MILITARY RED-TAPE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20234, 19 February 1934, Page 3

MILITARY RED-TAPE.

Brilliant Satire in “ Orders is Orders.” An American film producer who attempted to turn a British barracks into a motion picture studio would probably be shot at dawn for his temerity. In “ Orders is Orders,” which opened at the Crystal Palace Theatre on Saturday, he is allowed to live, however, and his efforts form the theme of one of the most brilliant satires on military red-tape that has ever been screened. “ Orders is Orders ” does for the British Army what “ The Middle Watch ” did for the Royal Navy. Written by Anthony Armstrong and lan Hay, it fairly bubbles with fun. Army redtape comes in for some hard treatment, but the 'satire does not stop with the military machine. The methods of film producers are caricatured in a most amusing manner, and practically every scene is responsible for situations filled with riotous comedy. From the moment that Ed. Waggermeyer and hi s fair assistant Wanda descend upon the barracks of the Royal Loamshires, while the battalion is drawn up awaiting the brigadier, the fun never flags. A fire-eating colonel presents no difficulties to the ruthless Ed, and, assisted by Wanda’s blandishments, he soon persuades Colonel Bellows to allow his barracks to be turned into a veritable bedlam. Official sanction is still required from the brigadier, and finally an order comes stating that the colonel should “ proceed as he thinks fit.” But nobody knows that this instruction was the reply to lengthy correspondence regarding a rat whose depredations on the quartermaster’s ■ store had been reducing the portly regimental sergeantmajor to a shadow with worry! So with permission received, Ed goes right ahead, with most amusing effects on the discipline of the barracks, from the colonel to the drummer boy. The picture comes to a screamingly funny finish. As the hard-boiled picture director, James Gleason presents a study which is a brilliant satire on studio methods and manners. He is ably assisted by the lanky Charlotte Greenwood as Wanda. Nothing funnier has been seen on the screen than her efforts at “ vamping ” the colonel. Cyril Maude simply “lives” the part of Colonel Bellows, the fire-eating martinet who becomes as wax in the hands of the ruthless Americans. Aiding this trio of fun-makers are lan Hunter, Donald Calthrop and Cedric Hardwicke. The supports are good.