AMUSEMENTS Opera House

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1948, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS Opera House

Now Showing: “High Barbaree,” starring Van Johnson and Junie Allyson. Van Johnson and June Allyson, the sweethearts of “Two Girls and a Sailor”, are sweethearts again, this time in “High Barbaree”, M-G-M’s stirring drama of an everlasting love, now showing at the Opera House. Shifting from a dramatic episode in the South Pacific with two men facing a relentless doom, the story flashes to a small mid-western town, the, home of Alec Brooke and Nancy Fraser. Portrayed in their childhood stages by Claude Jarman, junr., and little Joan Wells, the narrative brings them to the adult roles played bv Johnson and Miss Allyson, with Alec shown as a successful airplane corporation executive who has renounced his ambition to become a doctor under the persuasion of Ins boss’s alluring daughter, Diana (Marilyn Maxwell). When Nancy, now a nurse, again enters Alecs life and rekindles their old love, it becomes clear to him that he wants neither his executive’s career nor the predatory Diana, a situation dramatically emphasised in a tense episode

in which the town is levelled by a hurricane, forcing Alec to call upon his medical knowledge in ministering aid to the wounded. Others in prominent roles are Thomas Mitchell, Marilyn Maxwell, and Claude Jarman, junr. Regent Theatre Now Showing; “Caesar and Cleopatra,” starring Vivien Leigh, Claude Rains, Stewart Granger. Everything about “Caesar and .Cleopatra” is on a stupendous scale from the mammoth sdts in all their glory of Technicolour to the thousands of people who crowd the scenes. Nearly two thousand players were used as extras, and over a hundred named players are seen in the main character roles, whilst the cast is topped off by the presence of three stars, Claude Rains, as Caesar;-Vivien Leigh, as Cleopatra; and Stewart Granger. The story is based on a comnaratively minor military excursion made by Caesar into Egypt. This campaign led to the historic meeting of Caesar and Cleopatra, a romantic theme that has intrigued the world ever since. The romance and _ adventures of that meeting are given full colourful life on the screen, and the scenes are a wealth of sheer delight. drama, laughter, danger and thrill. Most notable is the contrast between the fresh, zestful entertainment provided by the stars and the magnificence and power of the film settings. The army of subsidiary character players also lend richness and diversity to the entertainment. “Caesar and Cleopatra” will prove; a memorable experience.