“THIS IS THE NIGHT.”

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 May 1933, Page 5

“THIS IS THE NIGHT.”

BRILLIANT FILM AT THE REGENT.

y Nothing funnier has been in Levin for yeirs than “This is the Night,” which is at the Regent Theatre tonight. It is equal to the, best that have been here. It is not merely fUnny; it is brilliant. Its humour is that type so dear to the New Zealand audiences. It is subtle and delicate. Every comedian knows that the best joke is one, each stage of which has its particular point and separate laugh, all leading, up to the uproarious climax, “This is the Night” is like that. The stage is all set for all manner of delightful situations, the possibilities of which the public see; but there are some whicfy they do not see: that, of course, make the denouement of the picture. It possesses a definite personality. It has a definite atmosphere. For that reason the dialogue is so eminently successful. . It scintillates with wit; and the audience lives in that charged atmosphere. All this is apart from the players even. An eternal triangle, that, at times, becomes a pentagon, is the theme. A rebellious wife,, the lovely regal Thelma Todd, for the minute is interested in the wealthworn blase Roland Young to the extent that she plans a holiday to Venice —though Roland is not so eager when he discovers that her husband throws thl? javelin with regard for both accuracy and length. Complications ensue in the form of a husband who returns unexpectedly. Explanations are needed, and the explanatory scenes are sheer delight. Roland has to find himself a wife in a hurry, and who better than the daring elusive Lily Damita, wljom' he engages “on strictly business lines?” “Yes,” she laughs back at him. Charlie Ruggles also goes to Venice, and once there, everyone falls in love with the wrong person. Embarrassing things happen when Lily and Roland have to pretend they are married. The arranging of two pairs of shoes outside one bedroom door, when two rooms are occupied, for example, becomes slightly awkward, particularly, when one is caught and tries to explain to the other. The audience catcftes the feeling of futility. Roland and 'Charles console themselves in their plight with a bottle of wine; and the one becomes many. The audience becomes alive to a curious tapping sound, and the next scene opens , with the pair solemnly trying to play music on the bottles glasses by religiously tapping every one, Charlie with his inane laugh and fatuous expression, and Roland with his lightly inarticulate gravity. In the picture are many .'kinds of humour; humour of dialogue, humour of situation, humour of mere words, double meaning, and misunderstandings—but there is nothing blatant about the production. It is all done so delicately, the daring, and Tyith such well-bred finesse. Perhaps the dialogue ,is the most laugh-provok-ing It is amazing what mere words can convey, when someone, taking part in the conversation, has got hold of the wrong end of the stick. When your wife comes into the home with another man (you having returned unexpectedly) with part of her dress torn away, the explanation that the door of a taxi cab had closed on it might sound to you lame, to her futile. The plot is not a new one; but there are so many new incidents and unusual developments. The sparkle never dies, or even fades. To laud the acting would be to paint the lily. Then there is lovely Venice, the gondolas, the voices afar off, the lights, the bine moonlight, the romance of real Rive after this mere “affair d ’amour. ’ ’ Another novel attraction is the presence of several new popular song hits. They provide part of the background of the picture, so that one unconsciously remembers them. Anyone wanting an evening’s sustained laughter should not miss “ This is the Night.” An excellent supporting programme is comprised of the following especially selected featurettes: Hollywood Beauty Hints, an unusually interesting teehnicolour short; a comedy entitled It Is,” a screen song of “Let’ Me (Call You Sweetheart,” and the latest issue of Fox Australasian News, and Mr Laurel and Mr Hardy in their funniest effort yet, “Country ” Don’t forget evening performance commences at 7,30 p.m.