ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE—Now Showing: “DEVIL ON WHEELS” and “MEXICAN SPITFIRE.” With fast-talking Pat O’Brien, Ann “Oomph Girl” Sheridan, the exotic Gale Page, heart-breaker John Payne, and comical Frank McHugh in the leading roles, “Devil on Wheels,” spine-tingling drama of automobile racing, is now showing at the Opera House. The story concerns the efforts of Pat O’Brien, champion race driver, to make John Payne, his younger brother, continue with college, and not follow in his own footsteps. But John is bitten by the racing, and his added romantic interest in Ann Sheridan, whom Pat dislikes, causes the brothers to feud, climaxing in a race in which Pat’s best friend, Frank McHugh, is killed in a spectacular crash. The accident breaks Pat. He gives up racing and vanishes. Gale Page, Pat’s girl friend, knowing if she is 'ever to locate Pat it Would be at the Memorial Day speed classic at Indianapolis, goes there. She finds him at the tracks, a seedy, broken figure. As they watch Payne compete with another for the number one spot during the last laps of the sace, there is a minor accident. John needs a relief driver, and before Pat realises what is happening, Gale has rushed him to the pits. In a dramatic, sensational scene, Pat again comes into his own, and is reconciled to his brother.

“MEXICAN SPITFIRE.” Tempestuous Lupe Velez and her inimitable style of comedy, combined with the laugh-making proclivities of the rubber-legged comic, Leon Errol, will have audiences in a panic in “Mexican Spitfire” now showing at the Opera House. Plot of the story revolves around the efforts of Linda Haynes, as the groom’s jealous ex-fiancee, to break up the marriage so that she can marry the personable young man. In this cause she has the support of Elizabeth Risdbn, the groom’s snobbish aunt. On the other hand, Leon Errol, the uncle, is heartily in accord with the marriage, although his blundering efforts to straighten out theii' marital troubles always boomerang. As a result of one of their schemes which backfires, Lupe and the uncle find themselves fleeing to Mexico. Errol to avoid arrest for forgery and impersonation, and Lupe to obtain a quick divorce in the heat of jealousy. Many of the film’s most amusing scenes occur in < Mexico and lay the foundation for j

the ensuing hilarious events which take place in New. York when, the couple return there. They find Woods at a bachelor dinner on the eve of his marriage to his former sweetheart. A telegram arrives, advising Lupe her divorce is illegal. This is the spark which ignites a little bundle of feminine TNT. • The wedding ceremony; turns out to be a shambles, the malic- j ious rival is given a good working over,; and Lupe gets back her man. REGENT: Finally To-night: “THE YOUNG IN HEART.” Commencing Friday at the Matinee “BALALAIKA.”

I Janet Gaynor, Douglas Fairbanks junr. and Paulette Goddard made their debut as an exciting new screen trio in the comedy romance “The Young in Heart.” Roland. “Topper” Young, Billie Burke, Henry Stephenson, Richard Carlson, romantic newcomer from the New York stage, and Minnie Dupree head the imposing supporting cast of this film now showing at the Regent Theatre. Blazing a musical trail from Petrograd to Paris over the strife-torn Russia of the Czars, the screen operetta, “Balalaika,” presents Nelson Eddy and Ilona Massay, Hollywood’s newest singing star, in a thrilling, colourful and romantic musical drama. It tells a tale of romance between a Colonel of Cossacks and the daughter of a revolutionist in the midst of social upheaval, and gives an opportunity for an expensive musical programme that ranges from Russian folk songs to a love song by Franz Lehar, comedy songs by Herbert Stothart, and even the operatic version of a Rimsky-Korsakoff ballet suite. “Balalaika” is based on the London . stage musical success, and is heralded as one of the most stirring and. colourful musi-films of the year. Patrons are advised to make their reservations early as the bookings .are heavy. ’Phone 601 or call at the theatre booking office.

RAILWAYS REVUE - ■ The Town Hall was again filled last evening for "the second presentation of “Half Shot at Sunrise,” by the Greymouth Railways Swingtime Revue Company, and as on the first night,' the artists were warmly received by the audience, many encores being called for. Several minor faults of the first performance had been eliminated and the show went with a swing. Prior to the concluding item, Mr G. G. M. Mitchell, on behalf of the Mayor and the Greymbutli Patriotic

Committee, thanked the produce! (Mr T. Caldwell) and the artists foi their work and the public for its excellent support. He said that the takings for the two nights amounted tc over £lOO, this announcement being greeted with applause. He expressec appreciation of the efforts of the (Railways staff and particularly the producer. In Returning thanks, Mi Caldwell said that Miss Monica Sinnott had done fine work in arranging the .ballets and dancing numbers, and he also thanked the musical director (Mr Tj-evor Brown) and the orchestra. Mr G. D. Smai't, patron of the company, thanked the Railways staff for their work, which, he said, had entailed much effort in their own time. He also thanked the outside artists and said that great credit was due to Mr Caldwell and Miss Sinnott. It was gratifying to the staff to know that- they had raised ' £lOO, and they thanked the public for its support. Bouquets and boxes of chocolates were received as. gifts by the! members of the company.

PLUNKET ROSE DAY To-morrow is the day set aside for the annual Rose Day of the Greymouth Plunket Society. Sellers will be out with quantities of choice buttonholes from early morning, and it is hoped everyone will sport what, that day, will be the badge of the Society—a rose. The headquarters of the sales effort will be at Schaef’s,'where a shop will be conducted and supplies of home-made delicacies and choice flowers will be available. The recent effort of th 6 Society, the Garden Party, in on way assisted the administration funds, as the proceeds were donated to the Centennial Memorial Fund. Every Plunket mother should make it a duty to assist this annual appeal, both with donations' to the shop and as purchaser, as every penny to the fund is in the nature of a self-help insurance for herself and her family.