ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1940, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE—Now Showing: ‘‘BABES IN ARMS.” Youth is sweeping the country! And if you don’t believe it then go along to the Opera House to-night and see Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in the new musical comedy-drama, “Babes in Arms!” Two hundred of the cleverest youngsters in Hollywood—and that pretty nearly takes in all of them—have been assembled in one picture, and the result is one of the liveliest, swinging-est, heartappealing melody movies of cinematic history. You’ve seen Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy, and you’ve seen him in such film hits as “Boys’ Town” and “Stablemates.” But you’ve never seen the Mickey Rooney who appears in “Babes in Arms.” He sings, he dances, he gives imitations of Clark Gable and Lionel Barrymore. And on top of that, he gives an acting performance in a truly human story that parallels anything he has ever done in the dramatic line. As for Judy Garland, she’s never been better. At the appealing age of sixteen Judy’s voice has reached a high point in musical perfection and she sings as she has never sung before. Then there are others. Betty Jaynes and Douglas McPhail, singing discoveries of Jeanette McDonald, will make you agree with Miss MacDonald that they are potential singing stars of to-morrow. June Preisser, youthful dancing sensation, makes her debut on the screen. John Sheffield better known as “Tarzan, Jr.,” appears in his second picture role. Leni Lynn, the little Passaic, singing Cinderella, also makes her motion picture bow, Add to these the pick of 450 outstanding kid performers and you have an idea of just how Youth is taking over the entertainment chores of the moment. But there are adults in the picture too, with featured roles played by Charles Winninger, Guy Kibbee, Grace Hayes and Rand Brooks. Being a story of the days of the passing of vaudeville, the picture revives many names of the great two-a-day. Appearing as vaudevillians in it are Irene Franklin, Harry Fox, George McKay, Margaret Young, . Rube Demarest, Patsy Moran, Pat West, Joe Caits and others. Old-timers will remember them well and will be glad to see them once more. REGENT—Finally To-night: “CRACKERJACK” and “BEWARE OF SPOOKS.” Commencing Saturday: “ADVENTURE IN DIAMONDS” and “GRANDPA GOES TO TOWN.” “Adventure in Diamonds,” featuring George Brent and Isa Miranda, is based on “Diamonds Are Dangerous,” a story by Frank O’Connor. The film is fast-moving and entertaining. The setting is the South African diamond mines. Miss Miranda is Felice, a diamond thief, who comes to South Africa to join her chief, John Loder, George Brent is Captain Denning, who meets Felice at the boat and contrives to befriend the lovely blonde. Hhe captain inadvertently causes Felice’s apprehension, and allows Loder to escape. Remorseful, he engineers her release from prison on condition that she will help him expose a ring of diamond thieves. The partnership makes it necessary for the pair to pose as a honeymoon

I couple. Some clever by-play between I Brent and Nigel Bruce, who appears! as the head of the Criminal Invest!gation Department, adds amusemenf. The associate feature, “Grandpa Goes to Town,” is another of the | comedy series in which the well- > known Gleason family head the cast. The Gleasons are a product of work | in vaudeville stock and on the stage. James has had a most successful career as a writer. He wrote the hit show “Is Zat So?” and both wrote and acted in the “Fall Guy” and “The Shannons of Broadway.” Lucille has worked in many motion pictures. Son Russell has carved out his own niche as an actor and recently scored in a “dumb-cluck” role in “Here I am a Stranger.” The trio has been lauded for work in previous Higgins Family pictures. Patrons are advised to book their seats for the week-end. ’Phone 601. PATRIOTIC DANCE AT SCHAEF’S. Another of the popular dances organised by the Patriotic Committee’s Cobden branch is to be held in Schaef’s Hall to-morrow evening and a rollicking good time is assured. Lucky Spots, Monte Carlo prizes and novelty dances guarantee plenty of fun and an efficient M.C. will be in charge of the programme. The Mayfair Dance Band will present a lively selection of new releases and old popular numbers. Buses leave at midnight for Cobden, Runanga and Wallsend. BARROW DAY. Arrangements for the Barrow Day to be held in Greymouth on Saturday, October 19, in aid of the Patriotic" Fund, are proceeding satisfactorily. A meeting of the committee was held last evening, when reports were received from all sub-committees showing that the project had been taken up with enthusiasm by all business firms and many citizens. The object is to get 100 barrows. The committee ask all who intend to take part in the barrow day, but who have not yet entered, to forward their nomination without delay by ’phoning 285. Prizes will be given for the best decorated barrow, for the most original fancy dress, and for the best children’s turn out. GIRL GUIDE CONCERT. : Wesley Hall was filled to capacity < last evening, when the Greymouth Girl Guides presented a concert in aid of the Girl Guides’ national patriotic effort. The programme indicated careful preparation by the Guides and their officers, and was warmly received by the audience. It included concerted vocal, elocutionary and folk dancing items by the Guide Companies, folk dancing by the Cobden ' troop, choruses by the Brownies, a . flag display by the Cobden troop and signalling by the Guides. A group , of Guides presented an enjoyable ‘ short play. Pianoforte duets were 1 played by Misses Pat and Peg Meldrum and dancing items were contributed by Miss P. Gallagher. The Guides were assisted by a full orchestra and piano duets were also given by Mr R. Buchanan and Miss M. Cawley. The District Commission- 7 er, Mrs L. Schaef, congratulated the Guides on the entertainment they had provided, for a worthy cause. She also thanked the audience, the assisting artists and the members of the orchestra for contributing to the success of the effort.