AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 5 April 1948, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House

Finally To-night: “The Verdict.’’ Commencing to-morrow; ‘Two Smart People” and “The Crimson Key ” Laid against such diversified settings as Beverley Hills, the Mexican desert and New Orleans colorful Mardi Gras, with Lucille Ball and John Hodiak paired in a romantic tale of two swindlers who almost outsmart the law, “Two Smart People/', commences at the Opera House to-morrow. Miss Ball is seen as Ricki, a suave dealer in faked art masterpieces, who first encounters Ace Connors (Hodiak) wheu he botches up one of her fraudulent sales. Despite his interference in her career, Ricki succumbs to the charms of the pensonable Ace and is doubly impressed when she discovers him to be one of the country’s most-sought-after crooks. In other words, they have a lot in,common. Their idyll, however is interrupted when the law, in the person of Detective Bob Simms (Lloyd Nolan) catches up with Act and is about, to take him into custody for the theft: of a half-million dollars in gilt-edged securities. Through a series of circumstances, Ace is able to make a curious deal with the detective. He promises to give himself up, providing he and Ricki are permitted a last four-day fling. The occurrences, both dramatic and romantic, of this strange holiday which has its climax in the midst of spectacular Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, make for a narrative continuous in excitement and rnounting tension, with the suspense of whether the principals will make a getaway after all held until the very end. “THE CRIMSON KEY." A new film venture into which is Unfolded thrill-packed mystery, sheer suspense and an exciting story “The Crimson Key,”' with Kent Taylor, Doris Dowling in the leading roles, commences at the Opera House tomorrow. Touched off by the disappearance of “The Crimson Key,” and the murder of its owner, the action centres around a doctor and his wife, a nurse, an actress and an artist. Violence and murder are the, keynote as the search for the missing key brings on an unusual chain reaction.

Regent Theatre

Finally To-day: “My Favourite Brunette” with Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour. Commencing to-mor-row: “Ivy,” starring Joan Fountainei Patrie Knowles, Herbert Marshall.

Dynamic drama and breath-taking suspense are skillfully blended in one of the most gripping stories of the year in “Ivy.” Beauteous Joan Fontaine has the title role In this production which is based on Marie Belloc-Lowndes novel, “The Story of Ivy.” Without a doubt the actress will make a strong bld for her second Academy Award with her superb performance in this film.

Exceptionally strong male support is given Miss Fontaine with a trio of Hollywood’s best actors, Patrie Knowles, Herbert Marshall and Richard Ney. Ney portrays the husband she murders and Knowles the lover upon whom she casts suspicion so that she can be free to pursue the wealthy Marshall. Other rorles in the film also are played by supremely competent performers—-Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Lucile Watson, Rosalind Ivan, Sara Allgood, Henry Stephenson, Lilian Fontaine, Paul Cavanagh and Una O’Connor.