AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 7 October 1941, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House Now Showing: “Constantinople Express” and “Seventeen.” “CONSTANTINOPLE EXPRESS” Adapted from a French novel “The Chinese Fish,” thQ film “Constantinople Express,” a topical story inspired by the September (1938) crisis, is now showing at the Opera House. with John Loder, Valerie Hobson and Rex Harrison in the principal roles. Despite it’s strong- topical flavour, there are no politics in the picture, which deals in spectacular dramatic fashion with efforts to keep the peace of Europe at a time of international emergency. Armament makers are seen intriguing for war, and scenes of a revolution which forms the climax have been done on a wide and realistic canvas. John Loder has the part of a French newspaper reporter with pacifist ideals, who. at the beginning of the story is called up for military service when a crisis is threatened; when the trouble blows over he returns to Paris where he meets his sweetheart, Valerie Hobson, only to find that she has unwittingly become the dupe of interests which are seeking to plunge Europe into war. Rex Harrison has been. entrusted with the tricky role of a great French detective who is investigating the trouble leading up to the crisis. “SEVENTEEN” When a young -man’s fancy turns

to romance, he has apparently, as the old adage suggests, reached the age of seventeen. Suph a young man is portrayed by Jackie Cooper in Paramount’s “Seventeen,” Booth Tarkington’s famous classic adapted for the screen, now showing at the Opera House. As a small town lad who is acutely conscious of approaching manhood, Jackie finds himself in the throes of a desperate love when a beauteous and highly sophisticated young lady from the big city arrives in town. To the increasing alarm of his father, nlayed by Otto Kruger, and mother, Ann Shoemaker, Jackie begs, borrows and does everything but steal, to court the young lady, admirably portrayed by Betty Fields, the actress from the Broadway stage who made a hit in her screen debut in “What a Life.” When his friends desert him and his youthful pursuit of the fickle maiden strikes a dead end, Jackie finds warmth and understanding from his family, even to his impish young sister, who is -eternaiIv intruding on the puppy-love aifair. And so at seventeen, the realisation comes that he is not yet a man. — ' i 1 Recent ' ' I Commencinq to-night: '‘Victory. “Victory,” Joseph Conrads stirring tale of adventure ans romance, will i commence at the Regent Theatre on | Tuesday. In the starring roles,

Fredric March and Betty Field give their finest performances. March, as Heyst, who hides from the world he fears, and Miss Field, as Alma, whose love helps him conquer his fears, are brilliant. Both penetrate to the very essence of the characters Conrad created. The same strange atmosphere that pervaded the book, the odd characters, the hair-raising adventures, the surpassingly beautiful love scenes, are all here in this picture which Paramount has brought us. The climax of the film comes when three unprincipled cut-throats invade their island paradise, prepared to do murder for the money they believe, March has hidden. The three villains are played by Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Jerome Cowan and Lionel Royce. Conrad’s story has been a romance and adventure classic for more than a generation and offers wonderful material for a screen play. The screen version of the great author’s unusual story was directed bv John Cromwell, who directed such film hits as “To Mary—With Love,” “The Prisoner of Zenda,” and “So Great a Man.” Plans are now open at the Theatre: make your reservations early. ’Phone 601.