GOOD COMEDY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3245, 29 March 1943, Page 5

GOOD COMEDY

“TUGBOAT ANNIE AGAIN” PROGRAMME AT REGENT; “TOP SERGEANT’ SHOWS ALSO I That grand, robust, outspoken, immortal character of Norman Reilly Raine’s —Tugboat Annie —comes back to the screen when the new Warner Bros, film, “Tugboat Annie Sails Again,” starring Marjorie Ram-beau and Alan Hale, shows at the Regent Theatre on and Wednesday. Tugboat Annie, nlaved by Marjorie Rambeau, 'maintains that sh a ’s the “best man” in the tugboat fleet despite her company’s belief that she’s through as a skipper. She’s not through by any means, and proves it when she lands a contract for the exclusive business of her boss’ biggest customer and thwarts her arch enemy, Captain Bullwinkle, played by 1 Alan Hale, from completing a scheme to throw her company into bankruptcy. The film turns the famous “Saturday Evening ! Post” feud into one of the funniest, happiest screen hits of the year. When Annie and Bullwinkle meet, all bars are down and movie audiences are in for some of the most rib-tickling dialogue to have come along in many a moon. The English language is not the least of the things that are thrown about. In fact, Annie gives some choice lessons in how to break English that will be a revelation to all. The drama within- the drama of one of ■ Uncle Sam’s huge . Army camps is brought to the screen with sock, punch and speed in ‘ Top Sergeant,” featuring Leo Carrillo and: Andy .Devine, which also will show at the Regent Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday. Carrillo and Devine are right “in the groove” as a couple of old-time non-coms who have fought a dozen, wars together, battled each other a hundred times, and battled with the book of army regulations continually. The story of “Top Sergeant revolves about these two when an underworld rat tries to pin the guilt upon them for the murder of several .soldiers. During war game manoeuvres, a bridge, which supposedly is to be “demolished” with fuse powder, actually is dynamited' by the gangster. One of the brightest moments of the Universal picture .is the refreshing, warm appeal of pretty Elyse Knox. “America’s favourite magazine iover girl,” who is launched by her studio in the feminine lead as a stellar “new face.” ; finally to-night “SOUTH-AMERICAN GEORGE” “South American George” will show finally to-night at the RegentTheatre.