STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 February 1940, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

“WAY DOWN SOUTH.” The Bobby Breen feature at the State Theatre, "Way Down South," will be finally shown tonight. “SHERLOCK HOLMES.” There will be screened at the StateTheatre tomorrow night the great detective picture, “Sherlock Holmes.” Generations of men, women and children throughout the world have grown to identify the name of Sherlock Holmes with the very' apotheosis of detective adventure. Holmes's scientific methods, amazing powers of deduction, his courage, eccentricities and fine humour have inspired the creation of countless other fictional sleuths, but he has remained peerless in the popular imagination. Story-book detectives have come and gone, but Holmes has remained the one immortal —so real to millions that only the fan mail of Hollywood has rivalled the mass of communications sent throughout the years to the master-sleuth’s famous address, 221'Baker Street, London. So it is only natural for the screen to turn to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works for sure-fire material. Most recent picturisation of the great detective was in 20th Century-Fox’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” in which Basil Rathbone appeared as the perfect personification of Holmes, with Nigel Bruce as his ever-present foil, Dr. Watson. So well was this film received that Darryl F. Zanuck has another Holmes story produced, “Sherlock Holmes,” with Rathbone and Bruce again in the leading roles and Ida Lupino and Alan Marshal also featured. Based on the play, “Sherlock Holmes,” by William Gillette, the picture pits the foremost detective against a criminal genius worthy of his talents—the notorious Moriarty. Moriarty, Holmes’s constant enemy, is also Doyle’s creation, and as a lawless master-mind ranks almost with Holmes in cleverness and ingenuity. The role in the film is portrayed by George Zucco, and included in the cast is Terry Kilburn. Henry Stephenson and E. E. Clive. The play unfolds the solution of a series of murders plotted with diabolical cunning and the incredible super-crime of the century —the theft of the British crown jewels from the Tower of London. In addition a powerful love story runs through "Sherlock Holmes.”