AMUSEMENTS REGENT THEATRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21577, 13 February 1940, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS REGENT THEATRE

“SECRET SERVICE OF THE AIR” The current attractions at the Regent Theatre, “Secret Service of the Air” and “Blondie Meets the Boss,” will screen finally to-day. “Brother Rat” “Brother Rat,” the gay comedy of life in a military school, which ran on a Broadway stage for 18 consecutive months and had three road companies successfully touring the country at the same time, is now a picture and will have its first local showing at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. A “rat” in V.M.I. parlance is a freshman or “plebe,” as they are called at West Point. Those who go through the four years training together are called “Brother Rats.” Hence the title. They are loyal to each other through thick and thin. It stars Wayne Morris and Priscilla Lane, two young stars who already have had several sensational successes. A considerable portion of the picture was made on the grounds of the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, Va., and the entire cadet corps of that famous and historic school, 700 strong, took part.

Wayne Morris and Priscilla Lane have a sweet, idyllic boy-and-girl romance. Others in the splendid cast include Johnnie ‘Scat’ Davis, Jane Wyman. Ronald Reagan, Gordon Oliver, Henry O'Neill, Olin Howland, Jessie Busley, Louise Beavers and Isabel Withers. MAJESTIC THEATRE “THE SUN NEVER SETS” The spirit of the Empire, the sacrifices made by the men in its Colonial Service, set against a tropical African background, make up the theme of “The Sun Never Sets,” showing at the Majestic. The opening scenes of the film show John Randolph (Douglas Fairbanks, jr.), rebelling against the family tradition which has fated him for Empire service, amounting to exile. His grandfather (C. Aubrey Smith), eventually wins him to the service in which his brother (Basil Rathbone), and sister-in-law (Barbara O’Neill), have already spent fifteen years. The younger son and his fiancee (Virginia Field), must follow the example, and set out for the Gold Coast. There occur dramatic scenes, showing the struggle between love and duty ,and the effect of generations of training. The chief task confronting the Empire-builders is to stamp out Nazi propaganda, which is being sent out from a hidden radio station. Lionel Atwill has the part of the Nazi agent, and plays it with conviction. The film works up to a dramatic climax.

“Ice Follies of 1939’’

An elaborate technicolour present a- I tion of a revue staged by the original members of the International Ice Follies is the outstanding feature of “Ice Follies of 1939,” which opens at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday. Joan Crawford makes a welcome return to the screen in the type of role which made her famous. She makes a most attractive singer and skater, while her interpretation of the moving story’s more dramatic moments is without flaw. As her husband, from whom she is separated when Hollywood claims her for its own, James Stewart gives another of the sincere and natural performances for which he is renowned. Two further players who are well-known to all theatregoers, Lew Ayres and Lewis Stone, also figure prominently in the entertaining story. Although never lacking in appeal, the picture follows conventional lines until the dazzling climax, when, gorgeously arrayed, the skaters of the Ice Follies glide and turn in a brilliant sequence of ice ballets and choruses. After almost insurmountable technical difficulties had been overcome, the producers of the film have been able to present some of the most beautiful effects ever achieved on the screen. One number is executed on wet ice. which appears like a highly-polished mirror.

STATE THEATRE

‘CHICKEN WAGON FAMILY”

Gay Jane Withers and Leo Carrillo are partners again in “Chicken Wagon Family,” now showing at the State Theatre. Based on the heart-warming Barry Benefield story that stirs the wanderlust in us all. Jane’s new film Is about a family that tosses its cares into a red bandanna and heeds the call of the open road—with daughter Jane and Daddy Carrillo in the driver’s seat. Rolling around the country in their muledrawn waggon, they trade any and

everyuiing for chickens, which they market when they hit the big town. And Jane runs into plenty of mischief and fun, both en route and after they reach the city. A romance between a two-fisted cattleman and an enterprising newspaperwoman is woven throughout George O’Brien’s latest Western thriller “Timber Stampede.” O’Brien Is cast as a rancher who fights a gigantic land grab instigated by a group of robber barons seeking to despoil a rich timber country. Marjorie Reynolds plays a newspaperwoman hired by the crooked ring to spread propaganda in a frontier town, but who learns she is being duped when she falls in love with O’Brien. How the pair join forces to run the racketeers out of the section is said to provide fast action in the gripping drama. “Hollywood Cavalcade”

The romance of Hollywood from the days of keystone cops and pie throwing to glamorous spectacles of to-day, such is “Hollywood Cavalcade,” said to be one of the year’s greatest achievement. The feature players are Don Ameche and Alice Faye, and introduces

such old stars as Buster Keaton, Chester Conklin and Ben Turpin. It is filmed in technicolour and will have its initial New Zealand screening on Friday next. THEATRE ROYAL “SALLY OF THE REGIMENT” Marooned by the blizzard in a mountain lodge, with only a stuffed moose as chaperon and caviar and crackers for food—that is the romantic predicament that faces Don Ameche and Ann Sothern in “Fifty Roads to Town,” the laugh-spiced romance opening to-night at the Theatre Royal. Supporting these two vital, delightful and thrilling stars, Slim Summerville, jane Darwell, John Qualen, Douglas Fowley, Allan Lane, Aan Dinehart and Stepin Fetchit add humour and excitement to the season’s most zestful escapade. A riotous adventure of mistaken identities, “Fifty Roads to Ameche, receiving a mysterious teleTown,” starts off in high when Don phone call that someone is ready to shoot him on sight, hurriedly leaves town in his car.

There was a time when Hollywood was considered to be the only producer of spectacular films; but that day Is definitely past, and one realises this particularly whilst watching the new Gaumont-British film, “Sally of the Regiment.” Here is a picture from English studios that has not only spectacle, but thrilling action, tense drama, comedy and laughable situations. It is a film of life and adventure with the British Army and as such, it can be heartily recommended to the most blase of picturegoers. As “Sally,” Anna Lee gives a vivacious performance that fulfils all the promise she has shown in the past. Wallace Ford, who returned to England for the first time in many years to make this film, has never done a better piece of work than the toughguy “Jimmy Tracey.”