ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1939, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE: Now Showing: “THE ADVENTURES OF MARCO POLO.”

The screen, which lately has focused a majority of its bigger productions on biographical subjects, has seen many remarkable portraits of characters taken from the, past. Few of these historic personalities, however, enjoyed a life more significant and romantic than Marco Polo, which brings Gary Cooper to the Opera House to-night and to-morrow. Marco Polo’s journey to the Thirteenth Century Court of the great Kublai Khan in Kambalu, Peiping, had as its object the extension of private commerce and the develop-, ment of ■ new trade opportunities for the Polo brothers, Nicolo and Maffeo, Marco’s father and uncle, who were important merchants in the city of Venice. Thus, as the world’s first travelling salesman, Marco set out for distant Cathay—a three years’ journey through deserts and mountains, beset every mile or so by brigands and perils unknown to Western civilisation. Marco was then 21, a young gamecock, skilled in the use of arms, an excellent horseman and athlete, fearless and persevering in the pursuit of trouble, trade and amours. The young Polo served Kublai Khan for 17 continuous years, years of tremendous danger amongst barbaric descendants of Ghengis Khan, the greatest and most ferocious of all conquerors. He finally left as the Khan’s ambassador, charged with delivering the CircassianTartar Princess, Kogatin, over in marriage to Argon, the elderly Sha of Persia and Eastern India. It is this last and most romantic period in Polo’s carees that forms the basis of much of the story. Getting a girl to play the role of Kogatin (in the picture she is called Kukachin) was another problem which was solved quickly. Over a year ago a young Norwegian girl named Sigrid Gurie was placed under contract and forbade appearance in public. Settled in Hollywood Hills, photographers and interviewers were kept from her and ten months later was placed in the lead opposite Gary Cooper.

Next Attraction: “CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY.”

The much awaited film, “Confessions of a Nazi Spy,” starring Edward G. Robinson, which comes to the Opera House on Friday for a short season, has been a. subject of wide interest. The story is fictitious, although the espionage methods it exposes are real and the combination of authenticity and fiction has been heralded as the strongest and most thrilling dramatic tare ever to come to the screen.

REGENT: Now Showing: “FLIRTING WITH FATE” and “PERSONAL SECRETARY.”

Seldom, if ever, has Joe E. Brown been as generous with hilarity as in “Flirting With Fate,” a comedy concoction which moves with pace and tempo and manages to leaven the laughter with a goodly sprinkling of thrills. As the harassed manager of a vaudeville troupe stranded in South America, Brown proves once more that he is past master of pantomime, clown prince of hilarity and an athlete of no mean skill. He is aided by the story which is more than a framework upon which to string laughs. Solidly constructed, it adds to the comedy by building bigger laughs through suspense. Again, the star has been given the most capable cast ever to | perform with him. In Leo Carrillo, he has a running-mate who adds breeziness, gallantry and a dashing daredevilry to the film. In the role of a lovable bandit chieftain, Carrillo is more concerned with winning smiles from senoritas than purses from warfarers. The remainder of the cast, chosen with skill, includes Beverly Roberts in the feminine lead, Wynne Gibson, Steffi Duna, Stanley Fields, Leonid Kinsky and Charles Judels. THE ASSOCIATE FEATURE The amateur and . (professional sleuths will be well entertained with the mystery-comedy, “Personal Secretary.” The story contains far more than the usual amount

of surprising twists and in addition, a grand but almost comical love element rarely discovered in this type of motion picture. There is a solid ingenious plot. The poisoned man’s widow is on trial and obviously guilty of murder. It is here that two rival newspaper columnists, Joy Hodges and William Gargan take the case into their own hands, each on a different tangent. Through intrigue, skullduggery and counter-plotting, the innocent widow is saved from execution and the real killer brought to justice; but only after Joy and Bill lose their hearts in the mile-a-minute confusion and excitement. Andy Devine, Ruth Donnelly and. Florence Roberts combine sincerity qs well as vast humour and add to the many complex situations. Plans are now open. ’Phone 601 for reserves.

SONG RECITAL Mr. Harold Prescott and pupils, assisted by the Greymouth orchestra and other artists, presented on enjoyable recital to an appreciative audience in the Wesley Bi-Centenary Hall, last evening. Owing to the length of the programme, encores were not (permitted, but all the artists were enthusiastically applauded for their efforts. The programmee was well varied, and gave an excellent indication of the standard of vocal music in Greymouth, a number of promising singers being heard. The assisting artists added to the merit of the programme. Prior to the National Anthem, Mr. A. A. Bensley thanked Mr. Prescott, his artists and the orchestra for the excellent programme, and th© audience for their attendance and reception of the efforts of the artists. The programme was as follows: —Selections, Greymouth Orchestra, conductor Mr. A. Agnew; solo, “Nymphs and Shepherds” Master Ron Bierwirth; solo, “She Shall Have Music”, Miss D. Lowe; solo, “Cheery Song”, Master G. Hillman; duet, “Elfin Call”, Misses B. Vincent and J. Holt; violin solo, “Ave Maria”, Miss Doris Willis; solo, “Where e’er You Walk”, Mr. Noel Clark; solo, ‘Il Bacio’, Miss Jean Roberts; solo, “Harlequin”, Mr. G. Loomes; recital, “I’ve Put Out the Cat”, Mastei’ W. Hamilton; solo, “Blackbird’s Song,” Miss Betty Vincent; solo, ‘Blackbird’s Song”, Miss Betty Vincent; solo, “Barber of Turin” Mr. Ron McDougall; piano solo, “Water-Wagtail”, Miss Kit Learmont; solo, “Ring Bells Ring,” Miss Jessie Holt; solo, “Rudolph’s Song”, Mr. J. McDougall; solo, “Goin’ Home,” Miss Iris Turner; solo, “Ah Moon of My Delight”, Mr. W. Richmond; solo, “Love’s Echo”, Miss K. Thomson; duet “Merry England”, Mrs. Norman Greenslade and Harold Prescott; solo, “Impatience” Mrs. Norman Greenslade; solo, “Wlio is Sylvia,” Mr. Ray Walls; duet “Moon Hath Raised” Messrs J. and R. McDougall; solos, “Three Songs of Summer Night”, “To the Moon”, “To Mary”, “Indian Serenade,” Harold Prescott; solo. “Slumber Dear Maid,” Miss Rona Friend; quartette, “Good Night Beloved”, Messrs W. Richmond, R. Walls, J. McDougall, R. McDougall. The accompanists were: Misses Mavis Carruthers L.T.C.L., M. Cawley and Mrs. W. H. Prescott F.T.C.L.

CRIPPLED CHILDREN’S SOCIETY.

Mrs. W. Mackay, of Christchurch, is visiting Greymouth in the interests of the Crippled Children’s Society. She hopes to contact all the children who are registered with the Society, with a view to rendering any further assist-1 ance which may be necessary. Mrs. Mackay will address a meeting in the Council Chambers to-morrow afternoon at 3 o’clock, and will outline the formation of the Society and the work which is being done in the interests of crippled children. The Canterbury and Westland Branch has over 4001 children on its books, and of these; about 60 are on the West Coast. Mrs. Mackay would be glad to hear of any cases which are not already registered with the Society. At the meeting tomorrow Mrs. Mackay will have a display of handwork by crippled girls, and will also show moving pictures of the work being done.