STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1939, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

“TWELVE CROWDED HOURS.” The audience at the State Theatre last night were well repaid for their patronage, an extremely interesting and heart-touching picture entitled “Twelve Crowded Hours,” being placed before them. There is something unusual about “Twelve Crowded Hours” which makes an immediate appeal; it has a different angle and a most exciting plot with a pretty love story. Richard Dix and Lucille Ball gave what are probably the finest displays of acting in their varied careers. Calling for powerful acting both rise to the occasion in characters which make a very definite demand upon ability. No lover of a thrilling picture should miss “Twelve Crowded Hours.” The story deals with the activities of an enterprising reporter who bitterly attacks the city’s underworld through his columns. One of his articles backfires, however, and inadvertently brings about the unjust conviction of his sweetheart’s brother. When the city editor and two other men are killed by the organised ring, the news hound decides to take to the trail himself and do what he can to smash the gang. His efforts along this line involve himself, his girl and her brother in a web of underworld intrigue, their narrow escapes heightening the suspense of the exciting story. One of the highlights of the picture is the unique manner in which the racketeer’s enemies are “rubbed out.” A specially reinforced 10-ton truck is used to wreck automobiles in which the luckless victims are riding. In addition to Richard Dix and Lucille Ball, the cast in “Twelve Crowded Hours” includes Allan Lane, John Arledge, Cy Kendall, Donald Macßride, Granville Bates and Dorothy Lee, all of whom give outstanding portrayals. The other big feature, “Trouble In Sundown,” also makes an immediate appeal for its excellence. The determined efforts of a young cattleman to clear the father of the girl he loves from an unfounded charge of robbery and murder, and his brilliant expose of the real criminals, comprise the dual theme of George O’Brien’s new western. "Trouble in Sundown.” . O'Brien is cast as the rancher who comes to the assistance of his sweetheart’s father, a banker, accused of stealing 90,000 dollars from his own bank, and murdering the night watchman. The capture of the banker by the sheriff, the efforts of a certain faction of citizens to lynch him, the heated trial, and O’Brien’s sensational discovery of the actual robbers and their unique device for cracking- the bank safe, all lead to the action-crammed climax. Rosalind Keith portrays the banker’s daughter, while Ray Whitley, Chill Wills, Ward Bond, Cyrus W. Kendall and Howard Hickman have other important roles. On Friday the sensational film “Jesse James” will be shown.