ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21425, 20 June 1931, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

FREE MATINEE TO-DAY. AT THE CIVIC. Every school child will be admitted free to the matinee at the Civic Theatre this afternoon when "Tarzan, the Tiger” will be shown. This is the sequel to "Tarzan the Mighty" which was shown at the Civic some time ago. Frank Merrill and “Tantor” the elephant struck up a warm personal friendship during the filming of ‘Tarzan the Tiger.” The part of Merrill as “Tarzan” called for him to make use of the elephant in many stirring sequences of the picture. “Tantor” became so attached to the master of the jungle that he went to his aid on several occasions of his own accord. On one occasion he reached down his trunk to help Merrill out of a pit. On another, Merrill, while riding on the elephant’s back, swung into a tree by means of a jungle vine. “Tantor” halted in great surprise and refused to go on until he had seen where Merrill was. Natalie Kingston plays the heroine in this thrilling picture, which was directed by Henry MacRae. The film is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ famous novel, “Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar.”

THE CIVIC TALKIES. JOHN BARRYMORE IN "GENERAL CRACK.” Only those who have heard John Barrymore can appreciate what an event in the entertainment world his coming into talking pictures really is. The proverbially perfect Barrymore profile is not more perfect than the voice—than the utterly satisfying diction—which so superbly records. “General Crack,” the novel, which Warner Bros, chose for Mr Barrymore’s advent into audible films, gives him a starring role of unequalled possibilities. “General Crack,” a historical personage —reached the height of his power and notoriety during the reign of Leopold 11. of Austria. He was the son of the Duke of Kurland and a gypsy princess. Lust for power and cruelty, combined with unbridled passion which swept him from one love to another, made him a character, at once feared and admired. He became a dashing soldier of fortune, espousing whatever cause paid him the highest price. The affairs of Leopold of Austria being in a precarious condition, General Crack—first extorting a promise of half the gold of the Empire and the hand of the emperor’s sister, Maria Louisa, in return —sets forth against the foe. On the way he stops at a gypsy camp where the charms of Fidelia, a dancer, have captivated him. He contracts marriage with her and takes her to the Court, where Leopold presents him to the sister, who amazes the mad prince by her beauty. Leaving his Romany bride he goes to the front, wins gloriously, and returns to find that she has been false. Sentencing the offender to be shot, he turns Fidelia over to the tortures of her own people—and since the emperor himself has been implicated in the loves of Fidelia, the adventurer sets out to wreck the ruler's fortunes. Hif; armies are defeated, and General Crack is about to wreak further vengeance wh< n he discovers that Maria Louisa really loves him. He restores the command and orders the emperor and his sister back to Vienna. What is his surprise to see the army returning with Russian reinforcements and the beautiful Maria Louisa at the head of the troops. She demands his surrender and—-his hand in marriage! They ascend the lost throne of his father together. But this is the merest skeleton of a story, thrilling in the extreme, with the glamour of many loves, of gypsy hordes, soldiers of fortune, and picturesque life. Mr Barrymore is superb, and his support is more than satisfactory. “General Crack” is John Barrymore’s best characterization which is saying a great deal for its excellence. The natural colour sequences are gorgeous.

THE REGENT. "HALF SHOT AT SUNRISE.” BERT WHEELER AND ROBERT WOOLSEY IN GREAT COMEDY. The bounding nit-wits of “The Cuckoos” are at it again. Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, equipped with an even funnier story, outfitted with a set of brand new gags and tearing around at a wilder pace than ever before, will be seen in their latest feature comedy howl, “Half Shot at Sunrise,” starting to-day at the Regent Theatre. This favourite fun team of the talkies is said to surpass all previous achievements in “Half Shot.” Wheeler and Woolsey are seen as doughboys absent without leave, in Paris, where they experience the most hilarious of events. Their comic antics are hailed as even more amusing than in their previous successes. “Rio Rita,” “Dixiana,” and ‘The Cuckoos.” The new wartime comedy brings an unusually fine cast in support of the stars. Dorothy Lee, diminutive comedienne, again cuts capers with Wheeler and Woolsey. Hugh Trevor and Roberta Robinson carry the romantic theme. Leni Stengel and Edna May Oliver are seen in comedy roles. Paul Sloane, who directed “The Cuckoos,” again handled the megaphone for Wheeler and Woolsey in “Half Shot.” The production has been made on a lavish scale. Although the comedy predominates throughout the show, a tender romance has been woven into the story. Grand scale scenic effects form a brilliant background for the picture. The songs, five rollicking ones, were written by Hardy Tierney, with lyrics by Anne Caldwell. The settings are the most elaborate ever seen in a production of this type, including an entire Parisian square and gigantic vistas of No Man’s Land. Dance numbers, offering sensational precision routines, are by the Tiller Sunshine Girls, brought from London for the picture. Dorothy Lee plays opposite Wheeler, while Leni Stengel and Woolsey comprise a new and laughable screen couple. Romantic interest is furnished by Hugh Trevor and Roberta Robinson. Paul Sloane, who made “The Cuckoos,” directed.

THE MAJESTIC.

WINNIE LIGHTNER IN HER LATEST COMEDY TRIUMPH ‘THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.” The big attraction commencing at the Majestic Theatre to-day is Winnie Lightner's very latest and best comedy picture ‘The Life of the Party,” an unusually massive production done in technicolour. Miss Lightner is aided in the creation of laughs by two celebrated comedians—Charles Butterworth and Charles Judeis, while other principals of repute are Irene Debroy, Jack Whiting, John Davidson and Arthur Hoyt. The critic of the Dominion, Wellington, in describing the opening showing of “The Life of the Party,” writes: “Warner Bros, have assembled for this picture a big comedy team, each in an individual style, which puts to shame the comedy provided in many another previous pictures drawn up on the same lines. There are three or four distinct comedy characters, each putting across their laughs in what seems t.o be a competitive spirit, aiming to tie up the audience more effectively than the other man at the top of the cast, of course, Winnie Lightner continues her well-known habit of a top-line gag every 20 seconds. Right from the first scene her attack is marvellous. She puts the picture on its feet straight away with one of the best songs she has ever sung. The first hilarious scene leads in quick succession to others of the same type.” Supports to the big picture are great entertainment and include the latest Australian Fox Movietone News. The box plans are at the Bristol until 12 o’clock to-day afierwards at the theatre. REGENT THEATRE, GORE. TWO FIKE SPECIALS. Comedy and romance are the two great features of the new programme which will be screened at the Regent Theatre, Gore this afternoon and evening. The first comes

from the Fox special “Soup to Nuts” a hilarious comedy written by Rube Goldberg, Hollywood’s famous cartoonist and author of many comedies. It is said that to hear the soup and see the nuts in this amusing comedy is sufficient to make the most doleful pessimist laugh. The romance is supplied by Zane Grey’s outdoor masterpiece “Last of the Duanes” a thrilling and absorbingly interesting story of the old west.

THEATRE ROYAL, WINTON.

The final screening of the all British spectacle, “Balaclava,” will take place at the Theatre Royal, Winton, this evening. The charge of the Light Brigade is one of the tense scenes in this daring drama. Ben ita Hume and Cyril McLaglen supply the love interest which revolves round a young Scottish officer.