NEW METHODS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1940, Page 9

NEW METHODS

DEMANDNED BY PATRONS. Murder isn't what it used to be. In silent days it was as simple as a punch in the nose. Audiences were satisfied when a revolver shot, knife thrust, or dose of poison sent a victim on his way. Since then, picture-goers all over the world became amateur detectives. Self-appointed sleuths sat perched on the edge of theatre chairs and demanded ever more ingenious methods of I “doing away with’s.” A cinema killer had to be on his toes, and thinking every minute. Death came to be almost as complicated as it was unexpected. Murder by carpet slippers with concealed poison needle mechanism in the toes; collar buttons which were tipped with venom, tiddle-de-winks

whose razor sharp edges turneu the trick at the right moment; television not yet here and countless other scientific doo-dads never likely to come. Most of it has been in fun. of course, with the audience indulging itself intellectually. seldom emotionally. This can be said of the. crimes in “The Amazing Mr Williams," the Columbia hit. Diversion lovers will have added pleasure in making their man hunt a tun-feast. This film presents Joan Biondell and Melvyn Douglas in the stellar roles, reuniting the popular team by public demand. The two enjoy their best roles to date.