ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 April 1938, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE The new musical comedy drama. “100 Men and a Girl,” starring the lyrical miracle girl, Deanna Durbin, will he finally screened to-night, at the Opera House. There are 200 reasons why Greymouth people should see this outstanding picture, the first 100 reasons being Deanna Durbin s singing, in which she shows remarkable versatility in such numbers as “It’s Raining Sunbeams,” “A Heart That’s Free,” and many famous Arias. Another reason is Leopold Stokowski’s conducting of the 100 musicians presenting music that all audiences through the medium of the screen may know how great beautiful music can be. "100 Men and a Giri” sweeps you to new* heights of happiness. “NEW FACES OF 1937” A novel back stage plot, charged with action and highly humorous situations, forms the background for hilarious musical comedy, “New Faces of 1937,” which will be screened to-mor-row. matinee and night, at the Opera House. Embellishing the story are five colourful production numbers introducing a galaxy of new talent to the screen in scintillating songs, dances, and novelty acts. The story reveals the questionable operations of a producer of stage plays. Romantic complications upset the plans of the producer, who flees in time to save a show backed with the last 15,000 dollars of a pretty show actress. Practically all of the action takes place back-stage, although scenes in an apartment, aboard a. train, an automobile ride on a. toll bridge, and various street scenes furnish background diversion. The stellar headliners of the show find strong support from a wealth of new talent., including Lorraine Kreuger, petite dancer and singer; Ann Miller, clever tap dancer; the Four Playboys, rhythm group: Lowe. Hite and Stanley, novelty dancers: Eddie Rio and Bros., eccentric dancers: Loria Bros., Mexican entertainers and many others. “KEEP FIT” Laugh and grow tit might well be the slogan for audiences at. the Opera House on Friday and Saturday, when George Formby will be there in his latest offering, “Keep Fit.” So take a tip and “Keep Fit" for the laugh of your life in the funniest film ever made. REGENT THEATRE.

A laugh-spiced romance pungent with danger, as two snow-bound strangers find themselves marooned in a- mountain lodge with only a stuffed moose for chaperon, “Fifty Roads-to Town.” to be shown to-night at the Regent Theatre, has Don Ameche and Ann Sothern, two delightfully thrilling young stars, in the leading roles. “Fifty Roads to Town” starts a. thrilling toboggan ride of merriment with Don Ameche hurriedly leaving town in his car, after receiving a -telephone call that someone was ready to shoot him. Roaring along the road to Canada at the same time is Ann Sothern., and the addition ol! a. motor-cycle cop to the party makes for a thrilling chase. After tricking the officer, the two fugitives seek refuge in the hills, but wind up in the same ca*bin. Don makes Ann destroy a, document which he believes to be a subpoena, for him. It is her ma'rriage license, for she was running away from her millionaire parents to get married. A radio announcement that police are seeking a dangerous gangster in his mountain hide-out leads Ann to suspect Don. By the time she finds out. Don is running away to avoid being mixed up in a divorce, a heavy snowfall makes it appear they will he snowed in for the Winter, and the couple realise they are falling in love. The arrival of the real gangster and the subsequent attack of a .sheriff's posse, brings the film to a stirring climax. Don and Ann decide to solve at least two cases of mistaken identity by merging.

“SING AND BE HAPPY.” The romantic comedy hit of the season, “Sing ami Be Happy,” will be shown to-night at the Regent Theatre, with live grand song hits and the screen’s new song and romance teamAnthony Martin and Leah Ray get their first romance leads, with a cast that includes Joan Davis, Helen Westley, Allan Lane and Dixie Dunbar. “Sing and Be Happy” presents Martin as a barnstorming orchestra, leader who is persuaded by his father, Berton Churchill, to enter his advertising firm. Churchill and Andrew Tombes head rival a'gencies angling for the Henty Pickle account controlled by Helen Westley. Tombes’ daughter, Leah Ray, is working on ideas for that, but Allan Lane is stealing their ideas and selling them to Churchill. Anthony has no aptitude for business, but has a distinct aptitude for Leah. She points out. Lane, his rival, as an example of a young man making good. Anthony butts in on her roadhouse date with Lane, and later stages a sitdown love strike in her home. She then announces her determination to marry Lane. Anthony learns of Lane’s treachery just as Leah steps to the microphone to sing in an audition for the programme, unawa're that the rival agency has planted hecklers in the audience to sing offkey. Anthony leaps to the platform and turns the audition into a’ radio community sing, with the impromptu programme landing the account. “SOULS AT SEA.” Out of an Empire’s glorious past comes a magnificent picture revealing England’s fight, to abolish the traffic in souls. A story containing as much adventure—as much courage and spectacle as .the whole history of the Seven Seas, will be screened at the Regent Theatre on Friday and Saturday. Ga“ry Cooper’s greatest role—as a valiant, seaman who dared break the laws of God and man to win a mighty ba-ttle with the raging seas!

ANGLO-AMERICAN REVUE. The first change of programme by the Connors and Paul Anglo-Ameri-can Revue Company, “Hotsy Totsy,” was presented io a full house at the fi own Hall last, evening. The type of entertainment presented in revue has aflvays been popular in Greymouth, and 1 the various turns last evening were well received, applause being frequent. The dressing for the various scenes and ballets is good, colour combinations being effectively used. o .Y ai l, oU3 sk ® tches were introduced, byd. Beck, being; assisted: in raising

laughs by Mike Connors. Alma Aldous, Mike McCormack. Cecil Scott and Queenie Paul. Davendo’s eccentric dancing was the best seen in Greymouth, his “Sailor's and' “Scarecrow” being executed with ease and artistry. One of the best items was “The IDoll Store.” in which he appeared with Paulette as the Doll, and the ballet, while he depicted' the Drunk. Paulette also bore the stamp of a finished dancer. The seven Flying Elmars were popular in their tumbling and balancing. and Moran and Weiser caused merriment with their boomerang hats and their droll patter. The Four K’s, a quartette of brilliant instrumentalists, received warm applause for their items with pianoaccordeon. piano, and saxophone, and had to respond to encores. Queenie Paul, . Cecil Scott, Mike Connors and the Sunkissed Ballet attended to the musical side of the programming. receiving great assistance from Red. Beacham and his orchestra. Tap-dancing is one of the features of the Revue Company, Mike Mac Cormack, June and Ginger and Edna Hardy all proving adept in executing intricate steps. Miss Queenie Paul invented the ballets and ensembles in the productions, and the Sunkissed Beauties proved attractive in their various numbers, their costumes being well thought out.. To-night. “Hotsy Totsy” will finally bo presented, and on Thursday am? Friday with two complete changes of programmme “Hoity Toity” and “Hotsy Totsy” will be presented at the Princess Theatre, Holctiika, by the company. The final a'ppearance will be made in Greymouth on Saturday. CELEBRATION AT IKAMATUA. Tkamatua will hr-in the. limelight on Saturday, when the new gold- dredge being constructed there by the Grey River Dredging Co. will Im launched. To celebrate the event a grand ball is being held in- the Ikamat.ua Hall on Saturday evening, when Marley’s orchestra will provide the music. This will be a unique function, for Ikamatua and a, large attendance both at the Jaunchiig ceremony antli at the ball is expected.