STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1939, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

“A MAN TO BE REMEMBERED.” That outstanding attraction, “A Man to be Remembered,” will be finally shown tonight tit the State. “CHARLIE CHAN IN HONOLULU.” The attraction at the State Theatre tomorrow night will be “Charlie Chan at Honolulu,” marking the first appearance of Sidney Toler in the role of Earl Derr Biggers’ famous Oriental sleuth. A veteran of long experience on both stage and screen, Mr Toler, you will doubtlessly recall, was selected to play the popular character only after an intensive search that required months of patient effort, interviews with many of the leading names of films and the theatre, and literally scores of screen tests. The final choice, it may be said, could not have been better. Toler, resembling the popular conception of the detective to a remarkable degree, nevertheless imbues the role with his own personality. The Chan witticisms fall easily from his lips and, in the enthusiastic appreciation of the audience, it is easily recognisable that 20th Century-Fox has found an able actor to carry on the great film tradition of Charlie Chan’s adventures. “Charlie ' Chan in Honolulu,” presents a challenge to Chan in his own home town —an audacious killer daring to strike almost on the sleuth’s very doorstep. While Chan is visiting a daughter at the hospital, where she is shortly to present the sleuth with his first grandson, a call comes to Charlie’s home: a man has been murdered on a boat in the harbour. Chan’s No. 2 son, deciding not to bother “Pop,” rushes to the scene himself. Chan, after finally learning of the call, follows. Then follows thrilling scenes. Phyllis Brooks, Sen Yung, Eddie Collins, John King, Claire Dodd, George Zucco, Robert Barrat and. Marc Lawrence are featured in the cast surrounding Toler. Collins in particular merits mention for several convulsing comedy scenes. It must be very quiet in Maryville these days, Maryville is, of course, that average little American town which is known all over the world as the home of the Jones Family. And the reason it must be pretty quiet there just now is because the Joneses are spending a fortnight in the country. Things will be anything but quiet, however, on the screen of the State Theatre, where “Down on the Farm” will reveal that even in the comparative tranquillity of the bucolic life, the Joneses can somehow manage to stir up more trouble and excitement than all your neighbours put together! This is the eleventh picture in 20th CenturyFox’s popular Jones Family series and it’s undoubtedly their best.