STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 693, 19 June 1929, Page 14

STRAND

SUCCESS OF “THE CANARY MURDER CASE” A scream in the night! The police find her lifeless body! Who killed Broadway’s notorious show-girl? A ___________ lover maddened by

jealousy? A thief coveting her jewels ? A respected citizen fearing blackmail? Seven suspects and seven motives complicate the mystery of “The Canai’v Murder Case,” Paramount's alltalking picture, which has baffled and intrigued the audiences at the

Strand Theatre during the past few days. The death cry of “the canary,” known as Broadw'ay’s notorious entertainer, is one of the thrills of the picture. The voice of William Powell, as Philo Vance, detective, is appealing throughout the picture. James Hall, Jean Arthur, Ned Sparks, Lawrence Grant and Charles Lane also talk in the picture. The story was written by S. S. Van Dine, author of half a dozen sensational mystery stories. The story behind the "Canary Murder Case” is based upon the actual murder of Dot King, a popular Broadway beaut 3*. whose intimate friend was a prominent society man. The murderer in this case was never caught. The case was taken by Van Dine and expanded into a baffling detective story which had a wide sale. “The Canary Murder Case” is one of a series of such stories w'ritten by this author whose real name is as much a mystery as are the cases he presents in his novels. The short talkie features on the remainder of the programme include another interesting Fox Movietone News, and the first British talkies to be heard in New Zealand. These are scenes and sounds of the impressive ceremony at the London Cenotaph last Armistice Day, and a comedy entitled “Smith Wakes Up.“