TALKIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 24, 14 June 1939, Page 3

TALKIES

SPENCER TRACY AND MICKEY ROONEY IN THEIR GREATEST! THE REGENT takes pleasure in announcing one of the pictures of the year which commences a season of three days this evening with special matinees this afternoon and Friday \at 1.30 p.m. ITTHE PICTURE IS "BOYS TOWN" Jrtiß of the most gripping, dramatic -and exciting trucJife stories ever brought to the screen. With Spencci Tracy portraying a living man, Fatner Edward J. Flanagan, one of the ■ greatest humanitarians of our time, a role reminiscent of his Father Tin: in "San Francisco/* And Rooney as Whitiey Marsh, a two-fisted youngster who discovers that you really have to be tough to be good. THERE ARE 212 dramas at "Boys Town." Spencer Tracy was deadly serious as he made the statement. "There are 212 boys at the juvenile -community which was founded by father Flanagan, and every one of them has a story that would tear ■ your heart out. I know. I talked to most of the boys while we were nWi ing exteriors at Omaha. They arcn t ashamed for their pasts, but their ic- ' cords would put most grown men, to shame." . Tracy, who is reproducing a livins; character on the screen for the first time in "Boys Town" showing at the ißegent Theatre, was intense as he talked about the "City of Little iken." "ONE OF THESE YOUNGSTERS KILLED HIS OWN FATHER. His father was a beast who beat his mother, starved his family and speiu any money he could lay his hands on for drink. The six year old boy wr.s irought up in the worst kind of ugly poverty. One day, when his father jvas hurting his mother cruelly, the Ijoy grabbed & shotgun and shot him. Father Flanagan interceded for the youth and accepted responsibility for Ms conduct. To-day he is one of the most docile, happiest youths in the community. SPENCER TRACY said it couldn't l>e done —but he did it. He port raved thirty roles ranging in type from to gangster, and all in one production. Written,, directed and photographed by his young son, John Tracj r , e (film, dorj* entirely in promises to set a, new record for. the Academy Award winner. MICKEY ROONEY figures he must have been born with a rabbit s in his hand, he's that lucky.. It's not because he happens to be working in pictures as a whole but because right now he's working alongside Spencer Tracy where he can watch the *<4- , low he considers the greatest actor in the world. ANOTHER STAR ATTRACTION ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND ' COMMENCING SATURDAY ] CHORUS GIRLS VARY WITH TIME'S MARCH 5 I What amounts practically to a 1 photographic history of the evolution of the American chorus girl—from the colourful, romantic Barbary ' days to the streamlined present /'—was entrusted to Seymour Felix, dance director for Irving Berlin's "Alexander's Ragtime Band."

News, Views and Forthcoming Events

The 20th Century .Fox spectacular production is the stirring story oi cur times, beginning from the time Irving Berlin composed his first sensational ragtime hit to the presentday swing. Tyrone Power, Alice Faye and Don Amechc arc the stars who head the cast featuring Ethel Merman and Jack Ilaley. The film opens on, Saturday at the Regent Theatre, with a total ol twentv_eight Irving Berlin numbers included in the score. Two of these are the composer's newest hits, "Now It Can Be Told" and "My Walk ing Stick.' ALICE FA YE HAS MEMORY AT HER .FINGERTIPS Painted finger nails garnished with pieces of string are "tops" in the fashion modes of the moment, thanks to Alice Faye. When she hurried on the set of Irving Berlin's ''Alexander's Ragtime Band" at 20th Century Fox one day during production, Alice had her well-manicured lingers done up in strings. "There are ten things I must remember." 1 she explained to the mystified doorman as she waved ner hands in the air, exhibiting ten fingers tied with ten pieces of cord. DON'T FORGET THE SPECIAL MATINEE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON GIRLS DIDN'T SMOKE IN 'GOOD DAYS' The familiar habit of miladv s fashions repeating themselves cvci so often made the colourful cale '•et of post-war American seen, in one sequence of Iriving Berl : n's ''Alexander's Ragtime Band," almost a modern scene —except for one thing. The women were not smoking. Before Director Henry King called for "Action!" his assistant had to go from tabic to table and see that every woman extra hid her cigarette —women didn't smoke in the days before the Great War. ACTOR IS AN AUTHOR AWAY FROM STUDIO Paul Hurst, who plays the role oi' burly bartender in ''Alexander's llag. time Band,'' 20th Century-Fox spectacle, is noted for his vivid and forceful characterisations on the screen. But during bis time ofi, Paul writes for the pulp story magazines:. He'.' considered a master oi' tender love stories! Irving Berlin's "Alexander's Rag. time Band," an American cavalcade, with such stars as Tyrone Power, Alice Faye and Don Ameche and a 1 stellar cast. 351 STAGE SETS Fiftv-one huge sets in addition, to more than three hundred minor on?s were required for various sequences in ''Alexander's Ragtime Band' 7 20th Century Fox dramatic spectacle, opening at the Regent Theatre with Tyrone Power, Alice Faye and Don Ameche. For Quality Printing of every description—The "Beacon," Strand, Phone 10.