AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 18 April 1940, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS

Opera Houea FINAL SCREENING: “POISON PEN." The powerful dramatic story, "Poison Pen,” starring Flora Robson and with Reginald Tate, Ann Todd ana Robert Newton in strong supporting roles, will be finally serened at the Opera House to-day and to-night. Tn? film deals with the writing of anonymous letters, which ruin the lives of peaceful and innocent villagers. NEXT ATTRACTION: (Commences To-morrow), “THE STORY OF VERNON AND IRENE CASTLE.”

A romance that blossomed Into tne ■ greatest dancing team the world has ever known underlies ‘‘Ths Story ot Vernon and Irene Castle,” in which 1 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are ' co-starred as the two principals, and which will be screened at the Opera House, commencing to-morrow (Friday) for three matinees and thru? nights. The film deals with the real life career of Vernon and Irene Castle, who danced their way from obscurity to fame in a few brief years, and who created many of our finest ballroom dances. Covering the period from 1911, when Vernon Castro was a knockabout c jmedian on ‘ Broadway, to his untimely death in an , airplane crash in Texas during the I World War, the picture presents a I panorama of the pre-war days and a | cavalcade of the tunes of that era, along with the brilliant dance routines created and popularised by the dancing Castles. Going to Paris when Lew Fields scornfully told Vernon and Irene that ‘‘nobody would pay money to see a man danc e with his wife,” the then unknown pa r nearly starved in the French capital before they got their start dancing in a Paris cafe. Within a few montns they were the sensation of'"■’Europe, and their triumphs abroad were topped by their success in America, as the film, vividly discloses. Wiwi Edna May Oliver, Walter Brennahj Lew Fields and other noted playersjin important roles, the picture is sain to be one of the most entertaining offerings of the year, and its many danfe routines and old-time song hits njake it the most unusual vehicle the AstaireRogers team has ever had. t Regent Now Showing: “OLD BCtNES OF THE RIVER” and “MR MjOTO TAKES A VACATION.” [ A new Will Hay comedy is always an eagerly anticipated screen event. ! In “Old Bones of the River,” which is i adapted from the famous Edgar Wallace West African tale, “Lieutenant Bones” he appears as Professor Benjamin Tibbetts. The story provides some of the most unique and uproarious situations and will keep you laughing long after you have seen the film. Will Hay’s attempts to assert his pedagogic authority over the precocious native children—and their parents; his reasoning with recalcitrant tax-payers whose only assets appear to be wives and goats; his inexperienced mothering of a wide-eyei piccanniny whom he takes under his

wing when he has snatched her from, the jaws of a sacrificial death and the ingenious brainwaves he adopts to stall off the belligerent natives and hold the English residency until help arrives—all these highlights of comedy set up new landmarks in the history of cinematic hilarity. Supporting Will Hay are two outstanding comedians, Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott, w'ho are seen as captain and crew of the s.s. “Zaire.” WEIRD ADVENTURE. Getting mixed up with murderers and international jewel thieves probably wouldn’t exactly be your idea of the perfect vacation. But that’s what Mr Moto spends his time doing in “Mr Moto Takes a Vacation,” the newest of the 20th. Century-Fox thrillers, starring Peter Lorre as the famous detective. / The film takes Mr Moto to the Arabian desert and he meets his most exciting adventures to date while providing a safe escort for the Queen of Sheba’s priceless crown jewels. Joseph Schildraut, Lionel At-

will, Virginia Field, John King and Iva Stewart head the supporting case. Patrons are advised to book early. ’Phone 601 now.