AMUSEMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 270, 29 October 1932, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

ARCADIA TALKIES, HASTINGS ‘‘THE MENACE” Lovers of the exciting in film entertainment have thrilldom at its best in a screen adaption of an Edgar Wallace best-seller that opens at the Arcadia to-night. It is ‘‘The Henace,” which was transferred to the screen by Columbia Pictures from the well-known story “The Feathered Serpent.” “The Menace” is a tremendously thrilling drama of vengeance. An escaped convict returns to his ancestral home externally an entirely changed man, but internally still burning with the desire to prove himself innocent of the murder of his father and bent upon tracking dow n the guilty parties. An oil-wall explosion proved a blessing in disguise for Ronald Quale. His mutilated face was entirely remade, and when he returned to his ancestral home, Quale Manor as Robertson Crockett nobody recognised him. As Robertson Crockett, a wealthy oil man anxious to buy the indebted Quale Manor, he becomes a willing victim of the erooked designs of his step-mother, Caroline Quale and her two accompli ces, who were the real murderers o'f his father. Working on the theory that when thieves fall out the just man gets his dne, Ronald tosses something good to the thieves to fight about and in time they all bring in their own con vietions. His plan of action develops a series of exciting adventures typical of Wallace’s genius for the melodram atie.

MUNICIPAL THEATRE, HASTINGS. “THE DOOMED BATTALION.” Once in a blue moon a motion picture is produced which admits of no criticism. A blue moon and a full one at that is in order this week, because Universal’s tremendous*drama of war on the Italian front, “The Doomed Battalion,” which is at the Municipal Theatre, Hastings, is just that kind of a picture. It is tremendously absorbing. The story deals with a beautiful friendship between a mountain guide of the Austrian Tyrol and an Italian gentlemen which is cemented by the perils of many Alpine climbs. Suddenly the World War arrives not only to part them but to place each in opposing mountain companies contesting for a vantage peak. This tense situation develops when military orders force the Italian to attempt annihilation of. his friend s detachment by blowing up the top of the mountain. Suspense runs high right up to the thrilling climax. Tala Birell, a young European actress of exceptional promise, has the feminine lead as the heroic Austrian wife and mother, a role permitting full play of her emotional talents. Victor Varconi plays the Italian officer to perfection, and Luis Trenker is perfectly east as the mountain guide, a role he formerly played in real life. The comie relief goes to Henry Armetta, as the careless orderly. COSY TALKIES, HASTINGS. “SPEAK EASILY.” Hilarious antics . . . high-speed action . . . and a bevy of beautiful chorus girls provide excellent entertainment in “Speak Easily,” Buster Keaton and Jimmy "Schnozzle” Durante’s new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy at the Cosy Talkies, Hastings. The two comedians sent the audience into screams of laughter at their madcap antics during a wild theatrical venture in New York City. Keaton portrays the millionaire college professor who finances the show and Durante is •Timmy, the eccentric piano player who is his companion through the venture. The two comedians are assisted in their antics by Ruth Selwvn, sparkling in the feminine lead as Pansy Peets, small-time chorus girl, and Thelma Todd, who exercises her alluring blonde wiles on Buster and "Schnozzle” with devastating effects. Hcdda Hopper scores in a "mama” r ole as Mrs Poets, jealous guardian of Pansy, and Lawrence Grant is convincing as Dr Bolton. The balance of the east wt>o ranahlv fill their roles includes Sidney Toler as their stage manager. n '"iry Armetta as Tonv, the aerobnt, William Pawley and Edward Brophy.