ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 October 1945, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE—To-night: "The Pearl of Death,” and “Babes on Swing Street.”

“The Pearl of Death.” Murder and mystery guaranteed to send shivers up and down your spine, are contained in the new Sherlock Holmes thriller “The Pearl of Death,” showing at the Opera House to-night. The story tells of the theft of a fabulously valuable pearl and its eventual recovery. Between the time the pearl disappears and is found, however, many people meet sudden and gruesome death, causing the jewel to become known as “The Pearl of Death.” The picture co-stars Basil Rathbone, as Sherlock Holmes, and Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson. It devolves upon the famous sleuth and his friend to solve the mystery of the deaths and recover the pearl. “Babes on Swing Street” headed by Peggy Ryan, Ann Blyth, Marion Hutton and Freddie Slack and his orchestra. The gay, youthful musical riot “Babes on Swing Street” commences at the Opera House to-morrow. The story concerns the determination of a young group of Settlement Club members to open a night club for the bobby soxers and raise enough money to enable some ten of them to take music lessons. Naturally, all does not go smoothly in their endeavour. Their main problem is finding a place to house the club. Leon Errol offers them a vacant hall belonging to him and his sister, played by Alma Kruger, but the sister is opposed to the idea.

REGENT THEATRE—To-night: "i'll Walk Beside You.” “I’ll Walk Beside You,” showing at the Regent Theatre to-night, is a romantic musical drama, suggested by the popular song, describing the tender yet chequered romance of a working girl and a young Lieutenant Commander. The song occupies a vital part in the plot. It is first played in a gramaphone shop where Richard Bird as the Lieutenant Commander of Destroyer Lupus is buying records for the ward room and is served by attractive Lesley Brook. Then it is heard again at a Queen’s Hall concert, where it is sung by John McHugh accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra. Of course, the officer and the pretty shop assistant are at the concert, but next day he is unexpectedly recalled to his ship, is torpedoed, loses his memory, and only after many vicissitudes recovers in time to prevent his musical companion marrying the doctor who performs the operation that restores his memory. “I’ll Walk Beside You boasts an extremely well chosen cast, while the playing and singing is the best ever heard in a British film. “THE KIWIS” FAREWELL TOUR COMMENCES SATURDAY. Following their first New Zealand tour of 29 towns, the Kiwis have now embarked upon their second tour of 53 towns. They have to date presented their new show, “Maadi Gras,” in 26 towns, including three weeks of capacity business in His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland. The party is ably headed by seven of the original members of the Middle East Kiwi Concert Party, while every single member, with the exception of John Hunter, their captivating soubrette, who was too young for overseas service, has been a good soldier, as well as a good entertainer. The names of Phil Jay, Dick Marcroft, Snowy Timms, accordionist Snowy Hall, and George Hatton and the Kiwi Concert Orchestra are bound to attract all those who have previously seen them in action. Recently returned from the Middle East and back on the “boards” with the party are baritone Taffy Owen, and Bill Bain, who plays both male and female roles. “Maadi Gras” is described as a tip-top non-stop presentation for two and a-half hours in the Kiwi manner, and will be presented at the Town Hall on Saturday. Monday and Tuesday next. Box plans are open at Kilgour’s.