ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 October 1939, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. NOW SHOWING: “WOMAN DOCTOR.” Who was to blame? The Woman Doctor who gave her every waking hour to the call of her profession- m the lonely husband who found hap piness in the arms of another woman? These are the questions asked and answered in the stirring human drama “Woman Doctor” screening at the Opera-House to-night, also to-mor row and Thursday. As the title mighi suggest the story is a truly modern drama on the life of a successful professional woman who because her talents are constantly in demand, has little time to spend with her husband and their daughter. It is, however, by no means a dull biography, for among the thrilling high-lights, it contains is the scene of an operation the doctor performs on her daughter in an aeroplane. Twelve years after their marriage, the woman doctor and her husband —a successful aeroplane designer—find there is little left of their home life. The story opens on the twelfth anniversary of their marriage, an occasion which they are to celebrate by going out together. As they are about to leave, the doctor is called to her hospital and the husband finds solace in the company of the glamorous Gail Patterson (Claire Trevor). Hospital duties again keep the doctor from attending a musical recital in which her daughter takes part. Gail, who wants to estrange the husband even further from his professional preoccupied wife offers to take over the welfare of the child. The husband accepts the offer, ana there begins a round of entertainments for the delighted little girl. While on a tour of (he zoo, her dog is frightened by a lion, runs in front of a taxi and is seriously injured. In her innocence , she is sure her mother will be able to operate on the dog, and is bitterly disappointed when she is informed that the treatment of animals is forbidden in her mother's hospital. The climax is reached when the husband, whose affections are moving to Gail, informs his wife that he can no longer go on living as her husband. The doctor resigns from her position at the hospital; but with her husband gone and her daughter discontented, finds little encouragement for her Io devote her time to her home. How the family is re-united in the shadow of tragedy 1 makes an absorbing and thrilling story. Several humorous situations are provided by the little girl’s nurse- 1 maid, who, in one scene, sings a ro- 1 mantle ditty while her charge and a 1 friend hang from the balcony of a skyscraper to dangle an alarm clock £ into the apartment below. The care- ’ fully chosen cast is headed by Frieda 1 Inescort and Henry Wilcoxon who 1 take the parts of the woman doctor 0 and the husband. In every situation,

particularly in the scenes where they are shown together, their acting is superb. Sybil Jason, a young actress of increasing popularity is seen at her best. “Woman Doctor” is one picture that every man and wife should see — nothing finer has ever graced the silver screen.

REGENT: FINAL SCREENING OF “THE MAD MISS MANTON” and “ROAD DEMON.” Commencing Wednesday: “FRA DIAVOLO” and “SILVER ON THE SAGE.”

An unusual predicament compels Laurel and Hardy to become members of a bandit gang in their featurelength comedy, “Fra Diavolo.” It is a picturisation of Auber’s famous comic opera, with Dennis King, the noted singer and stage star, portraying the Marquis de San Marco, who ingratiates himself into the good graces of all the lovely ladies while stealing their jewellery. Laurel and Hardy are seen as a couple of carefree vagabonds. They have saved their money and decide to take life easy. At which moment a couple of bandits hold them up and take away their savings. it then occurs to Laurel that it is easier to steal than to make money honestly. Undertaking the career of highway robbers, they eventually confront Diavolo, known throughout the country side as the notorious bandit, chief. I Pretending to be the great chief himself, Hardy soon discovers his mistake, but it is too late to make a getaway. The chief’s band surround the comedians and make them prisoners. Hardy is sentenced to be hanged and Laurel is given the job of hangman. The comedians are saved temnorarily when they consent to be the personal aides of the bandit chief who is in quest of a beautiful lady’s jew- 1 e’s. In addition to the comedy team I and King, the supporting cast ' includes Thelma Todd, James Finlayson. Lucille Brown. Arthur Pierson and Henrj’ Armetta.

“SILVER ON THE SAGE” William Boyd as the fearless “Hopalong Cassidy” gets the toughest assignment of his adventure-packed career when a rustling king and his twin brother works together to beat! out the boys from “Bar 20.” The mystery theft of a herd guarded by “Bar 20” and the imprisonment of his pal Russell Hayden on a trumped-up murder charge sends Boyd into action ‘ against the outlaws who use gambling I tricks, spies, terror and murder to carry out their plans. But Boyd, who' can out-trick the clevesest cardsharps | and out-shoot the boldest killers, j proves more than a match for them.' Woven into the Clarence E.' Mulford I action plot is a high-geared romance I between Hayden, who plays Boyd’s loyal saddlemate, and lovely Ruth) Rogers, who is cast as the daughter of a murdered Arizona cattle baron. | Patrons are advised that they would

be wise to make early reservations for this excellent double feature programme. ’Phone 601.