before the audience, and this reviewer, who used to pride himiself on a certain skill in these matterfs, must admit that he made thirteen guesses, all wrong, before the actual culprit was uncovered. Na.turally, we shall not tell you here who did kill Jeiiny, a predatory buttterfly whom many people would take high' delight in eliminating. Blonde, vibrant-voiced Karen Morley portrays Jenny Wren, ,a girl with . a beautiful body and an ugly soul, whose sense of the ironical pronipts her to stage a house party in a spooky old mountain manision to which sh'e has invited the men who ha.ve supported her in the style to which they accustomed her. She is about to extract a final sum of money from each of her former supp'orters and to arrange the marriage of her young sister, played by Anita Louise, to a scion of wealth' and position when a feathered dart punetures her brain. From then on unusual situations, full of compelling interest, follow one after another, pointing suspicion and guilt at practically every member of the party. Deft direction prevents this becoming eonfusing. The "ilashback" technique of telling the story has been utilised more cleverly than ever before in a pdeture of this type. Ricardo Cortez is seen in the role of a criminal who stealis into the house party intent on acquiring Jenny Wren's jewels and is with, her when she is murdered. He gives his usual suave (a.nd polished performance and the role will strengthen his position among movie-goer's.