REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 October 1939, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

“THIS MAN IS NEWS.” The final screening of the brilliant comedy thriller, “This Man is News,” will take place this evening. Unquestionably one of the best English productions for some time, it has met with marked favour, and the acting of Barry K. Barnes, Valarie Hobson and Alastair Sim is beyond praise. “HONOLULU.” Eleanor Powell, acknowledged to be the world’s most accomplished tap dancer, proves her title again in •Honolulu,” which will be shown tomorrow night at the Regent Theatre. This lavish new musical has all that the Broadway shows of modern times can offer and more. Robert Young has the male lead in a dual role carrying the pleasantly light weight of a humorous, but plausible story. Comedy is provided by George Burns and Gracie Allen, of screen and radio fame, and the music is superb. A large and talented supporting cast includes Rita Johnson, Clarence Kolb, Jo Ann Sayers, Ann Morris, Willie Fung, Cliff Clark, Edward Gargan, Eddie Anderson, Sig Rumann, Ruth Hussey, Edgar Dearing, and Kealoha Holt, selected in a contest embracing all the islands as Hawaii’s champion hula dancer. Then there is also the most famous of all Hawaiian orchestras; Andy lona’s Islanders, lending authenticity to the musical background of the hula numbers. Miss Powell offers “Hymn to the Sun,” based on the traditional dance of Hawaii, an imitation of Bill Robinson’s famous stair dance, and, finally, a novel number done with a skipping rope. Young appears as a Hollywood star who wants to get away for a rest. At an “opening” he encounters his double and induces him to exchange identities for a while. The scheme works. On a boat for Honolulu. the actor, now free of his fame, meets a cabaret dancer, played by Miss Powell, and falls in love with her. But in Honolulu he faces the past of his double, a planter, who not only is engaged to a girl Young has never seen but is wanted for embezzlement. The complication is adjusted when the planter is induced to return. An outstanding first half includes an Our Gang Comedy, a Robert Benchley number “Dark Magic,” the latest Air Mail News and a gorgeous all-colour Fitzpatrick travelogue “Hungary.” i Plans are at Nimmo’s and at the theai ire and early reservations are advised.