REGENT THEATRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1940, Page 2

REGENT THEATRE

A CHRISTMAS TREAT. “The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex,” the new Warner Bros, technicolour production starring Bette Davis and Errol Flynn, will be shown tonight at the Regent Theatre. Bette Davis, of course, is cast as the self-

willed, vain, and domineering Queen ■ Elizabeth, torn between her love of England and her overwhelming love for the handsome and dashing young Earl of Essex. The film opens after the Cadiz affair, in which Essex, Raleigh and Howard of Effingham played such a part. Essex, already high in Elizabeth’s favour, returns to London expecting more honours and rewards to be heaped on him; instead, Elizabeth, angry at the loss of a Spanish treasure ship, disgraces him in front of the whole court. He retires to Wan/stead, his own home, in a fit of what might commonly be called “the suiks.” Back in London, Elizabeth, torn between love for Essex and conscious of his weakness, fights against herself. In the end she capitulates and orders him back to court, where once again they quarrel. Flynn as Essex has pre-:, cisely the type of role in which he has endeared himself to audiences the world over —that of a handsome, swash-buckling hero, as, victorious in love as he is in war. But his victory over Elizabeth is short-lived in the film; for, loving him, she sends him to the executioner’s block, because she realises that if England is to live, Essex must die. Played against the spectacular background of the pomp and pageantry of the Elizabethan court, the love story is still the all-important theme on which the film is focussed. The brilliant supporting cast for the two stars includes Olivia de Havilland, Donald Crisp, Vincent Price, Henry Stephenson, Alan Hale, Ralph Forbes, Henry Daniell, James Stephenson, Nanette Fabares, Robert Warwick, and Leo G'. Carroll. The featurettes include thrilling shots of London’s defences, convoy attacks and R.A.F. activities.

The programme is considered by the management to be probably the best of the many brilliant presentations seen at the Regent Theatre during the past year. The principal feature is beautifully presented in technicolour and covers a thrilling period in the history of England. It will certainly take its place as one of the screen's greatest triumphs, and should not be missed by patrons. The “Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex” will be also shown on Christmas Night at 8 o’clock, at a matinee at, 2.15 p.m. on Thursday, and again on Thursday night. During the holidays reservations may be made at the theatre.

Friday’s great attraction will be “I Love You Again.” A film with Myrna Loy and William Powell as the principals needs no advertising in the ordinary sense. These two names in partnership are sufficient guarantee of a good and lively entertainment. This guarantee is fulfilled in every way in “I Love You Again.”