STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 September 1940, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

“CHARLIE CHAN IN PANAMA." A fiendish plot to destroy the Panama Canal and trap the fleet in the wrecked locks is the challenge faced by the famous Earl Derr Biggers sleuth in "Charlie Chan in Panama.” The latest of the 20th Century-Fox pictures, featuring Sidney Toler in the title role, will be shown al the State Theatre tonight with Jean Rogers, Lionel Atwill, Mary Nash, Sen Yung, Kane Richmond, Chris-Pin Martin, Lionel Royce, Helen Ericson and Jack Le Rue featured in the supporting cast. With the main body of the fleet stationed in the Pacific, but requiring immediate, unhindered access to the Atlantic, keeping the Canal open becomes vitally necessary to the current naval strategy. So well have the defences been developed that attack from land, sea or air offers practically no menace. Sabotage, then, becomes the principal threat to the ship artery s safety, and it is such an attempt which motivates the thrilling story of “Charlie Chan in Panama.” With the great locks mined, and the man who might avert the disaster murdered, Chan cleverly weeds out the many suspects and, with 60 seconds left, risks his life on a daring last-minute stratagem. THE JONES FAMILY. Also screening on the fine programme is the Jones Family in their ' latest laugh riot, “On Their Own.” This picture is the finest of the series yet shown, and provides the audience with one of the greatest laughs of the year.