ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 June 1936, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. Annapolis, home of the thousands of young men who hope to become officers in the United States Navy, is the scene of the latest Dick Powell-Ruby Keeler picture, which begins its season at the Opera House to-night. “In Shipmates Forever,” these popular stars have abandoned their usual singing-and-dancing picture for one which tells a story anr reveals in interesting and often amusing detail the life of the midshipmen at Annapolis Naval Academy. Richard John Melville comes of a naval family: his father is commander-in-chief of the United States Fleet. But the boy does not want, a. naval career; he prefers music, at which he is already earning three times as much as his admiral father. Yet circumstances push him into the Naval Academy, and there his decision to work his way through with credit and at the same time repudiate the commission which will come with his success at examinations creates a curious situation which is handled with dexterity and which, with the usually interesting revelations of the life of navy men in the making, contributes to an entertaining film. For there is music and dancing in the picture, good character work by Ross Alexander, John Arledge and Richard Foran, and a dramatic ending. Lewis Stone is prominently cast and is as good as ever. The supporting bill includes the latest newsreels, the comedy “Keystone Hotel,” in which old film-goers will be able to see such old-time favourites as Chester Conklin, Ben Turpin, Ford Sterling and Marie Prevost in an up-to-date production and a coloured Musical Revue. REGENT THEATRE. The filial screening of “Virginia Judge,” and “Freckles,” truly attractive films will be that of this evening. TO-MORROW AND MONDAY. Charlie Chan has never been so close to death, nor so shrewd or amiable a Chinese detective as Warner Oland makes him in the new film based on the Oriental sleuth’s adventures, “Charlie Chan in Shanghai,” which opens to-morrow at the Regent Theatre. Again an enemy of crime whose barbed epigrams and Oriental wile outwits the cruder strategy of his foes, Oland proves the nemesis of a band of opium smugglers who defied the secret service of two nations. Adventures begin from the moment he sets foot in Shanghai. His first problem is to find the murderer of the English Secret Service man who had sent for him. From Irene Hervey, the Englishman's niece, he receives clues. Russell Hicks, who purports to be an American Federal agents, joins Oland in the pursuit. Chan’s life is often attempted. Circumstantial evidence points to Charles Locher, Miss Hervey’s fiance, as the criminal, and he is imprisoned, but escapes with Miss Hervey’s aid. Finally Oland and Hick’s venture into the lair of the smugglers 1 to make a capture. The malefactors are caught after a furious gun battle. The climax is reserved until Keye Luke, playing Chan’s son, arrives with information. Russel Hicks is suave and effective, Keye Luke plays the younger Chan with understanding and Frederick Vogeding is a convincing menace. SCHAEF’S HALL. 1 There are two essentials for enjoy-1 able dancing—good floor and good music. Schaef’s Hall has a floor as smooth as glass and the lilting music | of the Royal Star Dance Band makes- 1 you want to dance the whole night» through. Be there to-morrow night. I