STATE THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1940, Page 2

STATE THEATRE

“THE RAINS CAME.” A BRILLIANT PROGRAMME. The packed house at the Stati Theatre last night had presented ti it one of the finest programme ever shown in Masterton. It was head ed by the spectacular and brilliantly acted romantic story, “The Rain Came,” and the most outstanding “March of Time” yet shown depicting the might and the activities of th< British Navy, the latter picture pro' aucing great enthusiasm among th( audience. At the conclusion of th( programme high praise was to be 1 heard on all sides concerning the programme. The supports were also excellent. ‘The Rains Came” is an immense picture; it presents human emotions, human hopes and motives on a scale no less vast than that of the forces of nature which it likewise so sweepingly portrays. And it is, too, a brilliant picture. It is acted with polished artistry by a notable cast. Faithful in mood and detail to the book, “The Rains Came” preserves all of Bromfield’s characters. Myrna Loy breaks with the “perfect wife” tradition to play the amorous Lady Edwina Esketh; Tyrone Power has his most romantic role as the highcaste Hindu surgeon, Major Rama Safti, who proves the one great love of Lady Esketh’s life; and George Brent is seen as the worldly Tom Ransome, a ghost out of the lady’s romance strewn past. Brenda Joyce, discovered by starmaker Zanuck as the climax of a nation-wide search, heads a brilliant supporting cast in the role of Fern Simon, the fresh, young beauty whose love gives the world-weary Ransome a new lease of life. Others who bring Bromfield’s colourful characters to life are Nigel Bruce as Lord Esketh; Maria Ouspenskaya as the Maharani; Joseph Schildkraut as Mr Bannerjee; Mary Nash, as Miss MacDaid; Jane Darwell as Aunt Phoebe Smiley; Marjorie Rambeau as Mrs Simon; Henry Travers as the Rev. Homer Smiley and H. B. Warner as the Maharajah. “BATTLE FLEETS OF ENGLAND.” There will be shown at the State Theatre tonight in conjunction | with “The Rains Came,” the latest and greatest March of Time, “The Battle Fleets of England,” a twenty minute picture of tremendous interest —showing pictures of the fleet never seen before. The box plans are now open and it costs no more to book for tonight’s magnificent programme.