ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 November 1939, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. Now Showing: “ALGIERS.” The colourful activity of a Mediterranean City of Northern Africa forms the background of “Algiers,” a romantic melodrama starring Charles Boyer, opposite Hedy • Lamarr and Sigrid Gurie in his most exciting role as Pepe le Moko, debonair international thief, showing at the Opera House to-night, to-morrow and Thursday . Practically the entire action of the picture takes place in “the Cabash,” mysterious native quarter of the capital of Algeria. This district is a haven of refuge for criminals from all countries of Europe, Asia and Africa. The story opens with Boyer and his gang fugitives from Paris, who have lived in the Cabash for two years, never venturing outside its boundaries for fear of arrest. In the district they are safe from the police in the adjoining French city, who dare not molest them owing to the ferocity of the natives; though the local inspector, Joseph Calleia, continually watches the genial crook, Boyer, however, is content to remain in the squalid quarter with his wildly jealous native sweetheart, Sigrid Gurie, and laugh at the futile scheming of the police. But one day the Cabash is visited by a group of Parisian tourists, including the glamorous Hedy Lamaar. She happens to meet Boyer and a romance develops. The police inspector views the situation with satisfaction, hoping that circumstances will eventually lure the fugitive outside the district. In furtherance of his scheme he tells Miss Lamarr that Boyer has been killed, and she and her party prepare to sail for France. Learning that his new love is leaving the country, Boyer risks arrest to board the ship on which she is about to depart, and the picture reaches a thrilling climax in a series of dramatic scenes on the dock. Afforded the best role of his screen career, Boyer delivers an engaging characterisation of the debonair jewel thief. The picture takes on added in-

terest through the fact that it marks the first time the star’s rich bassbaritone singing voice has been heard on the screen. In addition to Boyer, Miss Gurie, Miss Lamarr and Calleia, the cast includes Alan Hale, Gene Lockhart, Mme. Nina Kohretz, Robert Greig, Claudia Dell, Bert Roach and many other popular artists. REGENT THEATRE. Final Screening of “FIVE CAME BACK” and “MYSTERY OF THE WHITE ROOM.” Commencing Wednesday: “Spring MADNESS” and “BAD LANDS.”

“Bad Lands,” a vivid cross-section of life as presented by a group of ten men trapped at a desert waterhole by an oferwhelining tribes of apaches, forms the dramatic basis of a saga of

frontier justice. The men, representing a posse in the old West, are of widely different ages, backgrounds and social strata. Among them are found bravery, cowardice, jealousy, comradeship, avarice and the indomitable will of one man who holds the others to their stern purpose as death strikes again and again. Laid in South-eastern Ari-, sona in 1875, the gripping story re-, veals how one by one the members of the posse, tracking down a half-breed murderer who has fled to the “bad lands,” are killed by the attacking In-[ dians. With only three left, they penetrate a ruse which is said to contain thrilling action and drama. Robert Barrat is cast as the valiant leader

of the possee, while other members are portrayed by Douglas Walton, Robert Coote, Noah Beery, Jr. “SPRING MADNESS.” Laughable though it may be to observe a youth in the double throes of love and financial embarrassment, it is a predicament that has its serious side. The. economics that he learns at college are somehow less personal than those he rubs against in his search for a job after graduation. This, in a general way, is the theme of Spring Madness.” With splendid characterisations by Maureen O’Sullivan, Lew Ayres and others, the picture provides heart-warming entertainment. Maureen O’Sullivan has one of her best roles as a New England college girl. Equal praise goes to Lew Ayres, portraying a harrassed young man of Harvard, who loves Miss O’Sullivan, but comes to a realisation that without a job he won’t cut much of a figure as a husband. The picture is gay, modern, and entertaining from start to finish.