ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1940, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE—To-night: “STRANGE CARGO.” Next Attraction (Commences Tomorrow: < “THE MAGNIFICENT FRAUD,” and “QUICK MILLIONS.”

. Is the dictator dead? That burning, provocative question, arises in the course of the explosive new drama, “The Magnificent Fraud,” commencing at the Opera House to-morrow, because Akim Tamiroff, in the role .of dictator-actor, has been placed at the head of a government of a mythical South American country by Lloyd Nolan, who is cast as an adventurous, reckless, romantic American—the man behind the dictator! Nolan makes this bold move because the real dictator of the country has been assassinated in a bombing, and Nolan realises that the country will not get the ten million dollar loan needed to put it on its feet unless the dictator is believed alive. That grand actress, Mary Boland, is present as the ex-flame of the dictator, and Patricia Morison adds romantic interest, cast opposite Lloyd Nolan. George Zucco plays the role of an honest statesman,’while the supporting cast includes Steffi Duna, as a fiery dancer, and Ernest Cossart as a French detective.

“QUICK MILLIONS.” The map still shows plenty of spaces where the hands of the Jones Family has never set foot and as long as this is so, movie-goers can rely on excellent entertainment from this nomadic screen family. Their latest jaunt is to the Grand Canyon, where they have inherited a gold mine, in “Quick Millions,” also commencing at the Opera House to-morrow. Good all-round fun, the screen play brings the Joneses back to Maryville from their recent trip to Hollywood only to send them packing again when they receive word of the inheritance. So it’s off to the West again, and what with Injun ghosts, fake geologists, bullets, bandits and gun fights, they strike it rich in their richest vein of fun. “Quick Millions,” the title, would seem to refer to the laughs in the film rather than what the Joneses make from their mine, for it costs them ten for every dollar they take out. There are a million laughs from every Jones, and the family includes Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, Ken Howell, George Ernest, June Carl-' son, Florence Roberts and Billy: Mahan.

REGENT —Now Showing: Rudyard Kiplings’s Thrilling Adventure Story: “THE LIGHT THAT FAILED.”

Ida Lupine’s fiftt real, screen chance for several years is given to her in “The Light That Failed,” in which she shares honours with Ronald Colman, in Rudyard Kipling’s wellknown story, “The Light That Failed.” It is during one of the battles in the Sudan in the 1890’s that Dick Heldar. meets Torpenhow, and .the friendship which makes of this novel one of the strongest ever written in the English tongue begins. Heldar is played by Colman, and . Torpenhow by Walter Huston. Others in the big cast include Ida Lupino, Muriel Angelus, who makes her American film debut in this picture, Dudley Digges and many others. The battles are re-enactments of the battles between the British and the Fuzzy-Wuzzies of the Sudan. During this campaign .Kipling, as a young man, watched the Fuzzy-Wiiz-zy. This caused him to write his

great tribute to' them as fighting men in his immortal poem, “FuzzyWuzzy.” He also included some of these battles in his novel, “The Light That Failed.”

Patrons are urged to book their seats early, as bookings are expected to be heavy over the holidays.

EUCHRE TOURNAMENT.

All euchre players are invited to the first euchre tournament of the New Year at the New Lyceum Hall to-morrow night. An ideal hall, good tables, good cards and good prizes should add to the thorough enjoyment of all. NEW YEAR BALL. The ballroom of Schaef’s Hall will be the scene of. great gaiety and fun this evening when the happy crowds of dancers bid farewell to the year, and join in Auld Lang Syne. A grand night of merriment has been organised and tons of novelties and prizes will assure all of a wonderful night of fun. An energetic committee, has arranged a very sumptuous supper, and a special sound system has been installed for the occasion. The Mayfair Dance Band will supply the programme of lively music.