AMUSEMENTS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 174, 26 April 1939, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

“BORDER G-MAN” A distinctly modern theme, combined with all the liard-riding, fastshooting and speedy action so typical of George O’Brien veliicies, marks' the husky star’s latest '"outdoor drama, “Border G-M|an”, an RKO Radio picture, which ' screens at the Regent Theatre on Thursday and Friday. The story, is unique in that it has as a basis the recently enacted Neutrality Act, which prohibits the exporting of arms and ammunition to a foreign nation at war. O’Brien is cast ..as a Department of Justice agent who disguises himself as a ranch foreman to' investigate the activities of an alleged cattle company operating on a desolate stretek along the gulf coastline of Texas. Ho learns'that John Mil j an, head of the company is actually engaged in buying and breaking horses for shipment to a foreign nation, as well as training mercenaries for war service and exporting arms and munitions. The thrilling story traces the GMan’s adventures in obtaining evidence against the group, and l counterpointing this in liis rocky romance With a senator’s daughter who, with her brother, are innocently involved in the smuggling-Ascljeipe. By pretendingfall victim to the wiles of Miljan’s- alluring sister, played by Rita, Laßoy, O’Brien quits his would-be position as foreman of a nearby ranch to become a member of the band, and in this manner he is able to, obtain the necessary evidence, frustrate a large shipment, of the contraband items, clear the senator’s daughter and son of implication in the plot, and round up the entire organisation. Laraine Johnson appears as the star’s leading lady and her beauty and cliarm provide a pleasing contrast to the red-blooded action. “THE RAT” Electric with its thrills and tender fr ' . . . in its romance of the Paris underworld, Herbert Wilcox’s “The Rat”, which .screens at the Regent Theatre on Thursday and Friday, offers tho talented starring team of Ruth Oliatterton and Anton Waibrook together with a strong supporting cast and realistic backgrounds. Tlie film is based on the London and New. York stage success. . A. , Walbrook has the part of the Rat, a criminal of the underworld who is too cunning to be caught and convicted. Although his charming manner is a fascination to women, romance plays little part in hi.s life until he promises a dying friend that be will look after liis daughter wlio comes to live as his house to act as housekeeper. Together they, find a temporary happiness which, however, is blurred with the arrival on the scene of tZelia, £l wealthy aißl glamorous woman, played by' Miss Chatterton. "At first lie is more interested in Zelia’.s jewels than the woman herself, but. later they are drawn together by romantic ties. A wealthy Parisian and adfmirer ol : Zelia is jealous of the Rat, and seeking revenge turns bis attentions to the Rat’s protege, Odile, who rejects him and shoots him in self defence. To protect the girl the Rat takes the blame for the murder, but now realising that her case is hopeless, Zelia swears that he was with her at the time the crime took place. He is released. It is proved that Odile acted in self defence.