AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1941, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House

FINALLY TO-NIGHT: <‘SWANEE RIVER.” Next attraction (commences To-morrow “THE BIG GUY” and “FUGITIVE AT LARGE.” “THE BIG GUY.”

Presenting Victor McLaglen and Jackie Cooper in a story which blends fast action and thrills with heart-throbbing drama, “The Big Guy” commences at the Opera House to-morrow (Tuesday). _ McLaglen, whose stirring emotional performances have won him the highest acting honours that Hollywood can bestow, is seen as the warden of a great penitentiary. When he unexpectedly comes into possession of a fortune in stolen money, the warden finds himself subject to the same desire to keep it which might affect any of the convicts under his care. Cooper portrays an ambitious young mechanic who, through a strange twist of fate, becomes involved in the escape of two convicts who kill an officer and leave Jackie to face trial for their crime. Although the story has an action background, and presents spectacular fights and running gun battles with police, the dominant theme is warm and human. Me-, Laglen as the warden torn between honour and greed is said to give his finest performance since “The In- | former.” The supporting cast ini' eludes Ina Munson, Peggy Moran, ' and Ed. Brophy. FUGITIVE AT LARGE. J'ack Holt, two-fisted action star of so many breath-taking melodramas, crashes through with another top-flight thriller in Columbia's “Fugitive At Large,” commencing at the Opera House to-morrow (Tuesday). ""Dealing with the close physical resemblance between a reputable construction engineer and the chief of a hold-up ring, this sensational new film tops the current output in the force and vigour of its action and in the abundance of its tense screen sequences. The ingenious plot makes the engineer the victim of a clever scheme contrived by the bandits, which sends the innocent man to prison on a framed’ charge. But the malefactors’ plans go awry as Holt intrepidly battles his way out of gaol and comes back for vindication and revenge in a series of breath-taking episodes. Thrill piles upon thrill as he escapes the guns of the pursuing posse only to plunge head-on into a hail of bullets from the guns of the very men who framed him. How he brings his enemies to justice is screen drama of the kind that must be seen to be appreciated. The outstanding supporting cast features such personalities as Patricia Ellis, Stanley Fields and Guinn (Big Boy) Williams. Regent FINALLY TO-NIGHT, “Night Train to Munich.” Commencing Tuesday, “DANCE, GIRL, DANCE,” Delightful New Film.

Using as its thematic basis the heartaches, joys and tempestuous romances of backstage life,' “Dance, Girl, Dance” is said to be the year’s unique screen offering. Maureen O’Hara, Louis Hayward and Lucille Ball have the stellar roles in this RKO Radio film, which is replete with spectacular dance numbers and captivating songs. The vivid story traces the adventures of an Irish dancer (Maureen) who dreams of some day becoming a famous ballet dancer, and of a go-getting chorine (Lucille) nwhose ambition is to lure any man who is financially attractive. Louis Hayward, tts a millionaire playboy who becomes one of her victims; Virginia Field, as his divorced wife, and Ralph Bellamy, as a 1 dance impressario who eventually | answers Maureen/s dreams, have I other pivotal roles, as do Mary Carlisle, Katharine Alexander, Mana I Ouspenskaya', Edward Brophy and | Walter Abel. Plans are open and patrons wishing to reserve ’phone 601.

One of Auckland’s oldest identities has been telling an interviewer about the early days. There were no attractive shops in the “Queen City” in the long ago—just a few general stores, “and sometimes,” said the veteran, with a smile, “when ships from overseas were delayed, as often happened then, we had to do without things it was hard to do without. I remember once all the storekeepers ran out of tobacco, and we had nothing to smoke for a week or two. It was poor stuff; that tobacco, anyhow. You’re better off than we were, for ‘toasted’ is sold everywhere now —as fine stuff as money can buy.” Such reminiscences are always interesting. Yes, and the difference ’twixt Auckland ancient and modern is hardly greater than that between ordinary tobacco and the genuine “toasted.” “As fine stuff as money can buy” certainly aptly describes Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), Navy Cut No. 3(Bulldog). Cavendish, Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold—so fragrant and delicious, so soothing and solacing, and —being toasted —so comparatively harmless!—Advt,