RECENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1939, Page 2

RECENT THEATRE

A GAY COMEDY. A highly practical business woman (in working hours at least), a millionaire turned amateur cook, a Russian, chef guided by a spirit and a handsome young inventor combine in making “Service de Luxe” at the Regent Theatre, a gay and sparkling comedy. Constance Bennett is the business woman, who maintains the highly efficient Dorothy Madison personal service bureau; Charlie Ruggles is the rich man whose hobby is cooking, and whose library has become an experimental kitchen; Mischa Auer is the chef whose guiding spirit is ever near to give much-needed advice and Vincent Price, a new star, is the engineer whose life seems for ever to be bound up with womanly control. Last night’s audience roared with laughter at the crazy situations and sparkling dialogue. It was clever until “The End,” a finale to be seen rather than described. The supporting programme last night was gooffand included a splendid New Zealand effort, “Man and His Clothes,” depicting another chapter in the life of industrial New Zealand. “Sideshow Fakir” included some excellent vaudeville turns, “Pixieland” was a bright cartoon, and the news reels consisted of a Graham McNamee Universal and a British. Paramount review of 1938. “THE CROWD ROARS.” Robert Taylor appears in an entirely new type of role in “The Crowd Roars,” which comes to the Regent Theatre on Saturday. Although- “The Crowd Roars” is a picture about boxers and boxing, its real appeal lies not in the thrills of the ring, which are stirringly depicted on the screen, but in the series of excellent character studies presented .by the leading figures. Robert Taylor is cast as a fine, sincere young man unwillingly drawn into the boxing game. Frank Morgan is a pathetic figure as the young fighter’s father —a broken-down actor who is sincere at heart, but weak in character. Nat Pendleton is, as usual, one of the gangster type. Maureen O’Sullivan is a very appealing recipient of Taylor’s affections. At the commencement of the film a youthful Robert Taylor sings Irish songs in a small-town boxing ring to earn a few cents which are immediately spent on drink by his wastrel father. Supports include newsreels, a travelogue, in colour, and a Pete Smith specialty dealing with ice hockey. .