ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1939, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. The advent of any Deanna Durbin picture is a milestone in the history of the screen. From the surprising “Three Smart. Girls,” through the beautiful and stirring “100 Men and a Girl,” and the touching "Mad About Music” right to the current, “That Certain Age,” screening at the Opera House to-night, also Monday and Tuesday, her pictures have been a delight and a revelation. “That Certain Age is as different from the previous trio as each of them were from each other. As Deanna grows older, her stories are carefully tailored to her age. This picture is lighter in the theme than the others, but no less powerful in entertainment content. Starring Deanna, with Melvyn Douglas, Irene Rich, Jackie Cooper, John Halliday, Juanita Quigley, Jackie Searl, Peggy Stewart, Nancy Carroll and Charles Coleman, “That Certain Age” tells the story of a young girl, nearing sixteen, who meets a. war correspondent and fancies herself violently in love with him. Temporarily infatuated with him, she forgets her younger “boyfriend” and her childish playmates until it is brought home to her that she is still a child, and that romantic love has no place in her life. Packed with clever comedy, brilliant dialogue, the sparkle of youth and the indescribable beauty of Deanna’s voice, “That. Certain Ago” can )>e hailed .as the finest, of the four pictures this great little star has made for Universal. Deanna sings five numbers in “That Certain Age.” Three of these are by the popular song-writing team of McHugh and Adamson. These are “My Own,” “Be a Good Scout,” and “You’re as Pretty as a Picture.” Her two classical selections are “Les Filles des Cadiz" by Leo Delibes, and “Romeo and Juliet Waltz” from the opera. This, is the biggest movie news of the year, you’ve been waiting for, giving you an evening of glorious entertainment that will linger long in your memory.

REGENT THEATRE Drama from newspaper headlines! Right off the front page of a daily paper came the elements for one of the most important sequences in “Little Tough Guy,” which began to-day at the Regent Theatre. The unusual screen-play presents the powerful story of a youth’s struggle against the oppressive influence of life in a big city. The famous “Dead End” kids are featured in the cast with Robert Wilcox and Helen Parrish. In the role of a newsboy, Billy Halop stops to read the headlines of a newspaper he is selling. Across the front page in bold type is the story that his father has been sentenced to the electric chair for murder. The boy goes to the judge, and, in an emotionally charged scene pleads for a new trial for his father. Two thousand newspapers, bearing the fatal headline were specially printed up for use in the film. They provided the fuse that touches off one of the most powerful dramatic sequences 1 ever attempted by any young screen player.

“RADIO CITY REVELS” Bob Burns, as an Arkansas hill-billy gifted with the peculiar power of writing catchy song numbers in his sleep without knowing it, and Jack Oakie as a broken down Tin Pan Alley composer, have the top comedy roles in “Radio City Revels,” now showing at the Regent Theatre. Kenny Baker, Ann Miller, Victor Moore, Milton Berle, Helen Broderick, Jane Froman, the dancing team of Buster West and Melissa Mason, and other favourites have prominent roles in the new offering, which is hailed as one of the most ingenious stories ever screened. Herb Magidson and Allie Krubel wrote the best-selling songs that feature the picture. Hal Kemp and his orchestra have a. featured spot. ODDFELLOWS’ DANCE To-night the 1.0. Oddfellows are holding their annual dance in the Gladstone Hall and patrons are j assured of an excellent evening’s danc-| ing. Good music, floor and supper. McGlashan’s bus leaves at 8.45. A POPULAR DANCE The popularity of Schaef’s Saturdaj r night dance never wanes. It is accepted as the venue for all dance lovers for their week-end dance, and to-night will he no exception. The Melody Boys provide the music.

PAUL SCHRAMM We now have the great good fortune of possessing in our midst the famous Austrian virtuoso of the piano, Paul Schramm. He brings with him, not only his splendid technique and inspired interpretation, but also a desire to spread further the knowledge and love of music throughout our country. So divorced from the centres of culture, we are inclined to laziness in our musical appreciation; we expect and receive the same masterpieces from all our visiting musicians—but this does not make for true knowledge or appreciation. Paul Schramm hopes to introduce the European habits of concert life to New Zealand. Firstly, he intends having entirely new programmes, so that we may have the opportunity of hearing lesser known but equally great works of famous composers. In his own words this is the European idea of “Not continually new artists with old programmes, but the same artist with always new programmes." Secondly, in Europe, the well known artists play not only in the large centres but also in the small towns. Paul Schramm will carry out this idea in the Dominion so that all true music lovers even in country towns will at last have the experience of hearing the interpretation of great music by a great musician. Paul. Schramm firmly believes that this will not only open up new fields of j musical appreciation, but will draw, others who have not yet understood the power of music into the enchanted circle. Perhaps the highest, tribute paid to Paul Schramm’s work was that of a European authority who stated that his interpretation of Beethoven was , ‘just as the great composer might have played his works himself.’ And those who feel that such praise is exaggerated will have an opportunity of judging for themselves on Monday next when Paul Schramm's first concert will take place at Herb Moore’s Reception Rooms. The box plan is at Ford’s Music Store.

DANCES TO COME. To-night—Ngahere Sports Club. M arch 1G. —Hibernian. March IS. — Ikamatua Plunket. March IS. —Lake Brunner Tennis. March IS. —AVaiuta Labour. March 24. —Stillwater Hall. Marell 25. —Nelson Creek W.l. March 25—Rotomanu Hall. March 28.—Physical Fitness. April 1. —Blackball-Ngahere R.S.A. April 1. —Nelson Creek Sports. April 8. —Lake Brunner Sports. April S. —Paroa Labour. April 10. —Marist League. April 14.—Runanga League. April 15.—Nelson Creek Church. April 23.—Grey Valley League. April 24—Gladstone Anniversary. April 28. —Runanga Druids. April 29.—Kotuku W.l. Mav G.—Nelson Creek Hall. May —Blackball Oddfellows. May 20. —Nelson Creek Tennis. May 2G. —Brunner Old Boys. June 2. —Reefton Catholic. June 24. —Moana Regatta.