SEASON EXTENDED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 27 (Supplement)

SEASON EXTENDED.

As was predicted, and as was Indeed only natural, considering its merits, the great British comedy, “ The Middle Watch,” has been most enthusiastically received during its screening at the Regent this week, so enthusiastically that it has been found necessary to extend the season for a further week. It is quite the best film ever shown at the Regent, which is saying a great deal, and it should be missed by no one. ” The Middle Watch ” is a revelation of what the British film industry can really do. A few more films such as this and American production will lose whatever claim to superiority they may at present possess, at least in Britishspeaking countries. Here at last is the true essence of British humour; intimate without being outre, fast-moving without being slap-stick; the kind of humour that does not send one off into Rabelaisian roars and bellows, but which tickles the finer senses and spreads a warm glow of enjoyment everywhere.

“ The Middle Watch ” is typicallv !£ Plot, treatment and I S r n „ Hay aad Commander Stephen Kingr-Haii it owes to the latter, and to the fact that it was filmed enLrely on a British warship, its thoroughly naval atmosphere. This atmosphere never obtrudes on the storv there are no lavish or spectacular etIt°is in Ut fiot 1 th < i 0 fGlt all the timoxt.,i® .1° fa ,ct this atmosphere, counled with the witty dialogue and t.he superb wH* 1 !?’#. which makes “The Middle s ° medy masterpiece that It HnT&fn-; iSrl wltli la ™»l th ®n p^rt ° f the American ' vit . h real artistry. Owen Nares Is i h w»m ta l f nd hls ra Pl<3 change horn ?ovT?™g n ; ha r ter to d sh y hut sincere lover .s a remarkably clever piece of acting. Frederick Volpe as the dear Admiral Dodo Watts as Fay Eaton hftte w ain iCi’ and Murlel Aked as ChC?lotte Hopkinson, are others who individual praise. FlnCnv. Mention must be made of Ifenry Wenman as aja Reginald PuTdell o"o rp a al Duckett, two actors whose ?om! r !f'?!!, le on " sentry-go* pro.yngemlm’lltlfotfhllh ° St SenUmely *»='

"UNEASY VIRTUE.” Phenomenal success of “ The has prov<?d that the public of Christchurch has a most decided SSd with 8 f .°M SOOd British Productions and, with this point in view the management of the Regent has secured another British success, “ Uneasy Vir 1"°: ~ for Presentation, following •• The Middle Watch.” “Uneasy Virtue” comes to Christchurch with splendid London criticisms and is an oStstlnrl ing production from the studio. British International Pictures *Ltd The foremost English artists take part the picture, and include Fay Cornnrnn Dodo Watts (of ” The Middle Wa™ h”1 ’ Edmund Breon, Margot Graham, r!™ Marsh, Donald Calthrop and Mo’llv l/ mont. Uneasy Virtue "is the Seht' fully sophisticated story of a plain wife who resents the fact that l„r " ri ' refuse to suspect her of having al in trigumg “affair” while all tin* married women are under iiisti rfm g|®Sj?G?®SF&£ results In some ridlculouslv humorous complications, which provide ” t/neosv Virt,?e eI .! e - htfUl enterta Fn merfU . Vl rtue is a worthy successor to “ The Middle Watch.” successor