AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 19 December 1940, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House

Now Showing: “ASK A POLICEMAN” & “SECRETS OF AN ACTRESS.”

'I he hilarious comedy, “Ask a Policeman,” starring Will Hay and assisted by Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott, now showing at the Oper a House. Will Hay is m good form as a floundering country police-sergeant, while Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott appear as his even more dull-witted assistants. Supporting them are Peter Gawthorne, Glennis Lorimer and Charles Oliver. Sergeant Dudfoot, in charge of the village police constabulary, is proud of the fact that during his ten years of office the area has been free from crime. The Chief Constable, however, on reviewing the situation, sees no further use for .retaining the local force. Dudfoot is downcast at the prospect of losing his quiet and congenial job and he, with his deputies, Albert arid Harbottle, realise that’ they must find a crime wave in order to justify their retention. They set out to invent a gang of smugglers who are using the coves for concealment of contraband liquor, but their mythical schemes become real. The manner in which they endeavour to catch the smugglers provides most of the fun, but their blundering carries very little weight with the Chief Constable and they finish up as ex-policemen.

“SECRETS OF AN ACTRESS.’’ Giving, as the title implies, a really intimate glimpse of the private life as well as the public career of an actress, the exciting romantic drama, “Secrets of an Actress,” now showing at the Opera House, -as as its star Kay Francis, whilst the two men in the life of the heroine of this interesting slice of the lives of this prominent theatrical folk are played by George Brent and fan Hunter, the former being a brilliant scene designer and the other the producer who gives Kay her first chance at Broadway stardom. Both men are in ±ove with Kay. She likes the producer and is grateful to him for what he has done for her, but it is the artist to whom she gives her love. He, however is bound to a mercenary wife, played' by Gloria Dickson, who does not love him but adopts the fabled dog-in-the-manger when she learns he loves another woman. How this tangled skein of human and professional relations is unravelled, is told in an'exciting and amusing fashion.

Regent Finally To-night: “THEY SHALL HAVE MUSIC”. Commencing Friday: “VIRGINIA CITY.” — [ “West of Dodge City there’s no law,” was a byword in the old west. ■ And west of Dodg:e City there was [Virginia City, a city of gold, 'ruled by lead. Virginia City was as colourful as the gold that brought it into existence, and just as unheeding of law and order. It is this background against which Warner Bros, have set their exciting new film in the stormy days at the close of the Civil War.

Southern sympathisers in Virginia City have banned together and raised some five million dollars which is to be smuggled out and sent to the Confederate (Southern) Army. Flynn as a Union (Northern) Intelligence officer, gets wind of the plan, and sets out for Virginia City with some plans of his own. On the stage-coach jonrney he meets Julia (Miriam Hopkins), who is the new singing and dancing star at the famous Sazerac Cafe in Virginia City. This marks the beginning of a hectic romance which has as many ups and downs as the terrain of Nevada. Pitted against Flynn in his battle to divert the gold to the Union Army is Randolph Scott, as a Confederate officer, and John Murrell (Humphrey Bogart), notorious highwayman, who intends to divert the gold to his own uses.

Critics who have previewed “Virginia City” call Miriam Hopkin’s performance the surprise of the year. As the spitfire queen of the dancehall its a complete change from the dramatic roles she has been playing. Flynn, in the reckless, dashing type

of role, is said to do one of his best characterisations. ’Phone 601 and make your reservations.