REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1939, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

| “GRACIE ALLEN MURDER CASE.” The final screening of this delightful | mixture of thrills and laughter will I take place this evening. There is only one Gracie Allen and the trouble she causes Philo Vance (Warren William) when she sets out to assist him. provides one long series of laughs. “ICE FOLLIES OF 1939.” The plans are now open at Nimmo's and the Theatre for the glorious attraction, “lee Follies of 1939,” which commences on Saturday. It is important to bear in mind that reserves do not now cost any extra at the Regent. A picture designed for the entire family, “The Ice Follies of 1939” has “everything.” There are breath-takingly beautiful technicolour skating scenes for those who like pageantry in the films; a story with a Hollywood background and intimate glimpses into studio life; original songs destined to become popular. “The Ice Follies of 1939,” deals with the story of a team of fancy skaters, portrayed by James Stewart and Lew Ayres. When Stewart marries Joan Crawford and adds : Iter to the double- act, trouble ensues. •The loss of a job in a skating rink { causes the girl to seek employment on I her own and because of her unusual voice she lands a film contract and signs it before she notices the “no marriage” clause buried in the legal terms. The three finally drift apart, Stewart to seek backing for his dream of staging an Ice Follies, Ayres to one night stands in skating rinks, and Miss Crawford to film stardom. Special comment should be made on the elaborate ice spectacles featuring the original Ice Follies Troupe. Specialty and group numbers, executed on wet ice to give a mirror effect, are breathtaking in their beauty. This is especially true of the Indian Ballet which features, in addition to champions Roy Shipstead and Bess Ehrhardt, a chorus of twenty-four girls. An outstanding array of supporting j featureties, include a beautiful Fitzpatrick travelogue, an extraordinarily interesting record of the work of Father Damien amongst the lepers of Malo Kai Island, Pete Smith on amateur broadcasters, and the latest Air Mail News.