REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1939, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

AN OUTSTANDING COMEDY. The crowded house at the Regent Theatre on Saturday night had presented to them one of the greatest screen comedies ever placed before a Masterton audience. It was an outstanding success from every point of view, and no words can aptly describe the high standard which is achieved in “Tovarich” in the matter of entertainment. After, having seen the picture one can easily understand the success it achieved with critical audiences in London, Paris and New York, where it ran for lengthy seasons. As a comedy it held the board for years and as a picture it has been an even greater success. The acting of Claudette Colbert and Charles Boyer was of a brilliance rarely attained on the screen. In ordinary circumstances ' they are high grade artists, but in “Tovarich” they provide acting which sends them away in the van of comedy artists. Tire portions of the picture in which they appear seem to have been specially created for them, so cleverly do they enact the many scenes; and it is natural action all the time, nothing being forced or overdone. As a picture “Tovarich” is one of greatest fun and laughter’ producers ever thrown on the screen, while there are also many thrilling and dramatic scenes, the whole making a great appeal to the audience. Excellent support is forthcoming to the leading artists from Basil Rathbone, Anita Louise, Isabel Jeans, Montague Love, Heather Thatcher, Gregory Gaye, and Melville Cooper, a team that pulls its full strength to make “Tovarich” a brilliant success in every shape and form. The story finds Miss Colbert, as a Grapd Duchess, and Boyer, her husband, as a prince, both of the old Russian nobility, almost starving in Paris, to which capital they have been driven by the Soviet Revolution. This is despite the fact that they have deposited in a Paris bank some 40 billion francs. But their honour won’t let them touch this money because it was given to them in trust by the Tsar. Efforts are made by certain FrenchRussian interests to have the Prince release the 40 billion to finance a coun-ter-revolution which might restore the old nobility to control. He refuses, although he is promised plenty of money for himself and his wife. Finally the Grand Duchess and the Prince, in order to eat, have to take jobs as maid and butler in the home of a rich Paris banker. A dramatic situation arises when a Soviet Commissar —played by Basil Rathbone —comes to Paris to try to get hold of the money, and is a dinner guest at the banker's home. There is an excellent supporting programme.