TALKIE ATTRACTIONS

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 31 January 1933, Page 2

TALKIE ATTRACTIONS

“BRING ’EM BACK ALIVE.” JUNGLE PICTURE AT OPERA HOUSE. ‘‘Bring ’Em Back Alive,” the fascinating jungle picture, held another audience in absorbed interest at the Opera. House last night. The film will be screened finally to-night. In a be-hind-the-scenes report of “Bring ’Em Back Alive” it is interesting to note that some of the best sequences' were not sought after. Happy accidents took place, as may be surmised, in the capture of the baby elephant. Many scenes were, to be sure, the result of well-laid plans. But not even, thejnost placable elephants will desert one of their offspring to provide motion picture audiences with “elephant interest.” The elephants passed on and were photographed, and the baby pachyderm would have been overlooked had he not suddenly discovered that ho was alone. Then he set up a howl which attracted Mr Buck’s' attention, and that part of the picture was quickly added to the film. Several other “lucky breaks” found their wav into the celluloid. It had been beyond the most optimistic plans of Mr Buck to include a camera account of a fight between the crushing-jawed crocodile and the black panther. As a'matter of fact it was hard to understand how a panther, usually crafty as well as exceedingly pugnacious, could fee so foolish as to investigate a. “croc.”

“ON OUR SELECTION.” Those who have read the novel by Steele Rudd will be awaiting with interest the screen version “On Our Selection,” which will open at the Opera House to-morrow for a season of five nights and five matinees. The story of the hardships' and humour of the life of a family in the Australian backfelocks i;s full of natural comedy, interspersed with touches of 1 pathos that make for the best in screen entertainment.

Phenomenal success has attended the screening of the production in Australia, for wherever it has been shown all previous records l for attendances have been broken. In Sydney the film was shown for six weeks at the Capitol Theatre, and. was subsequently transferred to another theatre, where its success was continued. In some country towns special sessions commencing at 10.45 p.m. had to be arranged in order to cope with the thousands of patrons desirouls of witnessing the production. This modern story of dad, mum, Dave and all the rest of the bighearted Australian family, characteristic of the pioneer families of the “outback,” is indeed a triumph for Austral inn film production. As a stage play the story proved outstandingly •successful, and the additional scope afforded by the audible screen has enhanced the humorous aspect of the entertaining theme. The gorgeous natural beauties of the Australian bush in .its spring splendour have been vividly captured. No better actor than Bert Bailey could have heen Chosen for the principal part of “Dad,” for he had played the character many times on the stage, as had most of the other artists, such as Fred MacDonld. as “Dave” ; All'freda. Bevan,” as “Mum”; Willie Driscoll, as “Uncle Rudd”; and. Lilias Adeson, “as “Dave’s Girl.” All these players are Australians and! each one is said to fit perfectly into his or her part. It may be confidently expected that the picture will repeat in New Zealand the success which ft achieved in Australia.

Seats may he reserved at once at Mi ss Blake’s.