PLAZA THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 132, 7 June 1938, Page 9

PLAZA THEATRE

“THE ADVENTURES O 1 TOM SAWYER.’’ Through the genius of David O. Selznick and the magic of technicolour, Mark Twain’s famous characters step from the pages of his immortal story and on to the screen in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," which is showing for an extended season at the Plaza Theatre. In spite of the occasional and decently obscure touches Selznick has given to the story, and in spite of the necessary deletion of wellremembered incidents worthwhile in novel form only for their exposition of a character. Hollywood for once has treated a good story with respect. And from the respect emerges a film of remarkable dramatic strength, even performing for the films that difficult feat of delineating the characters of the players. It is probably some time since a section of film as vividly exciting as the cave scene of “Tom Sawyer” has been projected. And it is all done simply, just with the screams of a little girl and the terror of a little boy edging the audience forward on its chairs. Meticulous care has been exercised in capturing the spirit of Mark Twain’s story. As this heart-warming drama unfolds on the screen, audiences will alternately chuckle at the adventurer and escapades of the irrepressible Tom and his cronies; laugh at the pranks that plagued Aunt Molly and the neighbours; thrill to the drama of Injun Joe and Muff Potter; and glow with the young romance of Tom and Becky Thatcher. Tom Sawyer, who has come to be the embodiment of all boyhood and a beloved hero of millions the world over, was re-created by Tommy Kelly, who was chosen out of 25,000 aspirants for the role.