STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 September 1941, Page 8

STATE THEATRE

“DEAD MEN TELL.” The new double programme at the State Theatre tonight will be headed by “Dead Men Tell.” The screen’s ace detective, Charlie Chan, has ample opportunity to exercise his’ Oriental sagacity in his latest thriller, “Dead Men Tell.” Twentieth Century-Fox once more gives Sidney Toler an exacting vehicle for his skilful and impressive interpretation of Charlie Chan. Against a background of a treasure hunt-bound boat, Chan meets his most desperate adversary—a ghost The audience will doubtless be baffled by the mysterious murder of a descendant of the 18th century pirate chief, “Black Hook’-' Nodbury, who left £12,000,000 worth of loot. And the appearance of his “ghost” doesn’t make things ' easier. For a while it looks as if supernaturalism is going to be too much for the abilities of the Chinese sleuth and cutshort his unusual career. With Sen Yung, Chan’s son, walking a plank in true pirate fashion, and his father stalked by a desperate cold-blooded killer, the atmosphere becomes tense and breathless as the picture surges to its unexpected climax. When Sheila Ryan and Robert Weldon, who provide the romance in the film, are arrested for the death of an escaped killer, it looks as if the mystery is solved. But as far as Charlie is concerned, it has only just begun. The associate picture is “Maryland,” the magnificent successor to “Kentucky,” featuring Walter Brennan, Brenda Joyce, Fay Bainter, John Payne and Charles Ruggles.