STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1941, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

“RETURN OF FRANK JAMES.” The programme tonight will be headed by “The Return of Frank James,” .which is a sequel to the first film about the James brothers, but it is a complete and separate entity. As a matter of fact, in many ways it is a better film, and the reason for this is probably that Henry Fonda as Frank James, instead of having a secondary role, carries most of the weight of the film on his own shoulders, making an excellent job of an exacting part. The film opens with one of the final scenes of the former picture—that of Jesse's death at the hands of the Ford brothers, traitors. The scene then changes to where Frank, on a farm, is happily tilling the soil with the help of Clem, a youngster he has befriended, and Pinkie, his faithful “darky” servant. When it is learnt that the Ford brothers, though found guilty of the murder, have been immediately released and given the reward money offered for Jesse, Frank’s determination to avoid future lawlessness and disorder fades before a desire to avenge his brother. He once more buckles on his six-shoot-er and, followed by Clem, prepares to hunt down the murderers. The cast is excellent, with Jackie Cooper, Henry Hull, Gene Tierney and John Carradine.