“TANKS A MILLION”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3253, 16 April 1943, Page 5

“TANKS A MILLION”

LAUGH-FILLED STORY

PROGRAMME AT.

ZASU IN “MISS POLLY”

Headed by a cast of comedy luminaries including Jimmy Gleason, William Tracy, Noah Beery Jr., and Elyse Knox, the new Hal Roach Streamliner, “Tanks A Million.” the laughfilled story of Uncle Sam’s draft army, will show at the Regent Theatre on Saturday through United Artists release. The picture was directed by Fred Guiol and throughout filming 1 every effort was made to stick closely to army routine so that audiences would be given an authentic and accurate eye-view of the life of the draftees.

The story of “Tanks A Million” concerns Dodo Doubleday, played by William Tracy, who has a photographic memory and whose genius for memorising data gets him in and out of a series of rollicking episodes. By mistake he broadcasts in the name of the Colonel, played by Jimmy Gleason and lands in the guard house. How he manages to win the day and the girl who happens to be pretty Elyse Knox, who is in charge of a mythical Buddies’ Entertainment League, brings the story to a funfilled conclusion.

Gay comedy and laughter highlight the action of Hal Roach’s new streamlined comedy, “Miss Polly;” which will also show at the Regent Theatre and Saturday, with Zasu 'Pitts in the title role and with a featured cast which includes, Slim Summerville, Kathleen Howard, Brenda Forbes, Elyse Knox and Dick Clayton. This zany action of “Miss Polly” unwinds in the sleepy town, of Midville where the Civic League, headed, by Mrs Snodgrass, has clamped down on fun, progress, romance. In the opposite camp is fragile Mis-s Polly and Slim, handy man and amateur inventor. The la'tter pair undertake ■ to foster a romance between Mrs Snodgrass’ daughter and Eddie, who irritates the Civic League presidentHow the plans go flooey and wreckthe Snodgrass mansion and how Miss 'Polly finally saves the day by rattling several family skeletons of the Reformers brings the story -to a laughpacked, punchy finish. Fred Guiol directed “Miss Polly,” and among the more pretentious sets constructed for were the Snodgrass mansion, we City Hall and Miss Polly’s rambling old house. Also featured are modern contraptions such as a combination lawn-mower and leaf-raker and a Jiffy Eloping Device, both of which cause much .of the rumpus as the story unwinds. The costumes foi’ the femme players-, were • designed by Irene Caltern,'and 1 the musical score was composed by Edward Ward. FINALLY TO-NIGHT TWO GOOD COMEDIES “Puddin’ Head” and “Here Comes Happiness” will show finally to-night at the Regent Theatre.