ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 January 1939, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. Riding on the crest of the wave for his sterling performances as the loveable Priest in “San Francisco” and as the heroic Portuguese fisherman in “Captains Courageous,” Spencer Tracy now maintains his standard of excellent acting in a new picture. This one is “They Gave Him a Gun.” to be again screened at the Opera. House to-night and Monday, with Gladys George and Franchot Tone as Tracy’s colleagues. The picture clings to the powerful psychological effect of war on certain characters, long after the conflict is ended. The scars remain on their souls. The story describes a circus barker who enlists in the regulars and there, up in the lines, meets a small-1 own clerk who has just learned the deadly use of a gun. They both fall in love with the same girl, a Red Cross Nurse. The excircus barker is reported missing and she marries the weakling, out of pity for his helplessness. But the other man escapes from an enemy prison camp and they meet again in the States after the Armistice. Now, an expert with firearms, the clerk has become a crook. The circus man tries to save him from himself, still loving the girl, but a police bullet eventually proves to be the only cure. “They Gave Him a, Gun” is a strong, powerfully enacted story, simple in the .telling, but has a wealth of detail and a power of visual and audible beauty that will sway any audience. COUNTRY CIRCUIT. West Coast Amusements’ country circuit will commence screening on Monday at Kumara; Tuesday, Barrytow,n; Wednesday, Nelson Creek; Thursday, Moana; Friday, Ikamatua; with “Gold Diggers of 1937,” starring Dick Powell and Joan Blondell.

TEX MONTANA. The popularity of hill-billy and range songs has now been long-lived and judging by the reception given the singing cowboy, Tex Montana, at the Opera House last evening, it is showing no signs of waning. Possessor of a strong voice, of good qualify. Tex Montana succeeds in creating the correct atmosphere with his range songs, his interpretation of “A Bridle Hanging on the Wall” being outstanding. Other popular numbers were “Empty Saddles,” “Old Faithful,” and a humorous cowboy song “Take Me Boots Off When 1 Die.” As well as being a pleasing singer, Tex is an accomplished piano-accordeonist and accompanies his own songs. In a brief community sing, he succeeded in encouraging the audience to give plenty of volume to old favourites such as "Daisy,” “Two Little Girls in Blue,’ and “Lot the Rest of the World Go By,” concluding his enjoyable pro-] gramme with a tuneful rendering of. the Maori farewell song. Judging bv! the ovation, that he received, Tex will have a successful season in all of lliei West. Coast centres. He will appear; at the Opera House this afternoon and | evening, at the Princess Theatre. Hokitika, on Monday and Tuesday, and at Blackball on Wednc-sdav.

REGENT THEATRE. Hollywood’s most brilliant writerproducer team, Claude Binyon and Wesley Ruggles, collaborated again to bring to I lie screen Bing Crosby’s newest comedy. “Sing. You Sinners." With Fred Mac Murray. Donald O'Connor, Ellen Drew and Elizabeth Patterson playing the chief support-

ing roles, the film opens to-night at the Regent Theatre. Their collaborations have included such hits as “The Gilded' Lily,” which, incidentally gave Mac Murray his big chance, “Accent on Youth,” “The Bride Comes Home,” “Valiant Is the Word for Carrie,’’ “I Met Him in. Paris," and, most recently, “True Confession.” “Sing, You Sinners” marks their seventh hit in a row!

“NURSE FROM BROOKLYN.” Since Sally Eilers, featured in the romantic drama, “Nurse From Brooklyn," now showing at the Regent Theatre, returned from Europe last September, she has been one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood. She is not only in demand at Universal Studio, where she is under contract, but has played starring roles at other studios in the last few months. Her versatility is such that she needs no made-to-order role, playing equally well in tragedy, comedy, or the higher .type of romantic drama. Her recent, pictures include “Danger Patrol,” which was a drama, of the oilfields; “Lady Behave,” in which she was cast as the semi-old maid who has a glorious time posing as her younger sister; “Everybody Is Doing It,” .a wild farce; and more recently, “Condemned Women.” In “Nurse From Brooklyn,” Miss Eilers, however, has a more difficult role than any she has occupied since she soared to fame in “Bad Girl.” As Beth Thomas, the nurse, she is forced to depict the soul-searing emotions that sweep over a girl who finds she is losing her heart to the man she believes has shot her brother. Leading figures in the cast with Miss Eilers are Pa.nl Kelly, Larry Blake, and Maurice Murphy.

OLD TIME AND MODERN DANCE

An energetic committee have arrangements well in hand for a successful dance, the first of a series to be- held in Schaef’s Hall on Tuesday, January 24, in aid of the Grey Cycling Club. The Club aims to hold a dance equal to the best in the district, and has spared no pains in providing attractions. There will be continuous music, provided by Williams’ orchestra. and the novelties will be of the best, including a. Monte Carlo, and a Lucky Spot. There will he a first class M.C., and dancing commences at 8.