AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1942, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House

Now Showing: “The Tuttles of Tahiti”, starring Charles Laughton, Jon Hall and Peggy Drake.

“THE TUTTLES OF TAHITI”

The carefree exploits of a (unloving, happy-go-lucky Polynesian family form the plot of “Tuttles of Tahiti,” starring Charles Laughton, now showing at the Opera House. Based on the Charles NordhoffJames Norman Hall novel, “No More Gas,” the film is said to be Ihe first-to present a really authentic picture of native life in the South Seas during the days just preceding the present war. Laughton himself plays the role of picturesque Jonas Tuttle, the shiftless, indolent but lovable head of the Tuttle clan, all of whom are intensely proud of their descent from an early-day New England sailing master. Thanks to Jonas’ propensities for gambling on fighting cocks, the Tuttles are always broke and increasingly in debt to the kindly Dr Blondin. What happens when one of the Tuttle boys comes home from years at sea, bringing with him a ferocious-appearing rooster that he nopes will restore the Tuttle fortunes, leads to the many dramatic and comic moments of the engaging story. An island, romance, a '..thrilling storm at sea and the salvaging of a derelict schooner enhance the film’s action. Jon Hall and Peggy Drake have the romantic leads with Victor Francen, Florence Bates, Gene Reynolds, Adeline DeWalt Reynolds and other noted players in "important roles.

Regent Theatre

Finally To-night: “Sullivan’s Travels” starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake. Commencing Friday: No. 9

of the Dr Kildare Series, “The Doctor and the Debutante,” starring Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore and Ann Ayars.

Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore as Drs Kildare and Gillespie, grapple with new medical problems in “The Doctor and the Debutante,” latest of the Kildare series, now showing at the Regent Theatre. A young internee gets in trouble saving a life in a zone supposed to be that of another hospital, and the two doctors, with the aid of a debutante accident victim whose life had been saved, finally save- the day for the doctor and his sweetheart, a hospital nurse. A dramatic plea to the hospital board, a delicate operation, an accident in which a night club sign falls on the victim, and Ayres’ restoring of a smothered baby before the eyes of anguished parents, are dramatic highlights. The picture introduces a glamorous new acting discovery in Ann Ayars, a young concert singer who played a nurse one day, as her first, picture role, and the next day was promoted to leading lady by. Major W. S. Van Dkye, directing the picture. She is beautiful, a graphic actress, and possesses a striking voice. Other newcomers in the picture are Robert Sterling, who plays the young internee in the case, Jean Rogers, as his sweetheart, and Barry Nelson, who has a striking role as a delirium patient.

Regular Kildare favourites in the case include Alma Kruger, Walter Kingsford, Frank Orth, Nell Craig. Marie Blake-, George H. Reed and Eddie Acuff.

Associate programme includes: — Fitzpatrick Traveltalk (technicolour) “Yosemite the Magnificent”; a special featurette. “The Tell Tale Heart”; Rathe Gazette: Regent Overseas News; and N.Z. Government short, “War Jobs for Women.”