ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 December 1940, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE: Now Showing: “ASK A POLICEMAN” and “SECRETS OF AN ACTRESS.” / ,

The hilarious comedy, “Ask a Policeman,” starring Will Hay and assisted by Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott is now showing at .the Opera House. Will Hay is in good form as a floundering country police-sergeant, while Graham Moffat and Moore Marriott appear as his even more dull-witted assistants. Supporting them are Peter Qawthorne, Glennis Lorimer and Charles Oliver. Sergeant Dudfoot, in charge of the village police constabulary, is proud of the fact that during his ten years of office the area has been, free from crime. The Chief Constable, however, on reviewing the situation, sees no further use for retaining the local force. Dudfoot is downcast at the prospect of losing his quiet and congenial job and he, with his deputies, Albert and Harbottle, realise that they must find a crime wave in order to justify their retention. They set out to invent a gang of smugglers who are using the coves for concealment of contraband liquor, but their mythical schemes become real. The manner in which they endeavour to catch the smugglers provides most of the fun, but their blundering carries very little weight with the Chief Constable and they finish up as expolicemen. . “SECRETS OF AN ACTRESS.” Giving, as the title implies, a really intimate glimpse of the private life as well as the public career of an actress, the exciting romantic drama, “Secrets of an Actress,” also showing at the Opera House, has as its star Kay Francis, whilst the two men in the life of the heroine in this interesting slice of the lives of these prominent theatrical folk are played by GeorgeBrent and lan Hunter,-the former being a brilliant scene designer and the other the producer who gives Kay her first chance at Broadway stardom. Both men are in love with Kay. She likes the producer and is grateful to him for what he has done for her, but it is the artist to whom she gives her love. He, however, is bound to a mercenary wife, played by. Gloria Dickson, who does not love him but adopts the fabled dog-in-the-manger when she learns he loves another woman. How this tangled skein of human and professional relations is unravelled, is told in an exciting and amusing fashion.

REGENT—Now Showing: “THEY SHALL HAVE MUSIC.”

With Jascha Heifetz, the world’s most renowned violinist starred, “They shall Have Music,” unfolds a gripping story of human interest, high-lighted by tense and thrilling action. The principal romantic roles are played by Andrea Leeds and Joel McCrea, while the important supporting roles are portrayed by Walter Brennan, Gene Reynolds and Tommy Kelly. Briefly, the story revolves around Professor Lawson, portrayed by Walter Brennan, and his music school settlement, composed of ragged youngsters who are musical prodigies. Into this school comes Frankie, who inherited a talent for the violin from his dead father and has run away from home to escape the hate of his stepfather. The boy is taken in tow by the professor, and blossoms into a fine musician. How he tries to repay his debt and how he lures the great Heifetz to the aid of the financially bankrupt school provides the climax of the story. Patrons are urged to make reservations by ringing ’phone 601. XMAS CARNIVAL. An event of interest to the sporting public is the opening of De Lyall’s Xmas Carnival in Schaef’s old garage, Mackay Street, Friday night, December 20, for a limited season. All the popular amusements will be in evidence and wonderful prizes are to be won on the ever-popular skilo, knock ’em and hoopla’s, while very substantial'’gifts are being given for those who delight in the shooting gallery, the control of which is in the hands of Miss Ettie Carter. The major amusements are in the care of Mr. Clini Drew. During the season, it is announced that the famous four St. Moritz skaters will pay a return visit.