AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21386, 14 July 1931, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS

OCTAGON THEATRE “ Anybody’s War,’’ featuring Moran and Mack, of “ The Two Black Crows ” fame, constitutes the principal him on the present programme at the Octagon Theatre, This is an hilarious comedy which gives these two artists every opportunity of displaying their remarkable genius for portraying the humour of the American darkie. Tired as ever, Moran and Mack Willie and Amos Crow respectivelydecided they will join the other recruits *rom the little river town of Buford, Tennessee, and go to the war, just, as they say, “for the ride.” From the time they board the transport until they land in France is one unending sequence of hilarious misadventures, while all the time the audience is bombarded with the droll “ wise-cracks,” clever cross-talk, and dry philosophy which have ever been associated with the names of Moran and Mack. There is, for instance, a discussion on toe proverb, “Time and tide wait for no man,” and so adroitly do the two artists twist the phrase, and so easily do they run on from one idea to another, that there is a wealth of ingeniously-arranged humour. It is all very ridiculous, no doubt, and any tendency towards the conventional is soon diverted by some absurd irrelevancy; but this only helps to make the picture the first-class comedy that it is. It is doubtful, however, if anyone but Moran and Mack would be capable of turning all this nonsense into humour, and presenting it so acceptably and with so little effort. Truly, as far as they are concerned, it is “Anybody’s War.’” It does not worry them particularly, and thus the picture runs merrily to a riotous climax. A strong supporting programme also shown. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol. ' “ FOR THE DEFENCE.” An excellent double-feature programme will be shown at the Octagon Theatre on Friday next! It will be composed n f two-Paramount features —“For the. Defence,”- starring William Powell, and ** The Best People ” (picturised as “ Fast and Loose”),, the highly amusing.comedy which caused such a furore throughout New Zealand a year or so ago. William' Powell’s powerful portrayals of worldly men have gained him a great reputation in' the film world. “ For the Defence " is a story of a brilliant and crafty attorney whose sensational work in the courts of the big city attracts world-wide attention. He is so successful in defending his clients, many of them criminals with vicious past records, that he incurs the enmity of the police. It is this animosity which plays a part in bringing Powell himself before the bar of justice as a prisoner.! Through a series of thrilling dramatic Twists the story, shows Powell faced with a threat of gaol from which he cannot escape without incriminating the. woman he loves. The-finale bolds a terrific dramatic .climax. Kay Francis, who was Powell’s neglected wife in “Street of Chance,” is not nearly so neglected in the role, of his sweetheart in “For the Defence.” “For the Defence” was written by Oliver H. P. Garrett, author of “ Street of Chance,”. and is based on, a story ", by Charles Furthmann, former criminal defence lawyer. “ Fast and Loose,” starring Fred Newmeyer, tells of the.raodern younger generation. Two children of a wealthy. family fall in love with a chorus girl and a chauffeur, and find that the in-laws they have picked object to them strenuously, because of their wealth and . wastrel habit?.,' On this foundation there is built a surprisingly entertaining story. T. EMPIRE THEATRE Superbly acted and extremely cleverly, staged, Dracula,” which heads this week’s programme at the Empire Theatre, is noteworthy mainly for the remarkable fidelity with which the producers have captured the atmosphere Of Brain Stoker's remarkable story. -. Wonderful as the artificial -aids are, however,' the picture would not be nearly so convincing without such a masterly actor as Bela Lugosi in the leading role—that of the weird, inhuman Count Dracula. The directors made a happy choice. in .selecting this star • for the part, for, apparently, without the aid of any other make-up than that of an evening suit, he gives, by his facial expression and 'wonderful acting, an impersonation of. a human vampire which could hardly be excelled; Others in the cast five splendid - renderings, such' as. Dwight 'rye, whose acting as the madman crazed ; with the lust for blood and helpless in the power of .Dracula, is a most powerful ■portrayal. A .varied and entertaining supporting programme is also shown, and Mr Leslie V. Harvey a wellchosen programme of organ music. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol. “BODY AND SOUL.” , Unusual interest. centres in the new picture, “ Body and Soul,” which will be commenced at the Empire Theatre on Friday,, because it stars the new find, Elissa Landi. Talking picture production has developed so much along the lines of screen drama that a search has necessarily set in for actresses of great emotional power—women capable of giving 'reality and .naturalness to the very tense “ situations ” that screen drama delights in. Some of these “ situations ” have been obviously beyond the capacity of certain old “silent” stars, who have either sacrificed restraint in a vain effort to “ shake things up ” or who, erring in the other direction, have fallen 'into -flatness. . Of Elissa Landi it can be- siid '(reports a’ northern critic) thatshe - has the - magnetic quality that bolds', an audience without effort. There is no labouring toproduce an effect, but the effect is there. She is subtle without inviting the accusation of subtlety; at the same time,,.there is something ,elusive about her —something clearly felt, hut not obtrusive. Passion as presented by Landi cannot; tax; the s credulity—though ■ this is frequently'the case when poor actress and a poorer director come together. The east ia riot only beaded by players of personality. like. 1 Landi and Charles Farrell, but is composed of capable support players. Farrell is a flying officer, who, against orders, flies with his nervous chum (Watson) when the latter loses his life iff ' carrying ' out ', an order to destroy a German balloon. In Watson’s interest, Farrell seeks ; out Watson’s mistress in 'London, arid; meets Watson’s widow, who poses as the mistress. This lady is played by Landi. Although he wrongly believes her to have been Watson’s paramour, Farrell is fascinated by . her, and this is where Landi’s art has its opportunity. Both are accused of spying, but the de-nouement-is that .Mrs Watson reveals her identity, and the real spy is the mistress (Myrna Loy). The management has been fortunate in securing as an added attraction Stan Lawson and his versatile troupe of dancers, including Miss Rosetta Powell, late ballet mistress of the Ambassador’s Theatre, Perth. Arrangements also have been made to photograph the Capping Procession, and this film will be screened for the first time on Friday. The box plans are at the Bristol and the theatre. REGENT THEATRE -Excellent- entertainment of a eolo.urfully romantic character. is provided by “Dixiana,” the; current attraction at the Regent Theatre. As a- spectacle ! purely and simply it is a remarkable achievement, the • staging being not so much a lavish affair as a striking example, of what Can be achieved by a close attention to detail and by making the most of the material to hand. The undoubted merit of “Dixiana,” however, does not lie solely in the setting of some of, the ma'jor scenes, for these are only ■ incidental to the story, but in the treatment of the actual theme by the players themselves, the cast as a whole maintaining a uniformly high standard of artistic effort throughout the production. . Under able, fdirection the colourful Scenes of life in the south' of America in the days before the Civil War, when ladies wore crinolines, and slaves worked on their masters’ plantations, are invested with a romance which is singularly appealing, the final scenes of the mardi gras, filmed in techmeolour, achieving a brilliant climax to a production in which the standard of settings, photography, and sound recording is consistently high. There is also a wealth of excellent music running through the film, several of the principals being heard in tuneful and enjoyable vocal numbers. whilst the accompaniments for the ballets and general ensemble work are particularly bright and catchy. The principal roles are, taken by Bebe Daniels, Everett Marshall, and Wheeler and

