REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1940, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

“THE STAR MAKER.” With Bing Crosby singing a host of songs, old and new, Louise Campbell adding a note of romance, Ned Sparks as Bing Crosby’s press agent, Laura Hope Crews as an ex-opera singer, Walter Damrosch conducting The Philharmonic Orchestra of Los Angeles, and Linda Ware, sensational 14-year-old singing discovery, making her screen debut, Paramount’s great new singing cavalcade of show business, “The Star Maker,” was shown on Saturday night to a crowded house at the Regent Theatre. The story of the picture is based on Gus Edwards’s amazing career and shows Bing Crosby as a penniless song writer, rising to a top position in the entertainment world by putting on great kiddie shows. However, Crosby loses out because he has children acting after ten o’clock at night; but like a true showman, sets about recouping his fortune in a new field —radio. Moviegoers, young and old, will thrill as Crosby sings such Gus Edwards’s favourites as “School Days,” “In My Merry Oldsmobile,” “Jimmie Valentine” and many others; and such grand new tunes, by Johnny Burke and James V. Monaco, as “An Apple for the Teacher” and “A Man and His Dreams.” Patrons will hear Linda Ware sing many numbers, both popular and classical. Bing Crosby claims to be the laziest man in Hollywood. But his record is against him. In the past nine years he has appeared in more than a score of pictures, made hundreds of recordings, and in one hectic period appeared five times daily on the stage of New York’s Paramount Theatre, sandwiching in two night radio programmes. Comedy plays a big part in the picture and it is small wonder that “The Star Maker” has broken records everywhere in New Zealand. The supporting subjects include the latest news, with thrilling shots ot America’s air pageant, a sportlight number, “A Desert Adventure,” showing the amazing brothers with their equally amazing motor car in search of further excitement; a delightful nature study, “Friendly Little Bears,” a nature study which won the Academy Award. From first to last the whole programme is outstanding and ranks with the finest presentations in the history of the Regent.