REGENT THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 123, 28 May 1941, Page 7

REGENT THEATRE

“SAN IKAN CISC O DOCKS. Telling a warm and human story of the drama, romance and heartache in the lives of waterfront folk, Universal's "San Francisco Docks" com- ■ mences to-day al the Regent Theatre. ' Skilfully played by a cast which brings a wealth of understanding and sympathy to each character, the picture presents Burgess .Meredith mid Irene Hervey as a young couple whose lives are nearly wreexed when the youth is arrested for murder. Barry Fitzgerald s portray al ol the old waterfront hanger-on is rich in both comedy and dramatic quality. Raymond Walburn creates a colourful and convincing character as the affable old "Admiral’ 'who lives in his dreams. Lewis Howard displays exceptional promise in the semi-comic portrayal ol a young attorney. Robert Armstrong's role ol the hard-lighting priest who turns detective to save an innocent man from execution ranks as one of his best performances in many months. Action in the story revolves around the efforts of Miss Hervey, I Fitzgerald and Armstrong to free I Meredith from jail alter he is ar- | rested for a murder committed by a I convict who escaped from Alcatraz. Background for tnc picture is the larnect waterfront district of San Francisco. Thrilling highlights come in scenes where Miss Hervey and i Esther Ralston wage a blazing handi to-hand battle and in the sequence | which finds Armstrong fighting with a l horde or angry dock workers. The j associate feature is "King of the Sierras,” in which addition to Frank ■ Campeau, Wally Albright and Morgan i Brown, the “stars” include those wonder horses, Rex and Sheik.