AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 18 July 1941, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House Now Showing: “Convoy,’’ starring Clive Brook and Judy Campbell. No film in recent years has so gripped the imagination of tne people as “Convoy,” the motion picture of the moment, now showing at the Opera House with canvas crammed with high geared thrills, despei - ate adventures, resounding naval encounters, pulsating acts of individual heroism and adorned with bluff, sardonic humour of the British bluejacket and men of the Merchant Service this large scale production fulfils up to the hilt every demand for a topical drama extolling Britain’s command of the seas. Its direct, unadorned acting serves to throw into greater relief the reality of the subject, matter, while a human story effectively serves to give the otherwise individual naval battles complete unity. A flagship., expecting leave, is ordered to sea without a breathing space to convoy a fleet of merchantmen. Among the latter is a’ tough old skipper who thinks he can do better away from the convoy and takes his ship, packed with refugees, on a course of his own. On the flagship the Captain (Clive Brook), is disconcerted to find the Admiralty have appointed as his lieutenant the man who ran away with his wife and left her stranded. The girl in question is on the refugee ship which is soon in difficulties with a U-boat. The flagship Captain ignores her S.O.S. lest he imperil the rest of his charges, but the Lieutenant dispatches a plane to its , assistance, only to have it shot down. Though the Captain’s wife is saved, and explains away his bigoted misjudging of his younger colleague, the flagship has to engage singlehanded the German pocket battleship, “Deutschland.” The whole production is alive with action from end to end, with every ingredient of popular entertainment . skuiuiiy moulded into a film you will really enjoy <&d long remember John Clements plays the part of the Lieutenant. Judy Campbell, as the love--troubled wife and Edward Chapman as the tramp skipper.

Regent Now Showing: “THE GREAT VICTOR HERBERT.” The latter picture is Producer-Di-rector Andrew Stone s solution of the problem of building a drama around Victor Herbert, a man whose life was singularly lacking the excitement vital to a film plot. Stone has produced one of the season s most dramatic pictures. Not so much a biography of Herbert as a drama of the composer’s influence over the show world of his day, the film tells of the romance of a stage-struck girl and the matinee idol of the day, who meet in Herbert’s gay world, find fame in his operettas and happiness in friendship with the great man. Miss Martin, as the young girl comes to New York with her only assets uncommonly good looks, a tine singing voice and a determination to make a name on Broadway. Her lucky aay comes when she meets Herbert’s premier star, Jones, who falls in love with her, makes her his wife and later his stage partner. Follow the couple’s dramatic experiences over which Herbert, in the person of Connolly, casts a shadow. Their struggle to stay in public favour, to prevent their marriage from becoming “just another Broadway affair” and to make another star of their talented daughter form a fast-paced backstage story. Miss Martin only needed one role to make her name famous- Her singing of “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” in “Leave It To Me”, did tne trick.’ Another newcomer in “The Great Victor Herbert” is Paramount’s sensational singing discovery, 14-year-old Susanna Foster. Others figuring importaittly are Lee Bowman and Judith Barrett. Some of Victor Herbert’s best-remembered songs intersperse the story, including: “A Kiss in the Dark,” “Kiss Me Again,” and “I’m Falling in Love With Someone.” Patrons are urged to book early. ’Phone 601 now.