ENTERTAINMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 145, 19 June 1944, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES MAJESTIC THEATRE. That thrlllingly magnificent screen classic, "Phantom at the Opera,” screens at the Majestic Theatre today in conjunction with "Londontown's" Queen of Song competition. Filmed in Techniclour, the production has astonishing pictorial qualites; but the drama, the music and the performances ot its players must be called matchless. The note of terror and hot suspense which accompanies every scene, is completely fascinating. Co-stars Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster and Claude Rains give distinguished portrayals. Eddy, as the Paris Opera star who loves the ambitious young vocalist, has the most colourful role of his career. Miss Foster, appearing as the singer, wins new laurels. Rains is the "Phantom.” His sinister portrayal of the musical composer who mystifies and terrorises the personnel and patrons of the Paris Opera, is one of the screen’s all-time acting classics. REGENT THEATRE. Among the attractions awaited with keen anticipation locally in Republic's large budgeted Roy Rogers western “Idaho,” which screens at the Regent Theatre to-day. Inspired by the Hit Parade song "Idaho,” the film is said to embrace all the elements or colour and romance which made the song famous. Teamed with Roy Rogers in the comedy lead is the inimitable Smiley Burnette, remembeted fondly by local western fans as Gene Autry's comic pal “Frog Millhouse.” Virginia Grey has the feminine lead, and Ona Munson portrays a femme "heavy.” Henry Stephenson has the starring role in the associate feature, “The Man Trap." OPERA HOUSE. Af Walt Disney's insistence, nothing in “Victory Through Air Power” can be classified as fantasy. Realism is the keynote, and all animation sequences, whether air raids, naval battles, or illustrations of strategic points, are based upon factual information supplied by the author and a large research staff. Filmed for entertainment purposes, the picture is informative as well, and is kept well within the bounds of plausibility. Its purpose is smply 1o illustrate the air theories and views of Major Alexander P. de Seversky, who wrote the book and also plays in the live-action sequences of the film. This latest Disney combination live-action and animated feature runs full length and screens at the Opera House today. Also on the same bill is a musical Walt Disney feature, “Saludos Amigos." DUCHESS THEATRE Never has the screen more clearly demonstrated its ability to be powerfully articulate in the expression of human emotion or in the conveyance of the highest idealism in terms of utter simplicity than in M-G-M's beautiful production of “Mrs. Miniver,” screening at the Duchess Theatre tonight.