AMUSEMENTS REGENT THEATRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21574, 9 February 1940, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS REGENT THEATRE

“TELEVISION SPY” The programme now showing at the Regent Theatre comprises thrilling drama as well as comedy by two of the screen’s most famous comedians. “Television Spy,” with William Henry. Judith Barret and William Collier sr., provide the dramatic thrills; while “Night Work,” starring Charlie Ruggles and note. This programme will screen finally to-day. “Secret Service Of the Air” “Secret Service of the Air.” which comes to the Regent Theatre tomorrow, is heralded as the first outrider of a veritable cavalcade of thrilling and absorbing screen entertainment, for it is the first in a series of pictures being produced which will deal with the exploits of the men of the United States Secret Service. All of the films in the series will be based on material compiled by W. H. Moran, former chief of the Secret Service, and therefore will be but thinly disguised dramatisations of actual adventures experienced by the members of this famous and colourful Federal law enforcement agency. The hero of “Secret Service of the Air”—and he will remain the central character of the series—is Ronald Reagan. The second attraction at the weekend is the screen adaptation of the famous newsoaper comic strip of “Blondie” with “Blondie Meets the Boss” as its title. Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake have the leading roles. MAJESTIC THEATRE “MAN ABOUT TOW.I” Jack Benny, radio comedian, makes another hit in the comedy with music, “Man About Town/’ showing at the Majestic Theatre to-day for the last time. With glamorous Dorothy Lamour and jolly, rotund Edward Arnold in co-starring roles, this is the most hilarious of Benny’s screen offerings. Among the big added attractions of the picture are the sensational dancing of “Rochester,” who makes his screen debut in this picture. The “Rochester” dancing is said to be amazing. Jack Benny is an American theatrical impresario about to present a show in London. Because Jack’s amorous advances mean nothing to his singing star. Dorothy Lamour. Jack contrives to meet a lady of the English nobility, hoping to make Dorothy jealous. Important supporting roles are played by Binnie Barnes, Phil Harris, as Jack’s orchestra leader; Betty Grable, as a chorus girl; “Rochester,” as Jack’s valet; E. E. Clive and Matty Malneck and his orchestra. “The Sun Never Sets” “The Sun Never Sets.” which opens to-morrow, has several outstanding claims to popular support. It strikes, right at the outset, a high note of Empire service; it emphasises the sacrifice that old families like the Randolph family make, and in particular the sacrifices that their Women make, to do the Empire’s work in’ tropical countries; and it seeks to breathe tne breath of life into what to many Britons is an abstraction —that is. into the Colonial Office. Incidentally, some high-pitched anti-Nazi propaganda is introduced by including in the Gold Coast (Africa) scenes a Nazi mining plant which is a mask for an anti-democratic secret radio with a world-range in propaganda broadcasts. The Nazis of the picture are setting the civilised world aflame with propaganda from an unknown source, no one expecting the radio to be located in Africa, and they are at the same time secretly mining molybdenite for armament-making purposes. Anyone who has read about the Empire services will not fail to give enthusiastic approval to the opening sequences of the picture, in which the actors and actresses are seen at their best in dealing with the revolt of the younger Randolph (John Randolph played by Douglas Fairbanks, jun.) against the Randolph family tradition of Empire service, which amounts to

Empire exile. When the picture opens the elder brother, Clive Randolph (played by Basil Rathbone) has undergone about fifteen years of such exile in tropical regions. He and his wife, Helen (played by Barbara O’Neil), must endure the martyrdom and must set an example to young John Randolph and his fiancee, Phyllis (Virginia Field). Douglas Fairbanks makes John a very real rebel, who is eventually tamed largely through the agency of the old Empire-salted grandfather. Sir John Randolph, played by C. Aubrey' Smith. STATE THEATRE “HERE I AM A STRANGER” A daringly significant story of modern life that is out of the beaten path, with Richard Greene on the threshold of his greatest opportunity in his first starring role and a great supporting cast—such is the new drama commencing at the State Theatre to-day, “Here I Am A Stranger,” with Richard Dix and Brenda Joyce featured in a cast including Roland Young, Gladys George and others. With absorbing realism, it tells the story of a boy who reaches the threshold of manhood to fifid himself suddenly a stranger in the world he has grown up into. Bewildered by world of wealth and sham and a new world of things that are real, he is torn and hurt by life, until he meets a girl as new to love as he _is himself. This is the role portrayed by Greene, a major opportunity given the young star as an answer to the 250,000 Jan letters received by the studio- requesting that Greene be starred. ■ In spite of the depth of its theme and the intensity of its drama, the story is interpolated with sparkling comedy. Katharine Aldridge, beautiful photographers’ model who made her film debut in Elsa Max-

well’s “Hotel For Women"; Russell Geason, son-in-law of the sceen’c Jones Family; Ccorge Zucco, Edward Norris and Henry Kolker complete the cast line-up. /’*□ screening are the first pictures of the scuttling of the Admiral Graf Spee. THEATRE ROYAL A. MONS--R PROGR -MME Romance, drama and thrills are blended in -'Missing Daughter,” which opens to-night. It features Richard Arlen and Rochelle Hudson. Telling the story of a radio commentator pitted against a well-organised crime ring in his efforts to solve the mystery surrounding the death of a young girl dancer, the film moves speedily through a series of exciting scenes to a smashing climax. Arlen’s new role is one of the best of his career. His appearance . through nut is mr-ked by rugged honesty. One of the most convincing aspects of ''is portrayal is

his change from a self-satisfied idol of the airwaves to a radio crusader against crime. Miss Hudson scores a new triumph as the girl who arrives in a strange city to convince someone that her sister, reported a suicide, really was murdered. Two other excellent characterisations come from Marian Marsh and Isabel Jewell. The supporting feature is “Calling All Marines,” an espionage drama which features ponald Barry, Helen Mack and Robert Kent. The second episode of “The Lone Ranger Rides Again" Will also be shown.