REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1939, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

•‘ICE FOLLIES OF 1939.” The glorious and eagerly awaited attraction, “Ice Follies of 1939,” will commence its season tonight. 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 her to the double act, trouble ensues. The loss of a job in a skating rink causes the girl io seek employment on 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 breath-j taking 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 featureties, include a beautiful Fitzpatrick travelogue, an extraordinarily interesting record of the woi’k of Father Damien amongst the lepers of Malo Kai Island, Pete Smith on amateur broadcasters, and the latest Air Mail News.