ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 December 1937, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

Opera house. , “The Last of Mrs Cheyney,” opening to-morrow at the Opera House, 1 brings together for the first time the L three stars who, singly, have recent- ■ ly contributed to the screen three of 1 the year’s most successful and outstanding pictures. Joan Crawford, direct from “The Gorgeous Hussy”; William Powell, from “After the Thin Man”; Robert Montgomery, whose “Piccadilly Jim” still remains one of the high spots of 1936 screen entertainment. To this triple-star cast has been added an outstanding - supporting cast that includes Frank Morgan, Jessie Ralph, Nigel Bruce, Colleen Clare, Benita Hume, Ralph Forbes, Aileen Pringle, and Melville Cooper. A completely modernised story with a deft adaptation promises to establish the screen version as an outstanding riot of laughter and complicated situations. To Miss Crawford .falls the title role of the lovely American woman ini whose hands gullible English socialities become easy victims of a plot to trick them out of a fortune in jewels. William Powell, as Mrs Cheyney’s butler, Charles, is revealed as the brains of the group of international thieves, but a lovable crook who makes unusual sacrifices to protect the good name of the woman he adores. Montgomery ap-, pears as romantic young Lord 1 Dilling who uncovers the plot to fleece his I British friends and who learns the’ true character of Mrs Cheyney when she chooses - exposure as a thief rather than submit to his amorous advances. A supporting cast of twenty-one featured players includes Morgan, Jessie Ralph, Nigel Bruce, I Colleen Clare, Benita Hume, Ralph | Forbes, Aileen Pringle, and Melville I Cooper.

REGENT THEATRE. “Strangers on Honeymoon,” a very entertaining picture has the distinction of being the first Bri-tish-made subject with an all-Ameri-can background and a balanced AngloAmerican casf: The experiment—if experiment it was—has proved 1 highly successful. Based on an Edgar Wallace thriller, “The Northing. Tramp,” this story tells of the surprise marriage. between a charming smalltown girl, October Jones, and a mysterious tramp, who is being trailed by gun-men. October finds out soon enough that the man she has married

is distinctly not orthodox. He turns out to be an English peer, with a charming manner and an expensive accent. He is also accused of murder and bigamy. Such trifles do not deter October from sticking, good and hard to the north-bound tramp, whose goal is the Canadian border. She is rewarded when “Lord Quigley” tells her the story of his grandfather’s deed, torn in three pieces' and given to Quigley, his cousin Elfrida, and 1 an uncle in Canada. Elfrida, a terrifyingly beautiful woman, is trailing Quigley with hired assassins and is, too, heading for Canada and the third piece of land-deed. After sundry adventures—both amusing as they are ingeniously thrilling—the honeymooners reach “Sir Gregory’s” house on the northern border. Elfrida gets' there, too—So do her gun-men, and, later, the Canadian police, acting oh instructions 1 ; from London. But the climax is too rich to disclose here. Suffice to say the honeymooners do win out—and how. “THE SINGING MARINE.”

The biggest assignment to date was writing songs for “The Singing Marine,” which comes to the Regent Theatre on Saturday. “Cause My Babv Says It’s So,” “The Lady Who Couidn’t be Kissed,” “You Can’t Run Awav From Love,” “The Marine Song,” “I Know Now,” and “Night Over Shanghai” (lyrics by Johnny Mercer) are the six hit tunes' you’ll hear in the picture.

WIRTH’S CIRCUS. Wirth’s Circus will arrive, by special train next Thursday morning to commence its Greymouth .season. On Friday afternoon, at 2.30 a gala matinee will be given at Victoria Park... when the full circus will he in action. GLADSTONE BALL. To mark the conclusion of one of the most successful dancing seasons since the Gladstone Hall was established, the committee are conducting an End-of-Season Ball on Saturday evening next. The popular dancing rendezvous is likely to draw a. huge crowd for the occasion, and the committee has decided to conduct the function at popular prices out of compliment to their patrons. The dance floor needs no further commendation than to say that it is perhaps the finest on the West Coast. Gladstone ladies’ famous home-made supper will be provided, and the music will be as usual, a\joy to the ear of the most critical. novelties will be introduced and a most happy evening is assured.

1937 DANSE REVUE. Next Monday and Tuesday, at the Town Hall, will be the presentation of the 1937 Danse Revue, directed by Miss Dorothy Thwaite®, the popular dancing teacher. Miss Thwait.es notable career as a teacher places her in the ranks of the foremost exponents of the art in New Zealand. Assisted by 60 performers, she will present a, spectacular" Revue on a scale not previously attempted on the West Coast. Specially arranged settings, beautiful costumes and . brilliant, lighting - effects will combine to make the Revue an outstanding en tertalament. There are ten bright choruses in which tiny tots up to adults take part. Amongst the soloists will be Misses Melva Moss. Patti Marshall, and Mr Max Marshall, and charming little Rae Whiting, Dawn Mullaley, Margaret Hyland. Miss Doreen Donovan and Mr Tom Clark will be heard in; a. pretty duet, “By an Old Rustic Bridge.” The special appearance of Santa Claus on' the stage will be a big attraction for- the children. The box plan is; open at Kilgour’s, and early application is advisable.