REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 July 1939, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

“BOYS’ TOWN.” A crowded house acclaimed the presentation of “Boy's Town” at the Regent Theatre on Saturday night as one of the outstanding pictures of the year. Patrons will have the opportunity of seeing the presentation until Tuesday evening. “Boy’s Town” attains a high standard of dramatic art. Spencer Tracy, in his Motion Picture Academy award role, is so splendidly suited to the role of Father Flanagan, a Roman Catholic priest, that he seems to live the part. With humour and. pathos intermingled the picture makes an irresistible appeal to the most discerning theatregoer. The performances turned in by the lengthly juvenile cast are splendid. Mickey Rooney captures the show .at times with his acting. The efforts of Father Flanagan to establish a community governed by boys for boys; his pluck and patience in face of difficulties and the ultimate fruits of his labours stand out in “Boy’s Town,” which ruled by a constitutional body elected by the boys. Mickey Rooney, the really bad boy in the place, is won over in the end and is subsequently elected mayor of the little model community.

A very fine supporting programme includes newsreels, a feature being the Royal visit to Canada; a humorous "Our Gang” comedy; a particularly interesting Pete Smith specialty containing plenty of thrills; an excellent Robert Benchley semi-humorous short, the whole rounding off a programme of exceptional merit.