"WAKE ISLAND" A STIRRING
EPIC OF FIGHTING FORCES;
THEATRES HERE NEXT WEEK
_ _
“Wake Island” may be well des
cribed as Paramount Studios to
“awaken America.” It will be the
feature attraction of Roanoke
Rapids Theatres here next week,
playing the People on Sunday and
the Imeprial on Monday-Tuesday.
The producers, evidently feeling
that the time is here for the coun
try to go psychologically (and
just plain logically) all-out if vic
tory is to be achieved, offers in
this rousing, action-packed feature
what is described as the first full
blow epic depicting with realism,
and without pulling punches, the
story of our fighting forces under
fire, — in this cast the U. S. Mar
ines, which branch of the ser
vice co-operated in the film's mak
ing.
How the handful of American
“leathernecks” stood up day after
day in the face of repeated at
tacks against Wake by overwhelm
ing Japanese strength is the core
of the story. Through the pat
tern of fact is woven a keen hu
man interest thread spelling fine
entertainment values for every
picture-goer. Brian Donlevy is the
central figure, the Isle’s command
ing officer, superbly efficient as a
leader and inspirational force. His
performance parallels the ideal of
the Marine Corps and the nation.
Macdonald Carey, as the lone flier
operating at the crack of Wake’s
doom, turns in a fine performance,
as do Robert Preston and William
Bendix whose firm friendship,
studded with volcanic fisticuffs,
supplies rich humor against the
stark action. Albert Dekker and
Walter Abel are prominent in the
proceedings and play with zest
and conviction.
The story, as a whole, needs no
recounting in this review. It s
history ranking wun uie
glowing and glorious feats per
formed by our arms. The scenes
of actual combat on land, sea and
in the air, are thrilling. But to
this reviewer the transcending se
quences in the picture are those
which deal with the human val
ues — the family ties of the men,
and the gallant relationships
among the men themselves. Yes,
it is grim and stark. If the Mar
ines could "take” the real thing
as they did, we certainly can
■“take” the reenactment.
* * * * * *
The saboteurs are at it again in
■"Nightmare” which will be shown
Monday-Tuesday at the Peoples.
Brian Donlevy, this time portray
ing an American gambler in Lon
don who has been bombed out of
business by a Nazi air blitz, tan
gles with a German spy and sabo
tage ring when he aids a British
girl (Diana Barrymore) to dis
pose of the body of her estranged
husband, found murdered in her
home. It isn't learned until later
that the husband, a member of
British Intelligence, was killed by
the Nazi villains because he had
the goods on them.
It takes Donlevy some time to
convince himself Miss Barrymore
had nothing to do with the mur
der, but when he does, he goes
"all-out” for her aid. They meet
up with a series of harrowing ex
periences dodging Nazi agents;
Donlevy himself becomes accused
of murder before the end of the
yarn but everything works out
very satisfactorily, and the result
is a very highly entertaining mo
vie.
* * * % *
“Flying Tigers,” coming to the
Peoples Wednesday-Thursday next
week, purports to show the fight
ing of the American flyers over
China before Pearl Harbor, but
it turns out to be the same story
about a smart-aleck guy who
snaps his fingers at discipline,
causes the death of a comrade,
but redeems himself in the end
with a brave and sacrificial act.
The film is full of whiz-whiz and
amazing deeds in the aid, and
should bring happiness to those
who like adventure drama, bold
and broad. John Wayne is a
squadron leader and John Carroll
is one of his men. The latter is
a smarty who manages to make
everybody hate him, what with his
attitude towards girl, money and
his general carefree behavior. But
Carroll is a dare-devil flier and
when the time comes he shows
that he is brimming over with the
right kind of courage.
“Flying Tigers,” has a foreword
by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.
There’s a bit of romance in the
tale with John Wayne casting I
love-you glances at Anna Lee, a
Red Cross worker.
* * * sfs $ *
“Get Hep To Love,” which will
be featured on next Friday’s pro
gram at the Peoples, is a pleas
ant little family picture, dealing
with young people, which should
provide good, light entertainment
— especially for the younger ele
ment. It co-stars Jane Frazee
with Robert Paige, and a cast full
of talented youngsters.
Miss Cox County
Miss Florence Cox, new Halifax
County Home Demonstration A
gent, was recently appointed chair
man of the Woman's Division of
the War Savings Staff of Halifax
County. In commenting on activi
ties planned, Miss Cox said, ‘‘My
appointment came through too late
to get the county completely or
ganized for Women at War Week
November 23 - 28. In lieu of the
organization and until such time
as one may be formed, I am call
ing on each woman in Halifax
County to make herself a commit
tee of one to put Halifax County
over the top in the sale of War
Bonds and the pledging of 10 per
cent income to War Savings.
