REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1940, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

“ANDY HARDY GETS SPRING FEVER.” “Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever” is' one of the funniest of all the delightful Hardy series and will be shown again tonight at the Regent Theatre, which was packed on Saturday night by a most appreciative audience. No one who loves a hearty laugh should smiss it. Mickey Rooney i seen at his best in this excellent offering. Also in the picture is Lewis Stone, Cecilia Parker as Marian, Fay Holden as Ma Hardy, and Sara Haden as Aunt Milly. Mickey Rooney falls in love with his pretty dramatics teacher in high school, and actually proposes. He writes the school play, stars in it with Ann Rutherford, builds a prop volcano for it. The play itself is a howl of mirth from start to finish. He took Romeo and Juliet for the story, moved it over to Tahiti, and let the Tahitian Juliet jump into a volcano. There’s a laugh in every line. There is tender heart interest too, in the boy’s infatuation for his very charming teacher; in their final scene together, where she

wrings mm io a realisation inat marriage isn't, the thing for a mere boy and a twenty-three-year-old girl. One of the greatest scenes, compelling in its human quality, is the scene where Lewis Stone, as the father, discusses the serious aspect of marriage with the adolescent boy. It is a simple, human story of typical American family life in a small town, in the trials and tribulations of the youngsters, and the deep heart interest that blends with the comedy. It is a picture that no one who enjoys a good laugh should miss. The featurettes in support are of excellent quality. The plans are at Nimmos and at the Theatre. “MAN ABOUT TOWN." Wednesday's programme will bo headed by that brilliant picture. “Man About Town,” featuring Jack Benny, Dorothy Lamour. Edward Arnold, Birmie Barnes and ‘'Rochester" (an outstanding comedian), and in which song and romance are excellently blended.