AMUSEMENTS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 197, 21 June 1939, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

“IT’S IN THE AIR”' “It’s In the Air”, which screens at the Regent Theatre to-night, Thursday, and Friday, stars George Formby, the inimitable George, who - brings laughter,- joy "and jollity... .■.... . You can’t escape it. It’s in the air.. v with George at the joy-stick you climb to heights of hilarity He’s never even been inside- a plane before! so imagine the fun with Form by at tlio controls of a, tail-spinning, nose-diving, Jooping-the-loop bomber. He does everything but crash and you Ml do everything but collapse—-from laughing. It’s a- scream! “Our Sergeant Major,” sings George, and also “They’ Can’t Fool Me,” and “It’s in The Air.” Tuneful, humorous numbers. Highlights in this dandy entertainment. < “THE REF U GEE—T O'- DAY AND TO-MORItOW The “March of Time” first .studies the situation of the million 3 left homeless and destitute by the wars --in China and Spain. It shows how Japan’s relentless drive of conquest has left as its by-product a starving, ter-ror-struck Chinese populace. Similarly, it portrays the hoi’de.s of dispossessed which the Civil War in Spain has forced to find new homes in strange lands. But, the film shows even more horrible than the fate of these fugitives from war, is the lot ot the ever-increasing army of fugitives from. Nazi terror. “The Refugee—today and t.oi-morrow” reveals on the screen the full extent."of the ever-in-creasing Nazi fanaticism. It tells pictorically the black chapter in Germany’s history which began with Adolph. Hitler’s rise to power five years ago. Laying bare the methods by which the Nazi campaign of terror has been organised), the “March of Time” discloses -that though oppression has fallen hardest upon Germany's half-million Jews, no l one whose race, politics or religion difliers from the Nazi • concept escapes the vigilant Nazi Party in it.s role as the national secret police. Revealed in the film is the extent of the Nazi programme, the teaching of Nazi propa- -* ganda in the schools, the closing of business and professions to anti-Naz-is, and-tile most barbarious of Nazi tortures—the. concentration camp-. In bringing this story to the screen, A “March -of Time” follows the lot of; German refugees in the lands where---they have sought shelter. It shows/ how. the problem of their future >is af-.t footed by immigration restrictions/; and’ shortage .of relief funds in sym-y* pathetic nations. It reveals that the job of finding homes for these new outcasts, is complicated by the alarm-

ing possibility that' Hitler may become tile complete master of Central Europe. swelling the refugee army by six million more.

To report on the possibility cf solving; the refuge problem, the March of Time finally turns its cameras to Palestine. There, it shows, 200,000 Jews have succeeded in adapting themselves to a new life with but limited outside financial aid. Observers, March o.f Time points out, .see in the example set by this 'group new hope for resettlement of refugees on a large scale. “March of Time,” No. 5.C. 1939, will be screened with the outstanding musical production “Alexander’s - * Raytime Band” at the Regent Theatre next Saturday, Monday-and Tuesday.