MAJESTIC THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 15

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“A Night at the Opera” Those enormously funny fellows, the Marx Brothers, are again in town. They are appearing at the Majestic Theatre this week in one of the most amusing farces seen in Wellington for a very long time—a picture with the intriguing title “A Night at the Opera.” This film is a happy blend of riotous comedy with serious excerpts from the opera "11 Trovatorc,” the whole show providing delightful entertainment. The name of the film conjures all manner of possibilities with the three famous brothers, Groucho, Chico and Harpo loose among grand opera. One can have no hesitation in assessing this picture as tlie brightest this comedy team has given to the theatregoing public. Groucho hustles through the show us Otis B. Driftwood, busine-s manager for Mrs. Claypool, a wealthy widow and patroness of opera. Harpo is first discovered as the dresser of a particularly detestable opera singer, then as many other things, and Chico, who becomes the self-appointed manager lor a promising tenor, Allan Jones, who is in love with a beautiful soprano, Kitty Carlisle. The early sequences are in Milan, where, the maddest circumstances combine to send all these people aboard a liner for America. On the voyage the trio of Marxes get into every sort, of trouble that the sea can suggest. They impersonate three bearded airmen and are welcomed by the Mayor of New York. Thence the action moves to the Grand Opera House, where the trio transform the rarefied atmosphere of music into a bedlam. Some of the most laughable moments ensue when the brothers take charge of events back stage. It is hugeiy amusing when Chico and Harpo, hunted by the police, find refuge among the ropes of the flies high up over the stage. The result is that the background scenes change in subject while the principals are singing dramatic pieces from the operas, the effects being incongruous in the extreme. Having succeeded in kidnapping the detested opera star at a critical moment, thus giving the handsome young tenor his big chance, the trio have done their work. The finale is the "Miserere’’ from “Il Trovatore,” sung by Allan Jones and Kitty Carlisle. The supporting bill includes a comedy, "Important News.” newsreel subjects, and a technico’.our film depicting modern Tokio. KING’S THEATRE “Fang and Claw” Terrifying iu its reality is Frank Buck’s latest effort for the talking screen, “Fang and Claw,” which is to be seen at the King's Theatre this week. As the big game hunter who hunts tlie wild animals of Central Asia, not with guns, but humanely with ropes and snares, Frank Buck’s name has become a household word. On this, his latest expedition to obtain animals for the zoological gardens of America, his captures have eclipsed those obtained on any of his previous attempts. Giant crocodiles, enormous pythons, and even a rhinoceros, are among the animals shown being captured by Buck, while a" amazing record of the capture of the largest tiger ever seen in the Malay jungles is presented in this film. In “To Beat the Band,” which is the supporting feature on the programme, that amusing comedian. Hugh Herbert, is seen at his funniest. He plays the part of a gay old bachelor who, although well past jiis prime, is unwilling to settle down. News of tlie fact that under the terms of his wealthy aunt’s will he is to inherit the sum of 49 million dollars on condition that be marries a widow within three days of the receipt of the news of he r death causes him to think out a scheme whereby he can outwit the old lafl.V- A certain amount of “double-crossing" ,ou the part of various interested parties provides an ending that is amusing in its unexpectedness. An especially fine newsreel completes' tlie pi-wtraimne. KILBIRNIE KINEMA Three stars, Miriam Hopkins, Merle Oberon, and Joel McCrea, are presented with the opportunity to display their brilliant acting at its best in "These Three, commencing at the Kilbirnie Kincma today. It boasts something new in dramatic situations knit together with a skill that results in smart-paced, smooth entertainment. Bonita Granville, the 12-year-old. who plays the spiteful schoolgirl whose vicious lie motivates the story, is one ot the great acting discoveries of motion picture history. -‘Red Hot Tires,” a th 1 ’ 1 -’’ ling story of the race track, played by Lyle Talbot and Gavin Gordon, is on the same programme.