REGENT THEATRE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12529, 15 April 1935, Page 7

REGENT THEATRE

“THE MIGHTY BARNTJM” In the Regent's current attraction, “The Mighty Barnum”, Wallace Beery takes his place in that select company of specialists in historic roles, and it marks Beery’s fourth appearance ;> real-life characterisation. In “Robin float! ho re-created Richard the LionHearted” ; in “The Bowery” lie was Chuck Connors and in “Y iva Y ilia he won new audiences with his peiformance as the blustering Rancho. “The Mighty Barnum” offers Beery a characterisation unique in the annals of entertainment, for Barnum was ruthless, generous, pious to the point of fanaticism, crude and slowwitted, tender and shrewd—all at the same time. He was a mass of provocative contradictions. In oilier words he was an actor’s paradise. Barnum was the first showman to appreciate the full value of publicity, Whether favorable or unfavorable. As long as his name was mentioned and with it whatever attraction he was exploiting at the moment, he was satisfied. The famous midgets, General and Mrs Tom Timing, the Cardiff Giant, Joyce Heath, the 160-year-ohl negro slave the massive Lady Dumpling, the Boarded Lady, and all the rest of the natural oddities which the great ■showman exhibited in his museum a. century ago come to life in “The Mighty Barnum”. Virginia Bruce, Rochelle Hudson and Janet Beec-her ■support the star. There are excellent i'eaturettes. PLANS OPEN FOR “JAVA HEAD” The box plans are now open for the great English picture which opens on Wednesday next: “Java Hoad” featuring John Lo,der and Elizabeth Allen.