AMUSEMENTS

Grey River Argus, 12 April 1948, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

Opera House Finally To-night: “The Beast With Five Fingers” and Joe Louis v. Joe Walcott Fight. Commencing tomorrow: “The Basher Doubloon” and “Beat the Band.” Crackling with the suspense a pd thrills of one of Ace “Whodunit Raymond Chandler’s top mystery novel “The Brasher Doubloon commences at the Opera House to-mor-row with Nancy Guild and George Montgomery in leading roles. The fast-moving, action-packed thriller starts when Marlowe is called in by a Pasadena wddow to recover a rare and valuable coin stolen from her late husband’s collection. Marlowe agrees to take the case, only to find out the coin is a medium of exchange for blackmail information. Almost before he can get his bearings, several burders are committed, and he find himself under suspicion by the police. Meanwhile, he has fallen in love with the widow's pretty secretary—Nancy Guild —although every indication points to her being a homicidal maniac. With the pressure of the police on Marlowe becoming more intense as violent murder punctuates every step of the way, and with the necessity of resolving his own romantic interest in the psychopathetic Miss Guild, the story is brought to a blazing climax of action and thrills. “BEAT THE BAND” A happy blend of riotous comedy and tuneful music are contained in the musical comedy romance “Beat the Band,” commencing at the Opera House to-morrow, with Frances Langford and Philip Terry in leading roles. The story deals with the misadventures of a young band leader needled by his over-zealous manager and his romance with the star who plays a candidate for laurels in the broadcast field. Regent Theatre Finally To-day: "Sister Kenny" with Rosalind Russell, Alexander Knox and Dean Jagger. Commencing to-morrow: “London Town,” starring Sid Field, Claude Hulbert, Sonnie Hale, Greta Gynt. “London Town” is a gay colourful musical, with tunes that will set the errand boys whistling. It has lovely girls in lovely frocks to charm the eye, sophisticated Greta Gynt and beautiful Kay Kendall for true feminine appeal—and that lovable, warm humour characteristic of Sid Field. Wesley Ruggles’ musical technicolour production “London Town” has created several records—it is the first film in which Sid Field, brilliant English comedian appears; the first colour musical ever to be made in Britain; the first time in Britain that glafnorous girls have been searched for, selected and groomed for a film in the Hollywood style; and it is the first film to be made at Sound City Studios after six years of war during which time they were occupied by the R.A.F. and aeroplane manufacturers. "London Town” is a gay colourful musical and the production numbers are elaborate with settings and costumes that far outshine anything made for musical in Britain before.