STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 March 1939, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

“MR MOTO TAKES A CHANCE.”

There will be a double feature programme at the State Theatre tonight. The chief attraction will be “Mr Moto Takes a Chance,” starring Peter Lorre, Rochelle Hudson, Robert Kent and J. E. Bromberg. Facing a weird wilderness of mystic temples and nameless terrors, the famous master of mystery meets his most sensational adventure as Peter Lorre brings to the screen the character created by J. P. Marquand. “Mr Moto Takes a Chance,” is a thrilling mystery-adventure story. The amazing Mr Moto, mild-mannered, nimble-witted detective, fights poisoned blow-gun darts with hypnotism, jiujitsu, swords, burning oil, sorcery, machine guns and magic in a drama teeming with thrills and alive with adventure. In the mysterious jungles of Indo-China, British Intelligence officers strongly suspect that an uprising is being fomented by a native rajah. Into this scene comes Rochelle Hudson, a round-the-world flyer who has landed

via parachute from her flaming airplane. An American newsreel cameraman, his assistant and the mysterious i Mr Moto, posing as a Japanese archaeologist, join her. Immediately, the four are constantly on the defensive as poisonous cobras, wells of death, mysterious murders and high-priests are used in attempt to kill Mr Moto and his friends until the wily detective, with incredibly clever disguises, outwits the

crafty natives and climaxes the picture in a whirlwind of excitement. Again Peter Lorre delights with his highly individual chaacterisation of the famed sleuth. In "Young and Innocent,” the second feature, Nova Pilbeam returns to the screen, proving that during her sixteen months’ absence she has not only grown into a charming and .poised young woman, but that her magnificent work in films like “Little Friend” and “Tudor Rose” was no mere effort of a child prodigy—she is a talented actress

capable of portraying the very depths of emotion as well as her lighter vein of comedy. As a chief constable’s daughter, she finds herself in an awkward predicament when her heart dictates that she shall help a man whom her father’s officers have accused of murder, while her brain tells her that she must hand him over to the authori-

ties. In the end love triumphs over duty, and in a thrilling manner the real criminal is brought to justice. Derrick deMarney is an ideal choice for Nova Pilbeam’s first leading man, while PercyMarmont takes the part of the father.