REGENT THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 96, 26 April 1933, Page 12

REGENT THEATRE

• OOCK OF THE Ant’’ TODAY A new Chester Morris will be seen oa the screen at the Regent Theatre today and to-night, when the Howard Hughes production 11 Cock of the Air” will open a three days’ season in Wanganui. In “Cock of the Air’’ Chester Morris gets his fling at a romantic and comedy impersonation, portraying the part of a dashing young American aviator who prefers romance to flying. Critics who have seen this sky-high thriller express the opinion that Morris turns in the finest performance of his career in pictures, and it is anticipated that this will set up a universal demand among fans for more characterisations like this from this star. Playing opposite Chester Morris is Billie Dove, who has the role of a ravishing Parisian actress. This is something quite new for Billie Dove, but it is claimed to give her an opportunity to demonstrate that she can do infinitely more than appear merely beautiful. As Mademoiselle Lilli, the vampish charmer who caused generals to leave whole armies to the tender mercies of their opponents at the front, Miss Dove is claimed to give one of the outstanding comedy characterisations of the screen. She can be relied on to be most fascinating. The cast also includes" Matt Moore. Yola D’Avril, Louis Alberni. Walter Catlett and Vivien Oakland. Matt Moore plays the part of a comic orderly in this amazing farce, and he is said to grab the lion’s share of the laughs. Then there is Walter Catlett, with the famous hornrimmed glasses, who is a Colonel in the American Air Forces. His rakish cap is said to make him look still more of a character than ever before. Music plays a prominent part in “Cock of the Air.” in which there are three original musical numbers, each lending itself to the theme as well as providing atmospheric backgrounds for the story, rhe music includes two songhits, ‘ Love Me” and ‘You Would If You Could, and an instrumental nnmber, “Puppets on Parade.” Although primarilv a romantic farce there are many thrilling air scenes in this latest United Artists picture. Chester Morris. Billie Dove and Matt Moore personally took part in all of the over head action. There no “doubling” for any of these dangerous scenes, as all three pursue aviation as a hobby and can pilot planes. “Cock of the Air” is onet of the most eostly pictures of the season. Its settings are the ultimate in extra vagance and the production is unexcelled for sheer magnificence of back grounds and photography. Unusual, thrilling, and brilliantly d rected, “Nagana.” Universal’s story of love and adventure in a tropical hell will commence at the Regent on Satur- • dav “Nagana" is something right out of the ordinary. It is a mixture of adventure, romance, scientific and struggles with wild animals in Central Africa. The highlights of this re markable show arc the scenes of rituals and dances in African vill la Glimpses of wild ammals » nd meeting in deadly combat add to the "enV effect, and above a looms the perfect acting of Melvyn Douglas as the disease-fighting doctor and of the exotic Tala Birell. Excellent work is also done by M. Morita, who plays the role of a .Japanese who gives his life in the cause of science. Cecil B de Mille’s ‘ The Sign of the Cross.” a spectacle of Pagan Rome in the davs of Nero, to be shown at the Regent" Theatre next Saturday week, like the same producer s The Ten Commandments” and ’The King *■ Kings,” was produced on a gigantic scale. Thousands of players. a « n '*‘ te historical settings, and the clothea necessitated months of research and preparation. More than ~100 people made up the mob scenes of this spectacle, in the streets, in the arena and elsewhere. Most elaborate of all the settings was a faithful duplication of the Roman circus, a huge amphitheatre which *for several hundred years was the scene of gladiatorial combats and Chariot races. Interior settings, duplicates of sections of Nero s famed palace of gold, and of the houses of wealthy patricians, were reproduced with lavish detail. Jewellers were hired to make metal ornaments worn by leading plavcrs and extras. A metal foundry turned out hundreds ot helmets breastplates. guards and suits of armour for the male players, and all sorts of jewellery for the women. Lions ti-ers, crocodiles, bears and elephants were requisitioned from circuses and ZOOS for use in the arena sco icmos.