DRAMATIC JUNGLE FILM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21293, 21 September 1932, Page 12

DRAMATIC JUNGLE FILM

"CONGORILLA" FOR MAJESTIC

One of the most enthralling pictures that has been presented in Auckland, " Congorilla" will commence a season at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. It is a gripping story of the interior of Africa, with its bird,-beast arid native-life in all its savage phases. This is a distinct departure from the usual type of exploration film in that it was entirely produced in Africa, thus being authentic in every respect and achieving a remarkable degree of realism. It was made by two intrepid explorers and adventurers, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnson, who are under a life contract to the American Museum of Natural History to film all wild life possible. The progress of the jungle adventurers is cleverly kept entertaining by the sense of showmanship which Mr. Johnson undoubtedly combines with his courageous qualities, and the feature that probably helps more than anything to bring crowning success to the production is the sound —impressive in its naturalness. It is welcome to find jungle thrills which carry the undeniable stamp of reality. Not an inch of the picture, which took two years of work and peril to make, was staged. " Congorilla" discloses secrets of the jungle heretofore hidden from civilisation. Gorillas, Bft. tall and weighing 10001b., vie with the earth's tiniest humans, the pigmies of the Itura Forest. These incredible beings present weird sights that go back to the primitive days, and the camera has succeeded in recording all their quaint customs. Huge elephants,; slithering reptiles, floating islands of flesh, mad rhinoceri, ferocious lions, millions of birds, and, in fact, every conceivable animal in the African junglo appears with all the stark realism that the combination of the camera and sound equipment can give. One of the most interesting aspects of tho film is the insight which it provides into the habits of the gorilla, the king of apes. For centuries this ferocious beast has defied man to probe the depQis of his secrets. The Johnsons, however, penetrated into his haunts and laid bare the way in which he lives and lights—one scene showing two gorillas in mortal combat. Altogether, " Congorilla" is a film that should meet with a fine Teception from Auckland "audiences.