AMUSEMENTS REGENT THEATRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21821, 26 November 1940, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS REGENT THEATRE

“LISTEN DARLING" A search for love on wheels, family life in a trailer going across the country, and comical contretemps galore arising from experiments in match-making by Freddie Bartholomew and Judy Garland furnish hilarity and romance in fast-moving entertainment in “Listen, Darling," coming to the Regent Theatre to-morrow. .. „ In “Sergeant Madden,’ Wallace Beery returns to the type of role which he made famous In “The Champ" and “The Big House." The new picture casts him as a lovable but two-fisted police sergeant, and the father of a son who is an ex-policeman and a murderer. It is a part that might have been made for Beery because he is himself a son of a Kansas City policeman. Tom Brown, Alan Curtis and the talented newcomer Laraine Day have prominent supporting roles. MAJESTIC THEATRE “FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS” Racy in its dialogue, saucy and crisp in the presentation of its plot, and brilliantly directed, "French Without Tears" Is a delightful show, adapted to the screen in such a manner that none of the piquancy of the stage version has been lost. Without skilful direction, the production could easily have been merely a moving picture of a successful play, and, therefore, a failure. But the subject is still "French Without Tears" as the author conceived It, and It moves swiftly and gaily, with frequent changes of scene. Ellen Drew, vivacious and charming, plays the part of Diana, and gives a brilliant portrayal of the troublemaker. Ray Milland, as polished as ever, is Alan, and he gives a tidy performance. Guy Middleton, who plays the same part as he did in the stage play, David Tree, and Ronald Culver represent a trio who all fall to the wiles of Diana, while the voluble professor is played by a French comedian named Jim Gerald. “The Amazing Mr Williams” “Amazing" Is hardly the word for him: “The Amazing Mr Williams,” who will be seen at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow, is a blithe, supersleuth who thinks nothing of taking a convicted murderer on a “double date” when he should be taking him to gaol. He thinks nothing of jilting the girl he loves in order to track down a kindergarten youngster who likes to draw beards on people. “Mr Williams” Is Melvyn Douglas. In this picture he Is starred with Joan Blondell in the funniest romance of the season, a swift, sparkling series of escapades. The co-stars are well cast, and make ideal team-mates in comedy and romance. The supporting players were equally well chosen, and Include Ruth Donnelly, Edward Brophy, Clarence Kold, John Wray, Donald MacBride, Don Beddoe and Luis Alberni. Douglas plays a new type of sleuth, and his apparently mentally dull fiancee is as sharp as a fox. Miss Blondell appears as the secretary of a big city's mayor, and to most people her one weakness is her love for the erratic detective.