PLAZA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 712, 11 July 1929, Page 17

PLAZA

“THE TERROR” Everybody is talking about “The Terror," Warner Brothers’ latest and greatest mystery melodrama, which is now playing at the Plaza Theatre, Spooky, thrilling, uncanny, ludicrous, absorbing, unique are some of the adjectives applied to it; and it is all of these. Based on the London stage play of Edgar Wallace, which is still going strong there after three years—“ The Terror" was adapted for the pictures by Harvey Gates. Those who have seen both stage and screen versions say that the latter is much more effective—on account of the wider scope of the scenic possibilities of the latter. “ The Terror ” runs its gruesome course in an ancient English manor house, where a group of people—crooks, cops, crazy folks, and hysterical ladies—seek hidden treasure and try vainly by spiritualistic seances and other unusual means to solve the mystery of the cloaked fiend who haunts the house, casually bearing this and that one to his underground torture chamber. Roy Del Ruth directed “The Terror," which includes in its all-star cast May McAvoy, Louise Fazenda, Edward Everett Horton, Alec B. Francis, Holmes Herbert, Mathew Betz and John Miljan. All of the short talkie features, which are also being shown, are of a very high standard. There are two violin solos by Albert Spalding, several charming folk songs by Isa Kremer, the Russian prima donna; jazz by Roger Kahn’s New York Orchestra, songs and music by the Four Aristocrats, an all-talking comedy about the fire brigade, and finally a U.F.A, gem and Empire News.