TALKIE ATTRACTIONS

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 19 November 1932, Page 2

TALKIE ATTRACTIONS

OPERA HOUSE.

“SALLY IN OUR. ALLEY

Sally ‘in the humble coffee .shop nightly serving humble folk with food and drink and delighting them with her songs; Sally befriending a pool girl who has dreams of film stardom, who steals and lies and would smash anything if dared; Sally silently loving a soldier man, who, because he was grievously wounded had had her told that he was dead.;, Sally protecting the weak and fighting the strong with the ferocity of a wild cat—that is Sally of pur alley. ,Sally lives vividly in the film play which is now being shown at the Hawera Opera House with Gracie Fields in the principal role.

“Sally, how would your name and mine look over the door of my coffee shop—up there, you and me together?” And poor old fat Snam of the coffee shop sidles up to Sally on t/ie seat, ins enormous walrus moustache almost touching her cheek. “Yes,” says Sally, “up there. . . . but not down here.” And .Saam’s whiskers droop again. So with all he? admirers—Sally remembers her soldier. Her admirers and friends decided that Sally must be snaken from her dream. It is whispered that the soldier is not dead, and then things begin to happen. The soldier lover comes home/ and finds his way to Sally’s rooms. Sally is out but the poor girl she has rescued from her father and befrieaided is in. Sally’s man is made welcome by the. poor “film-acting” thing, who lies to him about Saljy, “who has changed,” and incidentally relieves him of his purse. When Sally comes in she is hanging round Ins neck and the. “changed” Sally shows him. the door. Of course love triumphs in the end and Sally and her man are united on the stage of the old coffee shop where he finds her singing the songs that delight Saam’s clientele. It is an intimate insight into the lives of London’s jffiast-Enders. The inns and the coffee shops ; the toilers, the loafers; the hardly old dames win. can sink their pint as well as the next man; and one brief excursion into the homes of th e rich, where Sally captivates with her song, receives her fee 1 and then is just poor Sally again. It is just London as the. popular imagination has it, and' it is played by Gracie Fields and a likeable cast. One can feel with Sally when she trusts her 1 dearest possession to her poor gn i friend who breaks anything when dared, and who can feel, with Sally, that good influence working on the weak, maniacal mind. But one likes Sally’s songs best of all, “Fall in and follow the Band (round the street organ with the slum children); and “Fred Fanakapan” will be remembered. Seats may be reserved at Miss Blake’s; ’phone 2713-'

GRAND THEATRE

“SOCIETY GIRL.”

“Society Girl,” the film drama from the Fox studios opening at the Grand /Theatre, pictures. James Dunn and Peggy Shannon as the principals in a romance which has the heroine shying from wedding hells. With an unconcern for public opinion quite in keeping with the attitude of the smart set she represents, Miss Shannon brazenly leads Dunn on in a. heart affair that is manifestly but a passing whim with her. Dunn, however, being a youngster from the masses where more oldfashioned standards are still in vogue, considers being in love and wanting to marry somewhat the;.same thing. Around this central point of difference, the dramatic conflict of the picture mounts through a vivid series of adventures said to be lightened by much humour and many deft characterisations to a climax that sis reported to be as unusual as the dramatic theme. Speweer Tlracy, as Dunn’s chief adviser and closest pal, carries the chief responsibility in the supporting east that also inch’/ies Walter Byron, Bert Hanlon and scores of others. It is the film version of the John Larkin, jnr., play of the same, name.

An episode of “Danger Island” will also be presented.