"MYSTERIOUS DR. FU MANCHU," TO-NIGHT AT GAIETY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 66, 19 April 1930, Page 2

"MYSTERIOUS DR. FU MANCHU," TO-NIGHT AT GAIETY.

Excitement, fast action, suspense — these are the thrilling qlements which provide snperb entertainment for those who see Paramount' s latest gripping mystery drama, "Tho Mysterious Dr. Fu Manehu," which will open at the Gaiety De Luxe to-night. The famous Sax Rohmer story has thrilled millions all over the world in story form, and Paramount has in-' corporated all the tense, emotiqnarousing incidents into a never-torbe-forgotten picture with WarnerOlondas the cumiing, diaholical yillahi, Dr. Fu Manehu. Rowland V. Lee, the man who made "The Wolf of YVall Street" has utilised ajl the absorbing situations of Sax Rohmer to heighten the swiftly-moving effeots, Scenes at the opening of "The Mysterions Dr. Fu Manehu" depict tlje defence of the British Legation in Pekin against the rebelling Boxers. The action scenes are remarkable. With this bdckground, the story follows the. vepgeful career of the _ fanatical Dr, Manehu, his wily machinations which bring a beautiful girl into bis clntches and his atfempts to force her to worjt Jxis will against his enemies. "The Mysterious Dr, Fu Manehu," the famous Sax Rohmer story, has heen made to live on the soreen through the ' sound medium. The atmosphere pf mystery an4 dramatic realism that permeates the story are nonsiderably heightened by the audibility of the accompanying sounds and dialogue. The^ pictnre opens with a battle scene in Pekin, China, during the Boxer re'bellion, and the staccato crack of rifles, the distaht rumble of cannon, the ehouts and the screams add tremendously to the realjty of this action, Then the story sh.ifts to present-day London, whe're Tthe cralty- "Dr. F" Manbhu seeks his venegance on the families of the offioers, who lead the Pekin defence, Striking with an unseen hand the oriental fanatic operates 'with a mystery that baffles even Scotland Yard. In addition to Warner Oland, fhe cast jncludes Jegn Arthur, O, P. Heggie, Neil Hamilton and William Austm. The actors were picked from Hollyvvood's hest with special reference to particular fitness for the parts. Jean Arthur and Hamilton eanry the romantie leads. Heggie plays the part qf a detective, William Anstin is his own. laqghable self as the eccentric secretary to a wealthy Fnglishqian. A wonderful cplleetion of all-talkmg, all-singing, all-mnsical "featurettes" aceompany this remarkable feature and ihcludes two Bcreaehingly funny pomedies, "Great Gobs" featuring Charlie Chase and "When Caesar ftan a Newspaper,?' a Christie pomedy oi the highest qualities. Cliff _ Edvards will (be heard in maiiy of his populai songs. "Irvine Aaronson's Commanders," Ameriea's leading jazz hand will render several favourite numbers; while the npws of the world will be seen and lieard in Paramount's latesi Sound News, the whole bnilding pp ar incomparabfe programme that mpsi draw capacity business throughout it: season of three days and eyening per formaiiees. A snecial mfttinee will b held on Easter Mopday at 2.80. Th box plans for dress cirele and stajh are on view at the theatre. Reserva tions ean be obtaiiied Ipy rmgm( 1 'phene 3809.