ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1937, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

• OPERA HOUSE “The Three Godfathers,” will be the feature attraction at the Opera House to-night and matinee only to-morrow. The picture tells the story of three bad men of the American desert— Bob, young and reckless adventurer; Doc, the elderly, educated “lunger”; and Gus, illiterate and happy-go-lucky —who descend upon New Jerusalem to rob the bank a few days before Christmas. In their escape across the desert, the three men find a dyingmother, an infant clutched in her arms. In the principal roles are Chester Morris as young Bob; Lewis Stone as the philosophical Doc; and Walter Brennan, as Gus. ' “SMALL TOWN GIRL." “Small Town Girl,” 1937 roadshow production which features Janet Gaynor and Robert Taylor, is to have a return season at the Opera House tomorrow night only. ECHOES FROM “SHOW BOAT.” Echoes of “Show Boat” floatingdown the Mississippi, rolling across the prairies and out to the sea. Starting way back in 1926 when Edna Ferber’s novel scored as a best-seller, then followed the Kern-Hammerstein production —17 months on Broadway, a year in London, 1928-29; eight on the road; revived in New York for an additional eight months in 1932; ’brought back in London for six months; a favourite in stock; transcribed for a radio hour — “Show Boat” proves to be another American institution like “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Later, the beginning of the 1936 screen version of “Show Boat,” which will stai- Irene Dunne at the Opera House on Monday. The cast being chosen: Allan Jones.to play the dashing romantic Ravenal opposite Miss Dunne as Magnolia; Charles Winninger as Captain Andy; Helen Morgan as June: Paul Robeson, noted baritone; Helen Westley, as the Captain’s wife; Queenie Smith and Sammy White for dance specialities; 48 hand-picked beauties for the ensembles. A sea of 200 voices for special chorus arrangements, and a total cast of 3,500 people; all the original song hits from the stage show; three new tunes added; a couple of Mississippi river boats shipped to the Coast; cameras starting to grind for the musical romantic drama. 'The tremendous parade scene: Charles Winninger, resplendent in the lead, wearing an admiral’s gleaming uniform; glinting brass music blaring and swirling down the brilliant column; then the performance aboard the show boat, Winninger putting on his famous oneman act that stopped the stage show so many times. Irene Dunne as Magnolia —Irene again as a blonde in the play —and still again, as a modern Topsy who outdoes all the Topsies that ever trouped, with her shuffles and cakewalks. Folks knew she could sing like the birds on a Spring morning. They didn’t know she could dance like imps on Satan’s griddle. “Show Boat” —here she comes a-sailing round the bend — whistles tooting and flags flying! The sho’w the whole town wants to see. REGENT THEATRE The last screenings will be given to-night of the popular pictures “Gambling” and “The Tenth Man.” “THE FARMER IN THE DELL.”

To-morrow’s big draw at the Regent Theatre, is “The Farmer in the Dell,” featuring Fred Stone and Jean Parker. Natural in every sense, it is the story of a kindly, retired lowa farmer, who keeps his sense of true values when the lightning of motion picture fame strikes him. It fits Stone’s talents as though written to order for him. Pa Boyer, the farmer who turns actor, is a simple hearted, lovable character, but a man of extraordinary intelligence and vision. Fred Stone is known as just such a character, unaffected by his international fame in his fifty years in the show business. Comedy, romance and drama are blended. Jean Parker and Frank 1 Albertson carry the love interest. Esther Dale, as Ma Boyer has a comedy role. Others are Moroni Olsen. Rafael Corio, Maxine Jennings, Lucille Ball, Ray, Mayer. Spencer Charters and Frank Jenks. Their engagement sent electrical waves of excitement round the globe tlieir marriage was front page news throughout the length and breadth of the world, and now the first motion picture of Harry Roy and the beautiful Princess Pearl of Sarawak, in “Everything is Rhythm, has cieated universal enthusiasm. It is the real love story of this romantic couple set to the irresistible rhythm of Harry s world-popular band. It is to be screened as a second feature at the Regent Theatre to-morrow (Thursday) . 45’S TOURNAMENT. Attention is drawn to the re-open-ing of the weekly Forty-Fives Tournament at the Cobden School.