Pledging 10 per cent of the income
the regular purchase of War
Saving stamps and bonds is more
important than the occasional
purchase of a bond but either is
important to the success of our
Y Y O.L UUU1 t.
Miss Cox also urged that the
presidents of all women’s organ
izations in the county push War
Bonds and Savings in the territory
affected by their organizations as
well as in their own membership.
“This is not a time for reserve
and desire for honor or credit but
for working together to push this
drive so that our American Ex
peditionary Forces in Africa, in
the Pacific and elsewhere may not
lack for either food or supplies,”
she continued, and further pointed
out that getting the women of the
county to pledge the regular pur
chase of War Stamps or Bonds
is one more way in which women
and their organizations may serve
their country in time of war.
Tim Holt stars in “Pirates of the
Prairie” for the Saturday-only film
on next week’s Peoples program.
Francis Outland
Is Made Yeoman
At Puerto Rica
San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nov. 26,
1942 — Francis O. Outland of 905
Franklin St., Roanoke Rapids, the
son of Mr. George L. Outland of
Murfreesboro, has recently been
promoted to the rate of yeoman
second class, the Navy announced
here. Outland, who has been on
duty here almost ever since he
was enlisted in January of this
year, likes the Navy so well that
his ambition is to go through a
Navy technical school which will
equip him for Annapolis and an
eventual commission.
Outland’s recent promotion fol
lowed completion of a Navy train
ing course for yoemen.
Willey - Baird
Miss Evelyn Irene Baird became
the bride of Marvin Dale Willey on
Sunday morning, November 22 at
the First Baptist Church.
The Rev. Gordon L. Price, pastor
of the church officiated using the
double ring ceremony, in the pres
ence of members of the families
and a few friends.
The nuptial music was rendered
by Mrs. Lee Williams preceding the
ceremony and Miss Dorothy Rice
sang “At Dawning” and “Becaue.”
The bride and bridegroom entered
the church unattended. The bride
wore a salute blue dress with pearl
necklace and matching hat with
navy blue accessories. Her corsage
was of white rose buds.
Mrs. Willey is the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Baird of
Roanoke Rapids. Mr. Willey is
the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Wil
ley of Watts, Oklahoma, and is in
the U. S. Navy reserve and station
ed at Norfolk, Va.
Immediately after the ceremony
the couple left for a short wedding
trip to northern points.
Wilson To Attend
Important Meeting
Highway Officials
Carroll L. Wilson, First Division
State Highway Commissioner, has
been appointed one of the delegates
from North Carolina to the Ameri
can Association of State Highway
Officials which meets in St. Louis
December 6 -10.
Army and Navy engineers will be
present to acquaint highway offi
cials with the military needs for
the coming year in the matter of
military access roads and bridges,
emergency flight strips which will
parallel highways and other war
problems.
The highway officials will also
face such non-military problems as
present deficiencies in the strategic
network and essential non-military
roads and allocation of priorities
to correct these deficiencies, especi
ally as to weak bridges; necessities
maintain highway service; neces
sity of adequate funds and effects
of tire and gasoline rationing on
these funds.
VICTORY
BUY
UNITED
STATES
I FAHEY and
DAUGHTREY
Plumbing
Contractors
State License No. 283
INSTALLATIONS AND
REPAIR WORK
ESTIMATES CHEERFULLY
FURNISHED
: ^CHOCKOYOrasI
Grade ^ Dairy
' GUERNSEY —
Whole Milk
WHIPPING CREAM
« Pts. 40c 1/2-Pts. 20c
' Butter Milk qts. 10c
Phone Orders R-781-1
J. SAM POWELL, Mgr.
H PROGRAM WEEK of NOVEMBER 29, 1942 | j|
I PEOPLES
= SUNDAY
1 Brian Donlevy Robert Preston
| WAKE ISLAND
§§ MONDAY-TUESDAY
| Diana Barrymore Brian Donlevy
| NIGHTMARE
HI WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY
li Anna Lee - John Wayne - John Carrol
| FLYING TIGERS
H FRIDAY
jj Jane Frazee Robert Paige
| GET HEP TO LOVE
g SATURDAY
§H Tim Holt
| PIRATES OF THE PRAIRIE
ADDED: Jr. G. Men of the Air
IMPCCHAL i
SUNDAY =
Bette Davis Olivia De Havil^and ||
George Brent M
IN THIS OUR LIFE |
MONDAY-TUESDAY §1
Brian Donlevy Robert Preston
WAKE ISLAND |
WEDNESDAY 11
Virginia Gilmore James Ellison |§
THAT OTHER WOMAN J
THURSDAY-FR1DAY S
Carol Bruce The Ritz Brothers ■
BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL |
SATURDAY =
Gene Autry H
CALL OF THE CANYON |
Added: KING OF THE MONTIES |p
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