REGENT THEATRE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20119, 13 December 1939, Page 3

REGENT THEATRE

CHARLES LAUGHTON IN “ST. ’’ MARTIN’S LANE” ' “St. Martin’s Lane,” the new Charles Laughton picture which is the principal feature on the bill at the Regent: Theatre, introduces a new company in English production. It brings, too, a magnificent performance from Laughton. “St. Martin’s Lane” provides a very good reason why, with all America from which to choose, David Sclznick decided to give the part of Scarlett O’Hara to Vivien Leigh. The Clemence Dane story tells of a street entertainer, Charles, who finds an attractive if not too honest waif, befriends her, and has to see her fly away .and leave him. If not strikingly original, “St. Martin’s Lane” has the material for two outstanding characters, and it affords opportunities for the director, Tim Whelan, to supply fascinating angles of London street life. These people who sing outside London theatres are very human, and their performances, such as Laughton’s recitations, are very bad. That is the reality and one of the delights of the film. Laughton as Charles is a most absorbing study of a man. For “Poor old Charles,” as he calls himself in a fury, is no softheaded fool. Before he falls in love with Libby, the waif of Vivien Leigh, he sees her as clearly as does, later on in the picture, the educated and sophisticated Rex Harrison. When he falls in love with her and she leaves him he has no weapons, and he takes to drink. But this is not Charles—not the big, blundering, clumsy Charles with the oddly beautiful smile. You know that this phase will pass, and you thank Clemence Dane and the supreme artistry of Charles Laughton (hat, when Charles becomes his own man again, it is without the aid of sentimental slop. —Friday: George Form by in “Trouble Brewing”— The antics of George Formby, who finds himself in many embarrassing situations when he turns detective, provide the basis of the humour in the comedy “Trouble Brewing,” which commences a season at the Regent Theatre on Friday. After suffering as many have suffered on the racecourse, the popular English comedian spends several most humiliating minutes in the wrestling ring with a formidable exponent of the sport. However, further highly-amusing experiences all serve to bring him nearer his triumph, when he captures a gang of counterfeiters. “The Warning,” a short film which shows Britain’s preparedness for the disasters of war, is also to be shown.