AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 5 December 1940, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House Now Showing: “DEVIL ON WHEELS” and “MEXICAN SPITFIRE.'’ “DEVIL ON WHEELS.” With fast-talking Pat O’Brien, Ann “Oomph Girl” Sheridan, the exotic Gale heart-breaker John Payne, and comical Frank McHugh in the leading roles, “Devil, on Wheels,” spine-ting.ing drama of automobile racing, now showing at the Opera House for a season of 3 matinees and 3 nights. The story concerns the efforts of Pat O’Brien, champion race driver, to make John Payne, his younger brother, continue with college, and not follow in his own footsteps. But John is bitten by the racing, and his added romantic interest in Ann Sheridan, whom Pat dislikes, causes the brothers to feud, climaxing in a race in which .Pat’s best friend, Frank McHugh, is killed in a spectacular crash. The accident breaks Pat. H e gives up racing and vanishes. Gale Page, Pat’s logal. girl friend, knowing if she is ever to locate Pat it wou.d be at the Memorial speed classic at Indianapolis, goes there. She finds him at the tracks, a se,edy, broken figure. As they I watch Payne compete’ with another driver for the number one spot during th e last laps of the race, there is a, minor accident. John needs a relief driver, and before Pat realises what is happening, Gale has rushed him to’the pits. In a dramatic, sensational scene, Pat again comes into his own, and is reconciled to his brother. “MEXICAN SPITFIRE.” Tempestuous Lupe Velez and her inimitable style of comedy, combined with the laugh-making proclivities of th e rubber-legged comic, Leon Errol, will have audiences in a panic when “Mexican Spitfire,” now showing at the Opera House. The feminine firecracker, Lupe, plays the title role in this laugh-feast which divides its locale between New York and Guadalajara, Mexico. A sequel to the star’s recent comedy, “The; Girl From Mexico,” the current RKO Radio film again presents the actress a s a Mexican entertainer married to Donald Woods, advertising man. Plot of th 6 story revolves around the efforts of Linda Haynes, us the groom’s jealous ex-fiancee, to break up the marriage so that she can marry the personable young man. In* this cause she has the support of Elizabeth Risdon, the groom’s snobbish aunt. On the other hand Leon Errol, the uncle, is heartily in accord with the marriage, althougn ms blundering efforts to straighten out their martial troubles always boomerang. As a result of one of their schemes which backfires, Lupe and the uncle find themselves fleeing to Mexico, Errol to avoid arrest lor

forgery and impersonation, and Lupe to obtain a quick divorce in the heat

of jealousy. Many of the film’s most amusing scenes occur in Mexico and lay th© foundation for the ensuing hilarious events which take place m New York when the couple return there. They find Woocis at a bachelor dinner on the. eve of his marriage to his former sweetheart. A telegram arrives advising Lupe her divorce is illegal This is the spark which ignites a little bundle of feminin e TNT. The wedding ceremony turns out to be a shambles, the malicious rival is given a good working over, and Lupe ' gets back her man. Regent FINALLY TO-NIGHT: “‘THE YOUNG IN HEART.” Commencing Friday at the Matinee “BALALAIKA.” Janet Gaynor, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Paulette Goddard made their debut as an exciting new screen trio t in David O. Selznick’s comedy romance “The Young in Heart.” Roland “Topper” Young Billie Burke, Henry Stephenson, Richard Carlson, romantic newcomer from the New York stage, and Minnie Dupree head the imposing supporting cast of this film now showing at the Regent Theatre. Blazing a musical trail from Petrograde to Paris over the strife-torn Russia of the Czars, the screen operetta, “Balalaika,” presents Nelson Eddy and Ilona Massay, Hollywood’s newest singing star, in a thrilling, colourful and romantic musical drama. It tells a tale of romance z between a Colonel of Cossacks and the daughter of a revolutionist in the •midst of social upheaval, and gives an opportunity for an expensive musical programme that ranges from Russian folk songs to a love song by Franz Lehar comedy songs by Herbert Stothart, and even the operatic version of a Rimsky-Korsakoff ballet suite. “Balalaika” is based on the London stage musical success by Eric Maschwitz and is'heralded as one of the most stirring and colourful musifilm of the year. Patrons are advised to make their reservations early as the booking are heavy. ’Phone 601 or call at the theatre booking office.