ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 November 1939, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE: Now Showing: “CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY.”

It has fallen to the Opera House to present, over a period of years, some memorable films, but “Confessions of a Nazi Spy,” now being screened, is one that is really “epochal,” for it leads a new line of pictorial presentation, is history to the minute, translating the news to the screen, and is powerful and useful propaganda. Put in story form with many authentic shots it produces an effect that no amount of mere words could achieve. The narrative is direct and concise, dramatic and vital, and though made especially to serve American uses, it none the less has special warning value to New Zealand-

ers. Its gripping power is terrific and those who see it once will want to see it again. It shows the constantly widening area of Nazi work, the blighting spread of Nazism like a disease in a crop, the terror which can haunt our freedom-loving community when the hateful espionage system with its cruelty, deceit, and heartless hatred inoculates it with its virus and paralyses with its terrorism. Nazism is immensely attractice to the egocentric; avid for personal power, ambitious for self only and for country only as a larger self, and conceivably it could be welcomed by the slave soul too supine to think for itself. Francis Lederer throws on the screen just such a characterisation of the man who would betray America to the Nazis. Immensely his finest per-

tormance, Edward G. Robinson as the , G-man who finally foils the machina- , tions of the underground workers in the espionage ring, is magnificently adequate to his job. Paul Lukas as the Nazi leader in the States, the idealist, adoring the Fuehrer, and seeking to save- the world by imposing fatherland ideas .upon the land of his adoption, making fiercy speeches in the German-American Bund to inflame his hearers, also gives a great performance. Dorothy Tree as the girl spy, the chief friend of George Sanders, turns in an excellent delineation as one of the leading spies. The terror of the poor wretches when caught by the gestapo and sent back to Germany for incarceration in a concentration camp is pitiable in the extreme. An impressive point is the astonishing manner in which the tentacles of the octopus had wound themselves in and amongst the social and business life of the country, in home and factory, office and shop, in the Naw and Army, everywhere the

little men and women passed on the world, the message, for the “sitting pretty” heads in the Fatherland. Mail would pass from America or Europe through the hands of a woman acted by Eily Malyon, in a small Scottish town, who was finally uncovered bv the curiosity of the postman who asked for the strange stamps for his weo laddie, when British authorities pounced on her. Very surprising is the disclosure of the extent to which the youth of the movement in the States had grown, girls and boys being regularly trained with Nazi thoroughness, the- swastika being quite openly displayed, and the Nazi salute given consistently. The speech of the Judge at the trial scene is admirable in its quiet significance. In the cast are several Germans who, however, consider it more prudent to use assumed names, showing by this the power of the regime that might take its vengeance on them. No one .should allow this remarkable picture to pass without viewing it. for it is a definite 1 warning to New-Zealand.

REGENT: ■" FINALLY TO-NIGHT—-“FLIRTING WITH FATE” AND “PERSONAL SECRETARY.” COMMENCING SATURDAY: “YOU CAN’T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN” and “EX-CHAMP.” “Charlie McCarthy” and Bergen.

3 Nearly 18 years ago a small block J of ordinary Michigan white pine, began to assume the features of an impj ish boy. Under the artistic hands, of Theodore Mack, Chicago wood carver, grew a face so human that to-day it is the world’s most valuable piece of wood. Its actual value is £lOOO, placed on it by insurance companies. Its intrinsic worth is many times that amount. The one and only “Charlie McCarthy” appears with W. C. Field and Edgar Bergen in “You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man.” “Charlie’s” first public appearance was with Edgar Bergen .whom he describes as- the I 1 man responsible for all of his mistakes. They went to a neighbourhood theatre not far from Bergen’s home in Chicago. Their early struggles brought them very close together, as hardships so frequently do. Success was a long time in coming to them. But when it came in the' Summer of 1936, it came- with such a rush they scarcely knew what was happening. Supporting Fields, Bergan and “McCarthy” are “Mortimer Snerd,” Constance Moore, Mary Forbes, Thurston Hall, Princess Baba, John Arledge, Charles Coleman, Edward Brophy, Arthur Hohl, Blacaman and Eddie Anderson. I

THE ASSOCIATE FEATURE. Some half-dozen one-time prominent boxers appear in “Ex-Champ," which stars Victor McLaglen. Among these is Joe Glick who, in his hey-day, fought Benny Leonard, Rocky Kansas and other top-ranking lightweights. Others include Art Lasky, Al Bayne, Frankie Dolan, Frankie Grandetta, and High Loman. Kid Chissell, one-time welterweight championship of the Third Battleship Division of the Pacific Fleet, snagged himself a well-pay-ing role in the picture. He appears as a boxing champion whom Tom Brown meets and defeats. Although “Ex-Champ” has an atmosphere of the boxing ring and training quarters, it cannot be regarded as a prize-fight story. It deals primarily with the sacrifice McLaglen makes to attempt to save the snobbish son when the son is in danger. In the supporting cast will be seen Tom Brown, featur-

ed as an embryo fighter whom McLaglen grooms for a championship battle. Nan Grey has the role of his daughter; Donald Briggs is the snobbish

son; William Frawley is a training camp hanger-on; Constance Moore takes the part of a Park Ayenue blue blood in love with the son; and Samuel S. Hinds is a kindly boxing commissioner.

The second episode of “The Lone Ranger” will also be shown. Patrons are advised to attend early as the serial will be presented first, commencing at 7.45 sharp. ’Phone 601 and . book your seats.

SURF CLUB DANCE The Grey Surf Club will run a short night dance next . Monday at the Blaketown Hall. Last Monday’s dance was a great success.and the club will run a weekly dance from now on. Williams’ Orchestra will provide the music. All learners are welcome. Members of the club will teach learners to dance so there is a good chance to learn. Dod Hogarth is the M.C. Dancing starts at 8.30 Monte Carlo and soft drinks.