Theatre Guide

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 206, 29 August 1942, Page 7

Theatre Guide

STATE: This engrossing film is Hollywood's first attempt at a dramatic treatment of a delicate sooial subject, not in any indelicate manner, but sympathetically, with educational and high entertainment values. Although “No Greatei bin ’ performs a vital service to society during these preparedness days, the primary purpose of the film is entertainment. A young doctor is the hero of the story; venereal disease Is the villain, and the story has as its theme the protection of the young men who have been called to the colours though it is of direct interest to the public as a whole. Its medical and sociaiog.eal implications of the story are not just dragged into the plot. The scene is a small lactory town in America which has had an influx of workers on account of the national defence programme. The town is near a military training camp and the springingup of night life has brought Leon Ames, a public health official, to the community to investigate conditions. Although he meets opposition from the local authorities, Ames manages to set up a clinic to give all factory employees a blood test, m this way a young aircraft worker (.George Taggart) learns that his young bride has contracted the dread disease from him despite the fact that he had been pronounced cured before fils marriage by a quack who took ail the young man’s money. Threatening to expose the quack, Taggart accidentally kills him and the court trial brings out the truth and starts a reform movement which has the entire town behind It. The principal players in the cast are Leon Ames, Guy Usner, Bodil Rosing, John Gahandel and uuana Waters. REGENT: Will Hay rings the bell in no uncertain fashion with this grand feast of laughter. "The Black Sheep of Whitehall,’’ which shows at the Regent Theatre to-day, moves at a fine pace, la excellently produced, contains not only a wealth of richly funny eiap-stick and typical Hay nonsensicalitles, but embraces some gloriously comic nearnaughty interludes and ends with a screamingly funny car chase. John Mills Heads a list of British Him favourites which includes Basil Sydney, Frank Celiler and Felix Aymler. MKTBOR: "The Vanishing Virginian" is showing to-day with Frank Morgan In tne title role. "The Vanishing Virginian" iis no story in the accepted sense. It Is rather a running narrative of the life of a typical American family that happens to bo typically Virginian. They typify the families everywhere that form the backbone of America. They are the sort 1 of people we wish to be. Frank Morgan is thoroughly and amusingly at home aa the fiery, lovable tlap’n Bob. Morgan brings the Cap'n stepping briskly out of °f the book. Spring Byington is his ! adored wife, Rosa. He calls her Rosebud I a ® ahe the plumpness of middle life, Rosebush. To-day at 2 and 6.30 p.m. Ona Munson, Stuart Erwin “DRUMS OF THE CONGO,” Charles Starrett, in. ‘ ‘ THUNDERIN G FRONTIER. ’ >