AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 23 July 1941, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House

Now Showing: “In Old Monterey” & “Mutiny in the Big House.”

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 otners in the cast include George • (“Gabby”) Hayes, The Hoosier Hot Shots, Satie 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 kevnote of “Mutiny in The Big House,” a thrilling prison drama su—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 1 - lives of men behind bars. Father Joe, a prison chaplain, works for the rehabilitation oi Johnny Gates, sent to prison for a ten dollar robbery, rteu Manson, a I murderer, tries to convert Johnny to < his anti-social philosophy. Red en-1 gineers a mass prison break with hun-* | dreds of convicts. Manson, the man : of murder, and Father Joe, man or 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 I 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 ot Pago Paeo”, 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 m the cast include Frances Farmer, Victor McLaglen, Gene T --khart, Douglas Dumbrille, Olympe Bradna and Frances Ford. Edward 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 oiggest thriller since “The Hurricane.” “South ot 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, inings 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 uiming “Soutn of Pago Pago” was on the famous Kona coast on the island of Hawaii. Here 2,000 natives were em- , ployed, 300 canoes were assmebled and an entire native village built near the foanrn- surf. For technical reasons, it. was necessar- 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-NIGHT. Schaef's Hall should be tne iendezvous of a record crowd for the annual Hospital Ball being held to-night (Wed.) 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 supner. Mr P. Sweetman will have charge of the floor. BALL AT MOANA. One of the best-attended balls to be held in Moana, took place last Saturi day evening under the auspices of the |Te Kinga Home Guard. Visitors ' were present from as far north as Inchbonnie to Hokitika in the south, Greymouth, Blackball and Ikamatua. The hall was decorated with ferns and greenery, together with flags and coloured festoons. The music was supplied by the Victorian Orchestra and the Kokatahi Band. During the evening, Mr W. Muir, of Hokitika, gave a yodelling cowboy song. Extras were played by Mr N. Nestor. The M'onte Carlo waltz was won by Mr D. Klempel and Miss Laugeson. The Mysterious Mr X was won by Miss S. Muir and Mrs X was not located. Mr H. Feary was M.C. Supper was supplied by a ladies’ committee. During the evening an |air-raid siren was sounded, whereat, a black-out occurred and bombs were dropped, but no damage was reported. A few seconds later, the all-clear signal was given, and dancing continued.