REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1939, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

“FRA DIAVOLO.” Screening finally tonight is unquestionably the funniest of all the Laurel and Hardy successes, “Fra Diavolo.” Splendid numbers from the comic opera of the same name are brilliantly rendered by the famous baritone Dennis King and the brilliant costuming further enhances a really outstanding show. The second feature "Suzy” features Jean Harlow, Cary Grant and Franchot Tone and is not only beautifully acted but is both moving and emotionally sincere. “UNION PACIFIC.” The building of the “Union Pacific" railroad, a feat which seventy years ago joined the Atlantic and Pacific with an iron band, cut the journey from New York to San Francisco from months to days and unified a nation, is brought to the screen on an epic scale by Cecil B. De Mille in his latest production, Paramount’s “Union Pacific,” which opens tomorrow at the Regent. Theatre. Two popular film stars, Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea, play the leading roles in the heroic story of the “marriage of a nation,” assisted by a cast of thousands, including Akim Tamiroff, Lynn Overman, Robert Preston, Brian Donlevy, Robert Barrat, and Evelyn Keyes. “Union Pacific,” the most ambitious project De Mille has ever attempted in his spectacular career, spans the seven turbulent years during which America's first transcontinental railroad was constructed. Its starting point is the day Abraham Lincoln signs the act of Congress creating the railroad. Its climax is the driving of the gold spike at Promontory Point, Utah, signifying the completion Of the railroad and the linking of the two coasts of the United States. The titanic struggles involved in pushing a railroad across trackless prairies, mountains, and deserts are portrayed with typical De Mille thoroughness and lavishness. There are the criminal conspiracies of big financial manipulators back East, struggles against frontier outlaws and bank robbers, a constant battle against the hostile forces of untamed Nature, and war with Indians desperately making their last stand.

A specially selected array of featurettes complete the programme. Early booking is advised. The plans are at Nimmo’s and the Theatre.