REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1940, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

•‘POISON PEN.” The queer mind that finds an outlet for its repressions in writing scurrilous, unsigned letters has provided much material for headlines in American papers of late. Now it has reached the screen. In "Poison Pen,” which will be shown finally tonight at the Regent Theatre, one sees the havoc caused by such letters in a tranquil English village. The power of the poison is almost uncanny. There are characters in this story strong enough to dismiss the letters when they receive them but even they cannot resist doubt and suspicion when a coincidence lends support to the accusations. Then again, the writer sometimes builds the letters on facts capable of an innocent explanation, knowing that it is so easy for frail humans to believe the worst. Flora Robson has the star part in this story whose strength and skilful presentation provides absorbing entertainment on what might have been, with less careful treatment, an unpleasant subject. Robert Newton and Belle Chrystall are perfect in their study of a humble couple whose lives are entirely wrecked by calumny. “BROADWAY SERENADE.” “Broadway Serenade,” featuring Jeanette MacDonald, Lew Ayres. Frank Morgan, lan Hunter, William Gargan, Al Shean and Franklin Pangborn will be shown tomorrow night. This picture is said to be the queen of song’s greatest triumph, and is a splendid spectacular musical romance. It is a lavish story of today’s Broadway, and of lovers who were parted by pride but were dramatically united by the sweet old-fashioned words and melody of “Auld Lang Syne.” There is a particularly good supporting programme.