Woolsey. There is a very good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the Bristol.

“ RANGO.”

Entertainment different from the usual run of screen fare will be featured at the Regent Theatre, beginning on Friday next. The picture in question is Paramount’s “ Rango,” made in the jungles of Sumatra by Ernest Schoedsaek, co-producer of the amazing film, “ Chang.” In “ Rango ” Schoedsaek has gone one step further than he did in “ Chang.” That one additional step makes “ Rango ” a unique and unusual picture. For in “ Rango ” Sclxoedsack not only brings to the screen primitive animal life, but also, in story form, contrasts human life with animal life in the jungle. “ Rango ” reveals how masterfully Schoedsaek has carried out his novel idea, using four characters—two human beings, Air: and his son, Bin; and two apes, Tua and his son, Rango. Here is a gripping account of primal life, amazing in its realism, chock-full of pathos and comedy, throbbing with suspense, alive with terror and excitement. The film contains many thrilling sequences depicting the killing of tigers,. panthers, and cither ferocious animals. And for a sensational climax, the film shows a man-eating tiger chasing and killing little Rango and then taking after the boy. Bin. The child is saved by a water buffalo, who kills the tiger after a desperate, terrific struggle. “ Rango ” parallels in story form the human life and the animal life in the jungle. That was Schoedsack’s idea—to show that for both man and ape'in the wilds, life is a bitter, fierce struggle for existence. Both must fight to live. Both must wage unceasing warfare upon their common enemy, the vicious tiger—terror of the jungle. In “ Rango ” Schoedsak has accomplished an almost impossible task. He has made of “ Rango ” a full and complete dramatic story. It took unmatched patience. It. took magnificent courage. The result is a superb photoplay, abounding in breath-taking thrills, peppered with bright humour (for the apes in particular are natural comedians), and throbbing with dramatic detail unique in the annals of the motion picture. On the same programme there will be screened a delightful farcical. comedy, with four big stars, “Social Errors,” starring Leon Errol (the famous comedian), Richard Arlen, Stuart Erwin, and Mary Brian. Errol, who was born in Balmain, a suburb of Sydney, has the role of a bad man. His attempts to make Arlen wander from the path _of righteousness lead to a series of amusing adventures on a modern health farm, where Arlen meets Mary Brian, as the daughter of a big gas and oil man who declines to be in good health. Erwin, who was so good in “ Playboy of Paris,” has the part of afa amateur' sleuth. There will be a special morning session of “ Rango ” on Saturday next at 10.30.