REGENT THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 66, 20 March 1935, Page 9

REGENT THEATRE

“GRANDAD RUDD.” | Rarely are Wanganui picturegoers given the opportunity of enjoying such a fine entertainment as the Australian comedy, “Grandad Rudd,” which is being screened at the Regent Theatre. Based on the famous series of Steele Rudd stories and centred around the big-hearted Rudd family, it is full of laughs, romance, and drama. Entirely different in settings from “On Our Selection,” in which the Rudds were shown in humble circumstances, a family of struggling farmers, “Grandad Rudd” presents them, with troubles and hardships now things of the past, as prosperous citizens with one of the biggest farms in the country, a palatial homestead, and cottages for each individual family. “Grandad Rudd,” played by Bert Bailey, is still the same cantankerous, humorous old man, and still barks at the “boys,” Dave, Dan, Joe and the rest, as he orders them about the farm. But “Grandad Rudd” has a big worry on his mind. Betty (played by the charming New Zealand girl, Elaine Hamill), his lovely granddaughter, is in love with Henry Cook, a young agent of a rather shady character. While not hesitating to take advantage of Henry’s love for Betty by getting a good price for his hay, “Grandad” puts his head together with Tom Dally, a young selector (played by another New Zealander), who is also in love with Betty. Fate takes a hand in their game and sends to the village a person who can give them the needed information about Henry. This is Shirley Sanderson, a theatrical player, whose show is playing in the town. In the meantime Dan has been making love to the simple Amelia. In this Dave sees an opportunity to get rid of IDan, and so stages a party to “celebrate” the engagement while “Grandad” is away. Into the scene of the secret, of boisterous merriment walks “Grandad,” breaking up the party. This and many other hilarious scenes contribute to the enjoyment of the picture. Excellent photography which does justice to the beauty of Australian landscape is a further praiseworthy feature of the film. “Cleopatra.’ » History contains no more famous romance than that which linked Cleopatra, Queen of the Egyptians, with Marc Antony and Julius Caesar, two of the greatest figures of the Roman Empire. Nor would it be easy to find a more romantic background than was provided in the century before Christ —the century in which Caesar added Gaul and Britain to the Roman domains and in which he sought also to bring the fabulously rich Egyptian Empire under his sway. Such is the