ENTERTAINMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 August 1946, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE.--To-night: “The Chinese Cat” and “West of the Pecos.”

1 A thoroughly entertaining murder -'mystery, “The Chinese Cat,” with the } clever 'Charlie Chan (portrayed by B Sidney Toler), combining comedy land keen direction, is showing at the 1 Opera House. | The scene is an abandoned amuse- \ ment resort. Chan engages in ferreting out the perpetrator of a murder, fMore murders are committed as the 'I detective draws nearer to his quarry, 'ibut the complicated case is solved in ■ a surprising climax. “West of the Pecos”

Action, romance and humour speed ! through “West of the Pecos,” a stiri ring story of the lawless days of the I West before the turn of the century. ! which is showing at the Opera House -■ to-night, with Robert Mitchum and ' Barbara Hale in the featured roles. Lovely Rill Lambeth brings her Lalling father, Colonel Lambeth, to recuperate on his Texas ranch. With them is her French mpid, Suzanne.

. Their stage coach is held up, a man Us killed/Rill is insulted, and they ?me?t a devil-may-care young cow’lboy, Pecos Smith. Concluding that (the West is no place for a decent ’’girl, Rill disguises herself as a young i man When Pecos takes a job with I the Colonel, he treats Rill as a young .! tenderfoot. When he discovers she is I a girl, lie falls hard for her, although P the courtship is a stormy affair. ' Framed by 'a crooked town boss, i 1 Pecos finds himself saddled with two •i niurders. The action wsixes fnst and j furious before Pecos clears himself and brings law and order to the wilo country.

REGENT THEATRE — To-night: “Her Highness and the Bellboy.'

“Her Highness and the Bellboy,” showing at the Regent Theatre to-night, is as much a fairy tale as i f the brothers Grimm had written it. Yet it is as modern as Hedy Lamarr’s latest gown, Robert Walkers smile, June Allyson’s songs and dances, or' the clowning of Rags Ragland, all of whom head its cast. Hedy Lamarr is a Princess from a mythical kingdom who visits New York City and her adventures range between Central Park, a gambling hall, and her royal suite in a smart hotel, where her friends include a bellboy and a reporter. Walker is the bellboy who accidentally meets nei, becomes infatuated, and fancies him self as a king-to-be. Miss Allyson is Walker’s bed-ridden sweetheart who becomes the innocent victim of her boy friend’s high-falutin’ romance. The pietpre has a blend of humour, fantasy, and human drama that will make vou happy and keep you happy. Particularly memorable are, for comedy, the cafe brawl in Jake s Joint- for fantasy, the wonderful dream ballet in which Miss Allyson and Walker are Princess and Prince, and Ragland the most comical king ever seen; for drama, the moving, appealing, heart-warming stoiy.

OLD-TIME FAVOURITES ARE RECALLED. ’ Many old-time favourite melodies and comedy numbers will be recalled at" the Pegent Theatre next week with the presentation of the Greymouth Operatic Society’s production, “Our Miss Gibbs.” Perhaps one oi the most lilting and popular is “Mary,” one of the evergreens that will never really die. Another is “Hughie,” then there is “Arms and the Man,” “Moonstruck,” “Country Cousins.” etc. During the past two davs there have been solid bookings at the Regent Theatre between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and intending patrons are advised to make early reservations.' The proceeds of the production— incidentally a most costly one because of the lavish scale on which it is presented—will be devoted towards the Benevolent Funds of the Greymouth R.S.A., and this alone should b.e the signal for an instant rally on the part of citizens and residents of the country districts generally. The R.S.A. does a great job in our midst and is deserving of the fullest support in any effort organised .on its behalf.