REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1939, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

‘■THE GREAT WALTZ.” ■ The current programme headed by “The Great Waltz." will be finally shown tonight. “FAST COMPANY.” Adapted from Marco Page’s best seller novel revealing the inside of the stolen rare book racket, “Fast Company” which will be shown at the Regent Theatre tomorrow night, presents Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice in a hilarious blend of romance and fastmoving adventure. Claire Dodd, Shepperd Strudwick, a newcomer from the Theatre Guild, in New York, Louis Calhern, Nat Pendleton and Douglas Dumbrille share acting honours with Douglas and Miss Rice. Melvyn Douglas as a rare book expert hired by an insurance company to track down rare book thieves runs his business with the help of his wife, played by Florence Rice. They combine domestic and business life with unusual results as revealed in the picture. Opening scenes show Douglas and Miss Rice in the office of their rare book business with more leisure time for domestic bliss than any customers. When their young friend, Ned Morgan (Snepperd Strudwick) is sent to prison on a false charge by Otto Brockler (George Zucco), things begin to happen. Douglas starts an investigation of the case that leads him through a maze of adventure involving a murder, assaults on his life, pursuit of a book gang, and the final capture of the murderer. Florence Rice undergoes a complete personality change from the ingenues of her past roles to emerge a sophisticated and topnotch dramatic, actress.