AMUSEMENTS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 10377, 15 May 1930, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

THE REGENT. H. B, Warner, one of the greatest character actors on the screen at the present day, will be seen in a thrilling story at the Regent to-night titled “Stark Mad.” fi’he story concerns James Rutherford, who heads an expedition into the South American jungle to find his sou, Bob. The party includes Irene Hawley, Bob’s fiancee; Captain Rhodes, commander of the yacht: and Amos Sewald, an explorer engaged to head the expedition. Percy Dangerfield, an authority on the jungle, intercepts the party, bringing with him Simpson, a lunatic, who claims to be the only white man ever to emerge alive from the interior. Despite Dangerfield’s efforts to dissuade them, the -group proceeds into the jungle, making their way to an ancient Inca temple. Here, their experiences are terrifying. The lanterns carried by the explorers are mysteriously extinguished and with a piercing scream Irene disappears behind a huge door blocking the way to the sacrificial chamber. The men finally succeed in forcing entry to the rom and find Irene in a faint just out of the reach of a gigantic ape chained to the floor. They pass to other chambers of the temple to spend a night of hair-raising adventures as Sewald is killed and messages are found warning the party to leave at once or suffer the same fate. A sentimental attachment has grown up between- Dangerfield and Irene, the explorer ever guarding the girl from possible attack. Suspicion points to Captain Rhodes when it is discovered that his supposedly paralysed arm is in fact not paralysed at all. He traps the others in a room and releases a mechanism which causes the floor to gradually disintegrate, dropping the flagstones to the quagmire below. Just when it seems as though they all must die, Simpson tells Dangerfield how to unlock the door. In a most terrifying climax the characters of "Stark Mad” finally solve the mystery of the unseen power of the jungle. It is a wonderful picture, recommended by the Censor more especially for adult audiences.

OPERA HOUSE. “Wolves of the Underworld,” which is reported to be a very absorbing and thrilling production, will be featured on the specially selected double star programme at the Opera House on Friday and Saturday. The story runs as follows: Bolinski. head of a gang of forgers, gets Ruth, one of his assistants, to trap a famous private detective, Stuart Webbs. He then turns his attention to Gerald Elgin, wealthy paper manufacturer, who has tne contract for making bank notepaper. He involves him because of his past with Ruth. Meanwhile, Webbs escapes, and gradually traces the forged notes to Bolinski, who, fearing Ruth’s loyalty, murders her. Webbs is successful in capturing the gang red-handed and freeing Elgin from his fear of blackmail. The popular Ken Maynard is saidto excel himself in tae exciting Western drama, “North Star,” which also features the dag “Strongheart.” A Gazette, Travelogue, Cartoon and Comedy will also be shown, t