REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1940, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

! “CLOUDS OVER EUROPE.” In times of stress, whether public or private, each one of us reacts differently. Some of us might wave a gun, others perhaps a sword. Mr Chamberlain brandishes his umbrella and Ralph Richardson also waves a gamp. Comedy lifts its head again and howls delightfully to the rafters in Columbia’s “Clouds Over Europe,” which is to be shown tonight at the Regent Theatre. Heads and hearts are broken, humour and guns flash, planes and plans nose-dive in this one of the few British pictures shown at America’s Radio City Music Hall, the world’s largest theatre. “Clouds Over Europe” concerns the disappearance of newtype British bombing planes which fail to return from test flights. Ralph Richardson (who gave such a glowing performance in “The Citadel”) portrays Major Hammond, British Secret Service investigator who is assigned to inquire into the cause of these mysterious mishaps. A new model plane equipped with a secret super-charger is sent up for a speed test. Officials at the airport are in constant communication with the plane by wireless and are startled when suddenly their radio apparatus cuts out and they are unable to receive any further message from the plane. Inspection reveals that the air port wireless is faultless and the officials immediately assume that the plane must have crashed into the sea. A search party is sent out under the leadership of Tony McVane (enacted by Laurence Olivier, star of “Wuthering Heights”) but hours of low flying over the area where the plane last reported failed to reveal any trace of the bomber of its crew. The authorities put the unfortunate mishap down to accident, but Major Hammond thinks otherwise and commences secret investigations. Many thrilling sequences follow as the shrewd and extremely humourous Major pries into the affairs of leading men of the city. Valerie Hobson, as the Major’s sister, also provides many humourous incidents as a newspaper reporter and as a definite heart-interest to Laurence Olivier. Others in a really strong cast are George Curzon, George Merritt and Sandra Storme. Irving Asher produced the film and Tim Whelan directed.

A superb array of featurettes add further enjoyment to a wonderful entertainment.