AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 16 December 1942, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House Now Showing: “Red River Valley" and “Raiders of the Desert." “RED RIVER VALLEY" The outstanding musical Western “Red River Valley” starring the popular cowboy personality Roy Rogers, with George (Gabby) Hayes, Sally Payne and Sons of the Pioneers in supporting roles is now showing at the Opera House. The story opens with Roy returning to his home town after making personal appearances with the singing troupe, the Sons of the Pioneers. In his absence someone has stolen the money which has been raised for the building of a muchneeded dam. and promoter Russ Allison is now offering to advance an equal amount as a loan if the ranchers will sign over their holdings to him. Allison convinces the ranchers that the signing is a “mere formality” and that he will relinquish his claims on their property as soon as the dam is built, but Roy is suspicious of his motives. Acting on the hunch that Allison himself has stolen the money, he sets a trap to make the promoter show his hand. The outcome of this provides a “surprise”’ finish filled with thrills and suspense. “RAIDERS OF THE DESERT” Excitement, comedy and novelty combine to provide a full measure of fast-moving entertainment in “Raiders of the Desert,” with Richard Arlen and Andy Devine in leading rolesNow showing at the Opera Hoiise. Intrigue and stealthy violence run rampant in Libertahd, a unique walled American city in the heart of the Arabian badlands, to furnish Arlen and Devine, soldiers of fortune, with plenty of exciting adventure. Set off against the thrills and escapades is a rollicking comedy situation involving Devine, Lewis Howard and Maria Montez, while Linda Hayes appears romantically opposite Arlen. Stirring highlight of the story comes when Ralf Harolde, portraying a warlike Arabian chieftain, sends his warrior tribes to attack the supposedly unarmed and peaceful citizens of the novel democratic community. . < . Regent Theatre Now Showing: Cecil B. De Mille’s “The Plainsman,” starring Gary. Cooper and Jean Arthur. “The Plainsman,” Cecil B. De Mille’s tribute to the men and women of America who brought civilisation to the plains, which is now showing at the Regent Theatre, is a sweeping panorama of America’s greatness in the making. Handsome Gary Cooper is cast as “Wild Bill” Hickok in the saga, and lovely Jean Arthur portrays “Calamity jane,” famous frontier-woman who loved the silent, hard-fighting peace officer but could not have -him. Their assignment to the leading romantic roles is regarded as a master stroke of casting. Cooper is widely known for his. portrayals of the outdoor man-of-ac-t’on, soldier-of-fortune and seeker-after-danger. “Wild Bill,” who was sent into the West by the government in the early seventies to find out who was responsible for selling guns to the Indians was all of that. “Calamity Jane,” on the other hand, was a hard-boiled beauty, equally familiar. With shooting iron 'and the "bullwhacker’s whip. There was something of the tomboy about’ “Calamity Jane” which is particularly adaptable to the hovdenish Miss Arthur.

Behind this tender romance De Mille paints on heroic canvas the whole of the American scene ten years which immediately followed the Civil War.

Plus an excellent associate programme.