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CRIMSON PLAYGOER

"Star of Midnight," With William Powell and Ginger Rogers Proves Exciting Mystery

Rarely does the University Theater combine in one program two features with as great an entertainment value as "Star of Midnight" and "Hold 'Em Yale." The former attraction, an extremely complicated murder mystery starring that ace of detectives William Powell, joins with Damon Runyon's most recent comedy hit to offer an evening of pleasing diversion to the theatergoer. In fact, despite the general prevalence of examinations, we do not hesitate to recommend the current double bill as one of the more interesting attractions of the season.

"Star of Midnight" is a highly amusing and intriguing mystery drama developed much along the lines of Mr. Powell's former sensation "The Thin Man." Ginger Rogers is cast in an entirely new sort of role which she portrays adequately, that of the rich young society girl who falls in love with a clever attorney named Clay Dalzell (William Powell), turning amateur detective during their courtship and often unwittingly stumbling upon highly important clues to a baffling mystery.

William Powell is once more in his element, this time playing the role of a brilliant amateur detective who combines the qualities of fearlessness and absolute self-confidence with the ability to handle difficult situations in a manner both charming and graceful. Although it is debatable whether Miss Roger's characterization is on a par with that of Myrna Loy in "The Thin Man," it is certainly true that she maintains throughout a certain vigor and sprightliness which lend color to the plot development. At no point does the interest flag, and the complexity of the situation holds the audience in a continual suspense which is climaxed by the dramatic ending of the picture.

The second feature on the program, "Hold 'Em Yale," is a hilarious comedy of the lighter sort, combining humorous dialogue with a series of extraordinary situations. Patricia Ellis is featured as the pampered young heiress who is afflicted with an ungovernable passion for men in uniform, much to the sorrow of her father, who has to foot the expensive bills for her numerous divorces. Cesar Romero plays the part of the dashing but unfaithful object of Miss Ellis's affections. The humor pervading the whole picture reaches its climax in the scene depicting the Harvard-Yale football game, won by Yale under very amusing circumstances.

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