Excitement seekers who complain that the newsreel outfits aren't taking advantage of their chance to photograph history as it gallops past, haven't any more kick coming. For what the newsreels haven't done, Hollywood has-in no uncertain manner. "A Yank in the R. A. F." packs enough wallop in its action shots to satisfy the appetite of the most thrill-hungry customer. And when it comes to making a graphic account of the events of Europe today, scenes like the British evacuation from Dunkirk, and the night raid over Berlin tops, for sheer punch, anything that has yet been turned out on World War II.

Publicity releases have it that the flippant, bantering, light-hearted tone of the film, aside from the air-battle scenes, is the result of suggestions from the British Air Ministry that the grim side of England's struggle be played down. Some movie fans might object that amid the highly significant events which the picture portrays, the success or failure of Tyrone Power's blackout pursuit and courtship of Betty Grable doesn't seem to make a lot of difference to anybody. Such a criticism is not without its point; this bomb-ridden little romance does trot merrily along through a couple of air-raids and an artillery barrage or two, but it doesn't seriously impair the effectiveness of the film's stronger features.

If you get a bang out of plenty of noise, lots of blood and even more thunder, with some excellent aerial photography thrown in then "A Yank in the R. A. F." is almost sure to make you sit up and ask Winston for more. It's as much fun as hissing Hitler in the newsreels.

Charley Chan, apparently still on a glorified Cook's Tour, accompanied by a cameraman and Mary Beth Hughes, now finds himself busy with intrigue and rhumba in South America. Charley-fast becoming the poor man's Confucius-gets around as much as Mrs. Roosevelt. This time it's "Charley Chan in Rio," which rounds out the bill. The audience was relieved to find that it wasn't "Charley Chan in the R. A. F."