ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1939, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE—Final Screening: “FOUR’S A CROWD.” The laugh-a-minute comedy, “Four’s a Crowd,” with Errol Flynn, Olivia De Havilland, Rosalind Russell and Pattie Knowles sharing starring honours, will be finally screened at the Opera House to-night. This hilarious newspaper comedy which moves along at a breathless pace with a rapid-fire succession of novel and humorous twists, has only one objective, and that is to give the audience the fun feast of a lifetime. Next Attraction: “WOMAN DOCTOR.’ Should a woman doctor sacrifice her hard-earned laurels, her career her place in a man’s world that skill and courage have won her, to grace the kitchen-nursery-the drawingroom? Should she after inai'iiagc confine herself to the duties of whe and mother, or should she continue to use the skill that saves wrecked human bodies? That is the question asked and answered in the stirring human drama, “Woman Doctor,” to be screened at the Opera House tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday., with Frieda Inescort and Henry Wilcoxon in the starring roles. The story relates that Dr. Judith Randall, whose medical skill is constantly m demand has little time to spend with her aviator husband, Alan Graeme and their daughter, Elsa, played Dy Sybil Jason. When an emergency operation prevents Dr. Randall irom joining Alan in the celebration of their twelfth wedding anniversary he finds solace in the company of Gail Paterson (played by Claire Dodd) • Hospital duties again keep Edith from atending a musicale in which her little girl participates. Taking advantage of Dr. Randall’s professional preoccupation, Gail alienates Alan by evincing interest in Elsa. Domestic relations between Dr. Judith and Alan become strained and Alan moves to his Rhode Island home, taking Elsa with him. When Dr. Judith drives down to see them, the sound of the car’s horn startles Elsa’s horse and the child is thrown and badly hurt. Dr. Judith ’phones the New York hospital, telling them to prepare for an emergency operation and that she is flying in with the patient. Personal enmity forgotten, Alan pilots the plane. A crisis develops while they are in the air, dense fog closes in on them, the radio station at the airport warns them against landing on the beam as the ceiling is zero. With little Elsa gasping for breath, Dr. Randall realises that seconds count so she decides to operate in the air, with the resultant dramatic climax, bringing a fitting finale to a daring drama of modern age, that will long live in everyone’s memory. The supporting cast includes Cora Witherspoon, Dickie Jones, Joan Howard and Spencer Chambers.

REGENT—Now Showing’: “ROAD DEMON” and “THE JI AD JIISS . MANTON.” Supercharged .with many highly .spectacular racing scenes, including several “over the wall’’ disasters and * breath-taking accidents on the track, the film is a rich mixture ignited by some sparkling comedy on the part of the volatile, incomparable Gambini Family. And then there’s an engaging romance to give motivation to the desperate rivalry on the speedway. Without quite realising how it has come about, the Gambinis become part owners of a fast racing car, named in their honour, which they enter in a forthcoming classic. The Gambinis, in case you don’t know, arc the inimtable family headed by Henry Armetta, who ran the delicatessen in the widely-acclaimed “Speed to Burn,” first of this series. It is the reckless, dare-devil Henry Arthur, in love with Joan Valerie, who involves the Gambinifs in their strange venture. Joan’s the daughter of a famous driver, and her brother, Tom Beck, is following in tyre-tracks. Incidentally, Henry is a newcomer to the films. This is his first appearance and he’s very like-, able. He’ll bear watching. Menaces on the auto track, however, are the Three Bullets, employed by an unscruplous promoter. It was this trio that forced Joan’s father into his’ fatal accident, and they are highly rattled at Tom’s resemblance to their former’ rival. This decides them to put Tom out of the race, by fair means or foul. In the excitement Papa Gombini finds he and his wife have sold to their relatives more shares in the car than they own so that, win or lose, Papa is going to be out plenty of lira. The story is climaxed by the magnificent race, told in breathless photography.

“MAD MISS MANTON.” A romance, a murder mystery, and a comedy of errors comprises the triple themes of “The Mad Miss Manton,” starring vehicle for Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda. Fonda portrays a young newspaper editor, and Miss Stanwyck a wilful society girl in the offering, which revolves around her efforts to solve a double ’ killing with which she has become involved. The romance grows from a stinging editorial which Fonda writes concerning the thoughtless but sensational escapades of Miss Stanwyck and her thrill-seeking socialite friends. Plenty of exciting moments are furnished when the killer endeavours to silence Miss Stanwyck before she can reveal his identity to the police. Sam Levene, Stanley nidges, Frances Mercer, Viki Lester, Ann Evers, Whitney Bourne, Eleanor Hansen, Penny Singleton and Paul Guilfoyle have important supporting roles in this production. Early bookings are advised.. 'Phone 601.

LABOUR NIGHT BALL.

Recognised as the one big ball of the year, where holiday visitors from all parts of New Zealand and their West Coast friends meet and make “whoopee,” the annual Labour Day Ball at Schaef’s Hall next Monday will be one of the biggest and gayest West Coast social functions during | 1939. The full Marina Orchestra, three capable Masters of Ceremonies, | a well-organised “floor” committee, ( amplified music and announcements, | and a splendid 'supper will greatly add to the enjoyment of- what is certain to be another record attendance. FESTIVAL OF PLAYS An onlcrlaiiiineiiL which should be of great interest to all who like sometiling different. is the Festival of Plays to be held in the Town Hall tomorrow afternoon and evening. Teams from the surrounding districts will compete and seven one-act plays are to be presented, ranging from stark drama high comedy, the majority of the performers being wellknown on tlte Coast. The winning play will receive the silver Challenge Cup. which is on view in Fairhall’s shop window, the second award being a crystal vase. Mr. G. G. M. Mitchell, the adjudicai tor. has had a long experience in drama work, ami his remarks should be of instructive interests to members of the audience and competitors alike, as this kind of work is beginning to take its place in our midst as a relief from business and other troubles of the times, and as a means of pleasantly using our leisure hours. The audiences, both afternoon and evening, are assured of an entertaining programme.