AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 13 September 1946, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House

Now Showing: "Sign of the Cross,” starring Fredric March, Elissa Landi, Claudette Colbert, Charles Laughton. Once again Cecil B. DeMille’s modernized production of “The Sign of the Cross” proves an enthralling spectacle. Rome, the Eternal City, is the scene of the screen’s greatest spectacle of faith and love in the days when its glitter and glory were matched only by the revelries and bloody violence of the madman Nero. As Rome blazes and the depraved Nero (Charles Laughton) snickers with insane glee, those near to his throng cast about for some way by which the blame for the fires may be shifted. Tigelinus (lan Keith) provides the way; the frightened, populace shall be told that the new, secret band of strange worshippers who call themselves Christians will be blamed. Orders go out to round up all such disbelievers. In the drive that follows, a drive of many days and many cruel intrigues, Nero’s soldiers and the citizen mobs corral a number of followers of the Sign of the Cross. Outstanding among them because of her pure faith and virgin beauty is Mercia (Elissa Landi), who infatuates Marcus (Fredric March), the Prefect of Rome, much to the rage of the jealous Poppaea (Claudette Colbprt), who orders a public and bloody holiday for the rabble of Rome, where gladiators are thrown in combat boxing with spiked gloves; and the Christians are thrown to the ravenous ferocity of 200 lions. Cecil B. DeMille used a cast of approximately 7500 in this lavish spectacle. Regent Theatre Now Showing: “Thrill of a Romance”, Starring Van Johnson and Esther Williams. Starring Van Johnson. and Esther Williams', the new technilcolour musical, "Thrill of a Romance”, is now showing at the Regent Theatre. Supporting the stars is a superb cast. Lauritz Melchior, the famed Metropolitan Opera tenor, makes his' film debut and sings, “I Love You”, and “Schubert’s Serenade”. “Thrill of a Romance” is the enchanting story of a beautiful swimming instructor, Esther Williams, ' who is rushed off her feet by a highly successful business man (Carleton Young). Their honeymoon af a swank resort is interrupted by his being called away to Washington on business, and then the lonely bride meets Van, an Air Corps Major on leave fl’om the South Pacific. Before .they realise it, they find themselves in love with each other, although neither will admit it, and! each of them fights it. Esther is in a most awkward position—and she sends Van away. It is' only when Young finally appears that the truth

of the situation develops, permitting Van and Esther to pursue the true course of love. Also outstanding in this picture is the music which includes such popular favourites as “Please Don’t Say No”, “I Want What I Want”, “Vive L’Amour”, “Song of India”, “Hungarian Rhapsody”, and “I Love You”. •