ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1940, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE-—Now Showing: “BROADWAY MUSKETEERS” and “GRAND JURY SECRETS.” “BROADWAY MUSKETEERS.” Pathos, comedy and spine-tingling melodrama were blended to produce the sentimental and yet vividly exciting picture, “Broadway Musketeers,” which is now showing at the Opera House, with a cast that boasts three leading women— Margaret Lindsay, Ann Sheridan and Marie Wilson —not to mention six-year-old Janet Chapman who comes in for her share of acting honours. The plot of the screen play starts with a reunion of three girls who were brought up together in an orphan asylum, and then it follows their strangely interwoven fortunes, which leads one to dishonour and death, a noble death, and the other two to dearly-won happiness. Others in the cast include John Litel, Anthony Averill, Dick Purcell, Richard Bond, Dewey Robinson and Horace MacMahon.

“GRAND JURY SECRETS.” Conflict between two brothers, one a newspaperman, the other an assistant district attorney, as to just how secret a Grand Jury probe should be, and additional differences over a young lady in whom both are interested, provide the dramatic motivation for the punch-packed drama, “Grand Jury Secrets,” which is also screening at the Opera House. With John Howard cast as the newspaperman, Gail Patrick as the young lady in question and Harvey Stephens as the assistant district attorney, the story starts rolling as Howard attempts to get the lowdown on a Grand Jury probe which his brother is conducting. He is stymied for a while, but by the clever use of a compact shortwave radio he steals the story and breaks it wide open. His methods eventually lead him into danger—and the story progresses to a dramatic conclusion. The cast also includes William Frawley, Jane Harwell and Porter Hall.

REGENT Now Showing: ’’THE EARL OF CHICAGO.”

Robert Montgomery, whose talents for comedy are well known, oddly enough scored two of his biggest hits in “Night Must Fall,” which won him nomination for the Academy Award, and “The Big House,” both dramatic character studies. Now he has been given another opportunity for character portrayal in the most unusual motion picture of the year, “The Earl of Chicago.” From the time he read Brock Williams’ origin-, al. story about a’Chicago gangster,: Silky Gilmount, who enherits an Eng-1 lish estate and becomes the Twelfth; Earl of Gorley, Montgomery wanted to play the role and he did not rest; until he had persuaded the studio to. assign him the part. Interested in, criminology, he was fascinated by' Silky as a character. During a. visit to Washington while preparing for) the picture, Montgomery visited J.' Edgar Hoover, a personal friend, and did research on the idiosyncrasies of gangsters. Among other items, he picked up one that made Silky an interesting gang character. He learn-

ed the surprising fact that there are a number of big shot gangsters who have a psychopathic fear of guns, and this queer mental quirk about guns makes Silky’s distorted personality different from any screen gangster yet pictured by Hollywood. Because the first quarter of the film moves to England for its scenesagainst such, backgrounds as the House of Lords and the Tower of London, the picture has been brought to the screen with a true British flavour. Edward Arnold heads a distinguished supporting cast in the new picture. Others in featured roles include Reginald Owen, Edmund Gwenn, E. E. Clive, Ronald Sinclair, and Norman Varden. Patrons are advised to make reservations early by ringing The Theatre Booking Office, 601.

BLAKETOWN SCHOOL SHOW It is expected that a large proportion of the public will visit the Blaketown School Show on Saturday. Those responsible for its extensive organisation have left nothing to chance, and the Show promises to be one of the most successful ever held in the district. Throughout the afternoon and evening the numerous attractions will provide entertainment and amusement for young-and old. The Mayor, Mr. Kitchingham, will open the Show at 2.30 p.m., after which the children will give displays of drill, folk dancing and singing games, and a concert. The programme also includes a decorated vehicles parade and baby show. Large entries have been received in the various sections of the show, covering flowers and vegetables, fruit, cookery and a school section, and a display of school work will be a feature. Numerous stalls will sell afternoon tea, refreshments and produce, while there will be an interesting variety of sideshows. The Pipe Band will be in attendance in the afternoon and the Municipal Band in the evening, when part of the programme will be repeated.