AMUSEMENTS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 176, 1 May 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

‘THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER" Via the genius, of David 0. Selznick and the magic of technicolour, A lark Twain’s famous characters step from the pages of his immortal story on to the screen of the Regent Theatre on Tuesday andi Wednesday,'.’ when Air. Selznick’s inspired technicolour production, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” will he screened. No effort was spared by Air. Selzniclc in transferring this . classic to celluloid. Meticulous care Inns been exercised in capturing the spirit of M'ark Twain’s story and as this heartwanning drama unfolds on the screen, the audience will alternatively chuckle at the adventures, and escapades of the irrepressible Tom and his cronies, laugh at the pranks that plagued Aunt Polly andi the neighbours, thrill to the drama of Injun Joe and A luff Potter, glow with the young romance of Tom and Becky Thatcher, gasp at their flight- for life in the bat-infested cave and grow misty-eyed os the picture awakens poignant memories of the past and makes them relive .again similar scenes in their own lives. The cast is an impressive one and beside Tommy Kelly as Tom Sawyer includes May Robson, who gives ono of her finest performances as Aunt Polly; 'Jackie Aloran is the ragged Huckleberry Finn;, Becky .Thatcher, red hair, blue eyes, freckles ’'and all, is played, by Ann Gillis; Walter Brennan is the town derelict, Aluff Potter; Victor Jury makes a sinister and menacing Injun Joe; Cora Sue Collins is convincing as Amy Lawrence and David Holt is excellent as Tom’s brother, Sid Sawyer. In the school scene presided over by Donald Aleck as the severe schoolmaster, a host of fifty or more juvenile extras are seen. Norman Taurog. who is considered Hollywood’s outstanding genius in the handling of juvenile talent, directed, and he has done a perfect job. Credit for tlio superb photography goes to James Wong Howe, the famous Chinese cameraman.

"The Adehtures of Tom Sawyer,” which is released through United Artists, is glorious, thrilling entertainment and to miss it is toi miss one of your greatest experiences in a motion picture theatre. It is a triumph of marvellous entertainment and one of the finest things that has ever been done. In black and white it would be a great picture. In technicolour it is superb. The subject is one that lends itself to colour aiub- some of the shots are breathtakingly magnificent, especially those where Tom and Becky are lost in the cave. "MARCH OF TIME” NO. 3C, 1939. INSIDE THE AIAGINOT LINE A month before the recent war crisis, the editors of the Alarch ol Time applied for permission to take motion pictures of France’s famed defence works—the greatest yet conceived by any nation—and subsequently were granted] this extraordinary privilege by the French War Ministry. "Inside the Alaginot Line” tells the first complete and comprehensive story of France’s East boundary defence works, it portrays the mammoth extent and scale of Europe's No. .1 fixed frontier, the gigantic 121 mile line, ol concrete and steel stretching all the way from Flanders to Switzerland,* which cost Franco §2.001), 030.000. March of Time reveals the location ol the pillbox constructions, tank traps, •and entanglements which make up this line, shows how gun turrets are hidden from enemy eves, and how French soldiers are trained to defend this frontier in the event of war. Bait, in addition to the above-ground defence line, "Inside the- Alaginot Line’ shows a great underground Alaginot fort—a below ground defence city, occupying many square miles. The film lortrays in detail every phase in thelife of the French soldiers who. arc stationed in these forts, 200 feet underground. It reveals where they drill, where they eat and sleep, how their food is transported and prepared, bow the forts are ventilated and lighted, how communication is maintained with each section and the outside world. In the film are shown the underground railroad, gun posts, recreation telephone, systems and power stations. Life here is ordered with the single purpose of preparedness for attack.

Mfu-ch of Time No. «1C will be screened with “The Adventures of “T’onr Sawyer” at the liegent Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday, Matinee Wednesday.