AMUSEMENTS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 199, 26 June 1939, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND” Jiving Berlin’s Smash Production; “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” which screens at the Regent Theatre finally to-night and Tuesday is full of great melodies and moments, and stars Tyrone Power j, Alice Faye, and Don Ameche. ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band” is greater than they say it is! Periodically Hollywood produces a picture that stands out as a beacon akng the highroad of motion picture progress—and such a picture is Darryl F. Zanuck’s production of Irving Berlin’s great saga of three decade* in the march of America. Add story to cast and direction and this 2l)tb. Century-Fox film amounts to i- pictne that- for years :•> cemo be jcm i.:bers l as a turning pOiiit—a new trend,—the uti ,: . a.‘ion u“ memorable melodies in a dramatic story, of the screen’s mightiest moment. The Irving Berlin score is ,ot course, without previous or subsequent parallel. it took the. Shakespeare of syncopation 27 years to write it, and every ’ one of the 28 songs, used wholly or partially in the picture, topped the hit parade of its era. They are the milesposts along rhythm’s conquest of mankind from the-Barbary Coast to Carnegie Hall.

The film makes them integral story material by casting the principal characters as members of a fictitious Alexander’s Ragtime Band—and letting them do just about wliat the members of a. real band would have doiie. BERNARD SHAW’S BRILLIANT COMEDY “PYGMALION” BROUGHT TO THE SCREEN “Pygmalion,'’ the screen version of Bernard Shaw’s brilliant epnedy, is coining to the Regent Theatre; this week." Leslie Howard pi avs the-star-ring role in this Pascal Production which deals with a subject of direct interest and illimitable appeal to the masses. .■ ' Bernard Shaw’s story, it will be remembered, tells of a Cockney flower „ girl, winy bfteoflWs' - tile subject of an experiment to a- professor;'of phonetics —a role which provides Leslie Howard - one of the greatest opportunities of ... liis distinguished career to displayfiiijj unchallenged histrionic genius. The idea from the phonetic expert’s point of view, is to prove that it is possible! to take a. girl out of the gutter and transform her into a society lady ofC filler jsp/eeelx jand qxquisite manners. Wendy Hiller makes her screen debut, as the common Convent Garden flower girl. Eliza Doolittle, and gives a performance which raises her right into the front rank of stardom* 1 ' ' Censored? Not Likely! •In this film version of Bernard Shaw’s famous 'comedy, “Pygmalion,” - the audience will hear, tripping frenv the lips of Wendy Hiller, that famous line (in full), which roused world-wide controversy when, as a play, it was first -produced in England.