REGENT THEATRE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20493, 1 March 1941, Page 3

REGENT THEATRE

POPULAR HARDY FAMILY FILM The latset of the popular Hardy family series, “Andy Hardy Meets a Debutante," is being presented at the Regent Theatre. The typical American youth . Andy Hardy is again capably‘portrayed by Mickey Rooney. While Diana Lewis appears as the debutante. When Judge Hardy and his family visit New York, Andy loses no time in becoming involved in a succession of hilarious situations, which are fully exploited by Rooney', acting. Judy Garland sings severs, deligntful new songs, while Anr. Rutherford again takes a prominen. part. Lewis Stone, Cecilia Parker anc Fay Holden, appear in. their familial roles and repeat the success, of their former appearances. Produced bj Melro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film makes excellent light entertainment. Just IV years ago Mickey Rooney made hit first appearance on the stage representing the New Year in a New Year! Eve skit. He had been born in Brooklyn 11 months before, on September 23, the son of vaudeville parents. When he was two, he toddled on to the vaudeville stage of an upstate New York theatre in impromptu fashion and ad-iibbed his way into the act of Sid Gold, headliner. When he was four, he had an act of his own and then appeared in Will Morrissey’s Revue. His mother decided to essalf Hollywood and Mickey went to work there. He graduated to the role of Mickey McGuire of the Mickey McGuire" comedies, then, after a period of vaudeville, won the part of “Puck" in “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” After that came parts in such films as “Ah, Wilderness!'’ and “Captains Courageous.” The O’Neill drama inspired the making of’another family comedy, "A Family Affair,” in which Mickey made his first appearance as Andy Hardy, rhe picture grew into the Haray Family series.