ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 October 1939, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE—Final Screening: “NOTHING SACRED.” 1 i The sensational technicolour knockout comedy, “Nothing Sacred, ’ starring Carole Lombard and Frederic March, will be finally screened at the Opera House to-night. This lavish and glamorous production rivals the golden beauty of Miss Lombard for the first time, and contains a most unusual story, filled with laughs that come too fast and furious to count. Next Attraction: “FOUR’S A CROWD.” With a cast topped by Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Rosalind Russell and Patrie Knowles, “Four’s a Crowd.’’ a swiftly-paced comedy romance, will be screened at the Opera House tomorrow, Saturday and Monday. In the filming the objective of everyone concerned was to set a new all-time laugh record, and, in keeping with this laudable purpose, there is not a single moment in the picture which is intended to be taken seriously. The four persons with whose fortunes it is mainly concerned are: A bright and fascinating newspaperman, played by Errol Flynn; a spoiled but charming heiress, played by Olivia de Havilland; a clever smoothie of a girl reporter, played by Rosalind Russell; and a rich playboy, played by Patrie Knowles, who inherits a newspaper. Also prominent in the proceedings is Walter Connolly as a rapacious buccaneer of the business! world, who is Olivia’s grandfather. Motivate this group with Errol’s desire to get himself a slice of the old man’s millions and his efforts to court Olivia’s indecision as to whether she loves Errol or Pat more, Rosalind’s desire to capture Errol for herself, Pat’s wish to marry Olivia, and the old man’s determination to hang onto his granddaughter and' his millions, and you have the essence of “Four’s a Crowd.” The story begins with Knowles inheriting a newspaper and then deciding to end its existence because it is unprofitable. Here Miss Russell tells the playboy what'she thinks of him and persuades him not only to keep the paper alive but to hire as its managing editor Mr Flynn, who had recently retired from newspaper work to become a high-powered “public relations counsellor.” Flynn does put the paper on its feet, his main device to arouse interest being to launch a series of attacks on Connolly’s business manipulations. Complications ensue when he meets Olivia, for Errol, who is already giving Rosalind something of a rush, become romantically interested in the rich girl too, who happens to be engaged to Knowles. Flynn also-plays both end’s against the middle by getting Connolly to retain him as public relations counsellor for the purpose of putting a different picture to the one which Flynn’s paper is so busily painting. He accomplishes this by the simple trick of pretending a vast interest in the old man’s pet hobby—an elaborate toy railroad set. From there on the story is off on a mad whirl with a final double wedding scene that is a near-panic. Aside from the principals named, other contributors to the infectious merriment include Hugh Herbert; Melville Cooper, Franklin Pankborn, Herman Bing, Margaret Hamilton, Joseph Cre'har,, Joe Cunningham, Dennie Moore anti Gloria Biondell.

REGENT—-NOW SHOWING: “SMASHING THE SPY RING” and “SECOND BEST BED.” “Smashing the Spy Ring” is a sensational story of the battle of the Federal Bureau of Investigation against the gigantic espionage rings working to obtain naval and military secrets. Ralph Bellamy and Fay Wray are co-featured, with Regis Toomey, Warren Hull, Ann Doran, Lorna Gray and Walter Kingsford lending noble support. Christy Cabanne, past master of adventure films, wielded the megaphone. Bellamy is seen as an intrepid G-man assigned to the exposure of a murderous spy ring; Miss Wray is cast as the sister of a fellowinvestigator who had penetrated tc the inner councils of the gang before he was discovered and killed. The romance between these two is a splendid minor motif in a film primarily packed with excitement and adventure. “Smashing the Spy Ring” takes place in Washington, within the very shadow of the nation’s Capitol. The intricate network which blankets the nation with its sinister shadow is directed from Washington by a suave physician, whose private hospital serves as headquarters for the gang. By posing as a poison gas inventor, whose formula is sought by the physician, Bellamy manages to enter the .sanitarium as a patient. Once within, he discovers himself regarded not only as a patient but as a prisoner. His identity is revealed and “Smashing the Spy Ring” reaches its climatic scenes in as thrilling a one-man battle against desperate odds as the screen has offered* for some time. “Second Best Bed,” which borrows its title from the famous clause in William Shakespeare’s will —“I give unto my wife my second best bed” — can be described as a modern “Taming of the Shrew,” with Tom Walls as the shrew-tamer and Jane Baxter as the pretty shrew. Veronica Rose, who was seen with Tom Walls in “For Valour,” shares the feminine honours with Jane Baxter and Davy Burnaby, Denier Warren, Maritta Hunt, Greta Gynt and Edward Lexy are among those in supporting roles. Plans are now open and reservations may be made by ringing ’phone GOl.