AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 22 July 1941, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House Now Showing: “In Old Monterey” & Gene Autry, Public Cowboy No, 1, sets a new all-time high in entertainment in the super musical western drama, “In Old Monterey” now showing at the Opera House, and as usual is supported by Smiley Burnette ana June Storey, whilst others in the cast include George (“Gabby”) Hayes, The Hoosier Hot Shots, Sarie and Sailie, popular Hill-Billy performers, The Ranch Boys, Billy Lee and Jonathan Hale. “In Old Monterey” an excitingly different Western story of the struggle of a group of Western ranchers to regain their land, confiscated by the Government for an army bombing base. Autry, as an army officer, chosen by the Government as an intermediary between the army and the ranchers, succeeds with a peaceful settlement. The songs included in the picture are: “It Happened in Old Monterey”, “Barn in the Saddle,” “My Buddy”, “It Looks Like Rain”, “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” “Little Pardner,” “Virginia Blues,” “The Vacant Chair” and “Columbia, Gem of the Ocean.” “MUTINY IN THE BIG HOUSE” Smashing action is the keynote of “Mutiny in The Big House,” a thrilling prison drama su r -"-ested by an actual prison riot, now showing at the Opera House. The film is a tribute] to Father Patrick O’Neil, a prison chaplain, who risked his life to break up a riot in Colorado State Penitentiary in 1929, and for which he was awarded the Carnegie Medal for heroism. The story deals with J ’- - lives of men behind bars. Father Joe, a prison chaplain, works for the rehabilitation of Johnny Gates, sent to prison for a ten dollar robbery, rteu Manson, a murderer, tries to convert Johnny to his anti-social philosophy. Red engineers a mass prison break with hun* dreds of convicts. Manson, the man of murder, and Father Joe, man of mercy, face each other, one with a gun and the other unarmed, Johnny proves that the Father’s teaching has not been in vain. The three major roles in the film are portrayed by Charles Bickford as Father Joe. Barton Mac Lane as Red Manson, and Dennis Moore, a newcomer, as Johnny.

Regent Now Showing: “South of Pago Pago”. Edward Small knew that he had a great screen property in “South of Pago Pago”, an epic of South Seas romance and intrigue. That is why he spared neither energy nor expense, and chose an impressive cast headed by Jon Hall, who won sensational fame as the hero of “The Hurricane.” Other important names in the cast include Frances Farmer, Victor McLaglen, Gene T.””knart, Douglas Dumbrille, Olympe Bradna and Frances Ford. Howard Small has a number of successful films to his credit including “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “The Man in the Iron Mask” and in “South of Pago Pago” he has produced the biggest thriller since “The Hurricane.” “South of Pago Pago” tells strange adventures of Bucko Larson and Ruby Taylor on an expedition to a fabulous pearl bed. Larson uses all kinds of foul methods to enslave the.natives on the island of Manoa so that they will dive for pearls. Kehane, handsome son of the island chief, falls in love with Ruby, never dreaming that she is a Singapore cafe girl. Things go from bad to worse for the innocent natives until Ruby manages to save the day for the islanders and to free them from Larson’s . cunning and violence. The principal location site in inming “South of Pago Pago” was on the famous Kona coast on the island of Hawaii. Here 2,000 natives were employed, 300 canoes were assmebled and an entire native Village built near the foam 1 ”"- surf. For technical reasons, it was necessa’"- to make many key scenes on a sound stage, so Producer Small called in his noted art director, John Du Casse Schulze, and commissioned him to build an exact replica of the village. Plans are now open at the theatre. ’Phone 601. HOSPITAL BALL TO-MORROW. Schaef’s Hall should be the rendezvous of a record crowd for the annual Hospital Ball being held to-mor-row evening, the proceeds being for the Distressed Nurses’ Fund, to replenish kits of Anzac nurses who took a prominent part in the campaigns in Greece and Crete, An energetic committee of nurses is arranging the ball, which should be one of the best attractions of the winter season. The Dixiana Dance Band will provide the music, and patrons will be treated to an appetising sitdown sunner. Mr P. Sweetman will have. charge of the floor.