REGENT THEATRE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 128, 1 May 1941, Page 4

REGENT THEATRE

Specially selected associate entertainment to be shown at the Regent Theatre on Friday with the “Dulev” programme will be the latest issue of “The March of Time” which brings an exclusive story of the Royal Air Force, showing how it has been built up within the past year and how it is to-da.v the first line of defence in the Battle of Britain. With actual scenes of battle it shows how the Spitfires and Hurricanes of the R.A.F. arc daily fighting off the massed ileets of attacking Nazi bombers, and how Britain’s own bombers are carrying the air-war back to the Nazi “invasion” bates on the French and Belgian Channel coasts, and into the heart of Germany itself. Although Britain has long been “mistress of the seas,” “The March of Time” poinls out, the island kingdom found it necessary also to be “mistress of the air” to combat Hitler’s larger air force. Tlie film shows how 500,000 men and women are now working in aircraft factories to bring the numerical strength of the R.A.F. up to that of the German Luftwaffe and how air training schools in Canada are rapidly providing pilots, mechanics, gunners and technicians to man these new craft, it also shows the huge flying-boats of the Coastal Command oil patrol, the swift pursuit planes of the Fighter Command in action, and the operations of the Bomber Command, which is responsible solely for carrying out attacks on enemy objectives. Designed for laughing purposes and fulfilling this assignment to perfection, “Duley,” starring Ann Solhern, opens on Friday for an engagement of three days at the Regent Theatre. Guaranteed to knock the blues into that proverbial “cocked hat,” “Duley” tells the story of the exploits of one Duley Ward, wealthy, good looking, but possessed with a faculty for getting everyone whom she contacts into maddening complications: How she goes about arranging for her heart interest to sell his airplane motor to one of the Largest manufacturing concerns in existence makes for hilarious entertainment from start to finish. Miss Sothern has never been better. She takes a vacation from her “Maisie" type of characterisation to portray the dumb but well-rncaning Duley. It is refreshing to see tiffs young actress done up in chic Adrian creations and to watch her prove her versatility in this new type of role. Appearing opposite her is lan Hunter who turns in an excellent, restrained performance as the young inventor who on more than one occasion is tempted to • throttle his girl Iriend. Roland Y'oung is delightful as the nervous aeroplane magnate, and Billie Burke most effective as his Buttery wife. Reginald Gardiner is convincing as the slightly demented Schuyler Van Dyke whose" illusions of grandeur finally servo to unravel an almost hopeless muddle. Dan Dailey, junr., and Lynne Carver are an appealing romantic team and Guilin Williams, as the paroled convict butler, is responsible for many of the comedy s loudest laughs. All in all, this new comedy is tops in entertainment. It contains all of flic necessary elements and then, some. The scenes revolving about the bar- j beeuc are particularly amusing, with the , youthful Chinese actor, Donald Hu:e. I walking away with Ins particular, if J small, part in the show.