CURRENT FILMS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 57, 17 December 1945, Page 4

CURRENT FILMS

ST, JAMES THEATRE One of the. year’s outstanding casts has been brought to the screen in the outsanding picture. “Thirty Secconds 1 over Tokyo,” which will be presented at the St. James Theatre again to-night and at matinee and night sessions on Tuesday. This is the story of the historic bombing of Tokyo, the mission that electrified the world, and of the romance of Ted and Ellen Lawson. It is a human story, told in deeply human and moving screen terms under the expert direction of Mervyn Leßoy. M-G-M has cast “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” to perfection, and everyone renders a most praiseworthy performance. There is Van Johnson as Lawson; Robert Walker (of “Hargrove” fame) as Corporal (now Staff-Sergeant) Thatcher; Spencer Tracy as Lieuten-ant-Colonel (now Lieutenant-General) James H. Doolittle, who, as one will never forget, led the famous mission. And there is a brilliant young newcomer, Phyllis: Thaxter, who plays Ellen Lawson in a fashion deserving of all the laudatory adjectives reviewers have at their command. Here is a new, fresh personality for whom stardom .seems assured. “30 Seconds Over Tokyo” is a. surprisingly good entertainment as well as. a gripping and authentic story of a great adventure. Supporting items to-night will be “Rescue From Shangri-La” a Cartoon and Cinesound and N.Z. News Reviews.