REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1940, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

o “JUAREZ.” Warner Bros.’ magnificent historical drama, the long-await-ed "Juarez” (pronounced “Warezz”), starring Paul Muni and Bette Davis, will be shown tonight at the Regent Theatre. The spectacular production has already been hailed by critics as the greatest picture of all time. In addition to being headed by the actor and actress who are generally acknowledged to be the foremost screen artists of their time, the cast includes a host of other film notables, such as Brian Aherne, Claude Rains, John Garfield, Donald Crisp, Joseph Calleia, Gale Sondergaard, Gilbert Holand, Henry O’Neill, Harry Davenport, Montagu Love and Monte Blue. Conceived and executed on a scope never before attempted by Warner Bros., the picture tells a story that is at once powerful drama and authentic history, played against a rich panorama of backgrounds, ranging from imperial palaces to poor peon huts. While it concerns events that were, on the surface, only of importance to the then fledgling Mexican republic, the significance of these happenings was also important in the history of the United States. In the light of what is going on in the world today, this story has also a distinct, topical interest. It relates the attempt of Napoleon 111 of France to end the life of the Mexican republic by placing a puppet emperor on its throne, it tells of the tragic fate of Napoleon’s hapless tool, Maximilian von Habsburg, and his beautiful consort, Cariota, who has passed into history as "the mad empress,” and it tells, inspiringly, of the brave and successful fight of the Mexican president, Benito Pablo Juarez, born a humble Zapotecan Indian, to rescue his, country from the hands of the imperialistic despoilers.

Special featurettes include an allcolour special, a Porky Cartoon and the latest Air Mail News, which includes outstanding shots of an actual air attack on one of our aircraft carriers.