ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1939, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

«, OPERA HOUSE. Now Showing: “STOLEN LIFE.”

An exciting and unusual story, that of a woman stealing another’s life, her joys and happiness, and finding all her sorrows and sins, are revealed in the romantic drama, “Stolen Life,” in which Elisabeth Bergner and Michael Redgrave are co-starred to be screened at the Opera House tonight, also to-morrow and Thursday. The novelty of the plot is a strong point in this production, and the fact that Miss Bergner handles the roles of twin sisters adds to the piquancy and the interest primarily aroused. Redgrave, playing the part of an adventurous alpinist in the French Alps, meets the twins, whose names are Martina and Sylvina, They fall in love with him, though. Sylvina is merely superficially attracted, whilst Martina is listed for life. Sylvina is drowned while watching yachting off the coast of Brittany, and Martina seizes the chance to pass herself off as the dead twin, and continues her life as the wife of Michael Redgrave. This becomes extremely intriguing, requiring delicate handling, especially as she discovers that Sylvina was a deceitful fraud who had never loved Michael, and who had been engaged in liasion with a play-boy. So she decides that the only honest thing to do, and the best is to confess all, which she does, and the way is paved out for a fresh start in a life that is not “Stolen.” A very attractive angle of the picture and a very unusual one, lies in the excessive restraint of Misjs Bergner’s speech, not only emotionally but verbally. No one before has ever used so few words, they being almost as if they were precious pearls and her life dependent upon how many she retains. Other interesting points are presented in both her father’s and her husband’s recognition of her as Martina and not the Sylvina they first took her to be, though it is not from externals that they made the discovery, but something in the soul of the girl. Wilfred Lawson, who played the part of the superb Doolittle in “Pygmalion,” plays the role of the twins’ father, whilst others prominent in the cast are Richard Ainley, Kenneth Brickley, and Mabel Terry Lewis.

Also screening a special entitled “Tannhauser,” this short is brought by.the , Philharmonic orchestra of America in all its granduer of 122 musician and 50 voices.

REGENT:, Final Screening of “YOU CAN’T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN” and “EX-CHAMP” Commencing Wednesday: “BLONDIE” and “RENEGADE TRAIL.”

“BLONDIE”: Rollicking fun find farcical situations, blended xvith emotional touches, are the prime characteristics of this excellent picture. The plot involves around ilie astonishing ability of sincere but blundering Dagxvood to get himself into diversified trouble. In this particular instance, the young husband and father has innocently become involved xvith a gold-digging girl named Elsie, xvho, xvorking on his naive sympathy, has xvheedled him into signing her note for several hundred dollars. Elsie has vanished, and Dagxvood is left literally holding the sack. To make it worse, his endorsement was backed by a lien upon his household furniture. Blondie, knowing nothing of this, and xvith a young xvife’s characteristic inability to resist the treacherous pitfalls of the “easy payment plan,” has secretly dipped deeply into debt for brand nexv furniture. She plans the nexv furniture as an anniversary surprise for Dagxvood. Sxviftly, then, xvith rolicking risibility, the story rises to a hilarious comedy climax. Miss Singleton and young Lake are superb as the married couple. Larry Simms is a lovable Baby Dumpling and another four-year-old Dan Mummery, proves*a scene-stealer as Baby Dumpling’s playmate. Baby Dumpling’s antics lend a familiar and character touch to the picture, xvhile Daisy, the dog, has a distinctly major role.

“RENEGADE TRAIL.” “Windy Halliday”. is the laxv-enforcing marshal Gf a xvild frontier toxvn; “Hopalong Cassidy” comes closer to being “hooked” by a beautiful woman than he has ever been , before; the villain is so crooked that he joins up xvith rustlers to terrorise his. oxvn xvife and son — these are only a fex\ r of the surprises in store for local outdoor action fans xvhen they see Paramount’s “Renegade Trail” at ithe Regent Theatre! With William Boyd playing “Floppy” George Hayes the grizzled “Windy,” and handsome Russell Hayden completing the leading trio as “Lucky Jenkins,” “Renegade Trail” relates a thrilling story of “Hopalong’s” campaign to save a xvoman rancher from being blackmailed by her convict-hus-band and to uphold the reputation of his pal, “Windy,” xvho is responsible for the maintenance of laxv and order in the community. Cast in prominent supporting roles, under the direction of Lesley Selander, are Charlotte Wynters, Russell Hopton, Sonny Bupp and the popular male quartet, “The King’s Men.” 1