ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 March 1939, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE *THA‘T CERTAIN AGE” Deanna Durbin, the screen’s lovely golden voiced songbird, who captivated you in “Three Smart Girls,” enchanted you in “100 Men and a Girl,” fascinated you in “Mad About Music,” is back again in her latest and most delightful picture, “That Certain Age,” to be shown at the Opera House to-night and to-morrow. 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 “boy friend” 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 Age” can be 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.

“PORT OF SEVEN SEAS” At last Hollywood has produced a picture that will be appreciated by all, young and old comedy lovers, and to those who demand stark tragedy all these are to be found in the dramatic masterpiece, “Port of Seven Seas,” to be screened at the Opera House on Wednesday and Thursday starring Wallace Berry and with Frank Morgan, Maureen O’Sullivan, John Beal and Jessie Ralph in strong supporting roles. Here is romance and adventure on a side of life you seldom see.

REGENT THEATRE The “top” names in entertainment to-day are cast in “Radio City Revels.” R.K.O. Radio’s new musical screen comedy now screening at the Regent Theatre. Bob Burns, Jack Oakie, Kenny Baker, Ann Miller, Victor Moore, Milton Eerie, Helen Broderick, Jane Froman, Buster West, Melissa Mason, plus Hal Kemp and his orchestra, are in the top billing. Dealing with Bob Burns’ odd talents as a “sleeping-writing" song composer, and with a big musical celebration to mark the fifth anniversary of Radio City, as a climax, tho picture is offered on a spectacular scale.

‘•LITTLE TOUGH GUY” Vividly revealing the life, laughter and tragedy which throbs in the hearts of young people of a big city, Universal’s gripping story of modern youth, “Little Tough Guy,” opened on

Saturday night at the Regent Theatre, featuring the “Dead End” kids with Helen Parrish, Robert Wilcox, Jackie Searl and Marjorie Main. Billy Halop, who captured wide favour in “Dead End” and again in “Crime School,” delivers a dramatic portrayal that rivals the best efforts of skilled adult performers. Huntz Hall, Gabriel Dell, Bernard Punsley and the other “Dead End” boys are equally outstanding with their pungent brand of acting. The sister role is played by Helen Parrish, who scored as the “meanie” with Deanna Durbin in “Mad About Music.” As the girl who struggles bravely to save her brother from street hoodlums, she is splendid. Marjorie Main does her usual fine work as the mother, and Robert Wilcox is excellent as Helen’s sweetheart and friend. The story by Brenda Weisberg and Gilson Brown is vivid drama, with gripping situations that brought patrons to the edges of their seats.

PAUL SCHRAMM CONCERT The phenomenal success of Paul Schramm’s former tour has lingered in the memory of New Zealand music lovers, a. never-to-be-forgotten impression of his brilliant style, his superb technique and his intensive individuality. Seldom do we in this country have the opportunity of hearing such a master of his art. Critics throughout the Dominion were impressed and delighted with his performance during his last tour. Ernest Jenner, director of Music in Schools, writing in the “Christchurch Press” said. “Paul Schramm possesses a masterly technique, adequate to all the demands of the music; he performs, but he possesses more than this. Sound thinking dominates his work, giving a sure control by which emotion and imagination are expressed through his choice of colour, dynamic variation, phrase shaping and tempo variety. His interpretations are individual and therefore at every moment, of vital interest." The “Christchurch StarSun” critic wrote: “His brilliant interpretation of the works of Bach. Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Debussy and Chopin earned Paul Schramm such overwhelming applause as is accorded to few artitsts. The Austrian pianist ranks high amongst the world’s masters. His technique is flawless, but that was of less import than his obviously sincere delight in the music itself. That delight communicated itself to his listeners; they sat entranced until the last note died away. Paul Schramm will give his first Greymouth concert this year at Herb Moore's Reception Rooms, tonight at 8 o’clock. The box plan is at Ford’s Music Store.