ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21660, 23 March 1932, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT. LEO CARRILLO, DOROTHY BURGESS, JOHN MACK BROWN IN "LAbUA OF THE RIO GRANDE.” Bang—bang—bang-—straight shooting; furious riding; cracking whips; and hetnan, barefisted fights! More action than the resourceful picture cameras have recorded since the days of the silents. That’s “Lasca of the Rio Grande,” the new attraction at the Regent which Universal transformed into a thoroughly excellent motion picture. It is practically impossible to go any farther without telling you about the star, Leo Carrillo. Senor Leo has graced the stage (in New Zealand as well as in America) in a score of distinguished character portrayals—the Italian of “They Knew What They Wanted,’ “Lombardi, Ltd.,” and “Mister Antonio” — the “bad hombre” of "The Bad Man,” but his Jose Santa Cruz of “Lasca of the Rio Grande,” suave half-bred-don-extra ordinary, is one that he must perform miracles to better. Most people will remember the story —the poetic creation, “Lasca,” whom the Mexican bad man wants and determines to get. A handsome Texas ranger changes all of that, only to have his love shattered bj - Lasca’s supposed betrayal of him. Lasca, the tempestuous senorita, eventually gives her life to prove her love for the ranger, and the halfbred’s behaviour through it all is a classic. But then, that hardly is the story—as compared with the manner in which Carrillo; John Mack Brown, as the ranger; Dorothy Burgess, Lasca; the lanky Slim Summerville and squatty Frank Campeau tell it to you. Miss Burgess offers a performance that even surpasses her somewhat similar and well-remembered role in “In Old Arizona,” and it is readily understood why the picture people skyrocketted the dainty little player to the featuredplayer class so quickly. John Mack Brown is, as always, John Mack Brown —a highly pleasing screen character with the world s most pleasing Southern drawl. And Slim Summerville —anyone who attempts to describe the comic antics on paper is “plumb loco,” as the quick-shootin’ “Lasca” might inspire the expresion! Slim is a grizzled old prospector this, time—and you should see "that scene between Miss Burgess and him, in the saloon! Frank Campeau, veteran of many a Western, is his partner in fun, and, as usual, turns in an excellent characterization. The photography, with its beautiful outdoor “shoots, ’ its scenes at dawn, and action scenes adds to the charm and beauty of a picture which will prove excellent entertainment to all who visit the Regent this mid-week. THE MAJESTIC THEATRE. “THE CISCO KID.” 'While 0. Henry is chielly celebrated for his incisive stories about New York, his tales of the south-west are just as good. One of his immortal stories “The Cisco Kid” is brought to life by Warner Baxter, who is featured with Edmund Lowe, Conchita Montenegro, and Nora Lane in the Fox picture of the same title which will be screened at the Majestic to-night, at a matinee Thursday afternoon and Thursday night. It is a romantic tale of the southwest of the ’nineties —of a woman’s loyalty and another woman’s kindness, and of the dual romance that came about as a result —of a picturesque outlaw who broke hearts as he broke banks, of a cavalry sergeant who found circumstances too much for him. With Conchita Montenegro as the dark charmer who attracts both men but cares for only one of them, and Nora Lane as the pioneer widow for whom the Kid risks his freedom, the feminine lure of the picture is amply provided for. As is to be expected of a story of this type from the pen of 0. Henry, the action all through is swift, and each character is imbued with that air of vitality and vigour that stamps the outdoor man. The picturesque Santa Cruz desert and the rugged Catalina mountains of Southern Arizona were the regions selected for the outdoor scenes, and the camera has caught some magnificent shots of those vast areas. “The Cisco Kid” is really a sequel to “In Old Arizona,” where the Kid, aided by a beautiful girl, escapes over the Mexican Irorder. This picture opens with his return, and Lowe, the cavalry sergeant, departs from Ford Huachuca in search of his old enemy. The trail leads to the little frontier town of Carrizo, where Carmencita is dancing in a saloon. The sergeant wounds the fleeing Kid in the shoulder, and then endeavours to get Carmencita to help him trap the bandit, but she scornfully refuses. Meanwhile, the Kid reaches a ranch owned by a plucky young widow, who nurses him back to health. In gratitude he stages a bank robbery to alleviate the lady’s financial distress, and this leads up to an exciting and unexpected conclusion when Ixnve finally tracks the bandit to earth. The cast includes Charlie Stevens, James Bradbury, jun., Willard Robertson Chris Martin Frederick Burt, Jack Dillon, Douglas Haig, and Marilyn Knowlden. Baxter in this picture proves himself a singer of no mean calibre. In addition to “The Cisco Kid,” there is also a generous supporting programme, the chief feature of which is a comedy drama entitled “My Friend the King”—a story by the well-known novelist J. Jefferson Farjeon. The picture is full of excitement as well as humour. Of unusual interest is a Fox Movietone News, in which some of the fighting in China is shown in a way that indicates that the cameraman himself ran no small risk from shell-fire and machine gun bullets. The pictures taken show the Jaoanese army in action. Other news films are also shown. The box plans are at the Bristol. “HUNGARIAN RHAPSODY.” OLD-WORLD FOLK SONGS. The new UJFA. super sound film “Hungarian Rhapsody,” directed by Hans Schwartz, to be shown at the Majestic Theatre on Good Friday night, is a pronounced instance of the superiority of sound over silent films. Rich peasant music recorded actually in Hungary, music that under .any other circumstances would never be allowed to linger in the ears of New Zealand picture-goers because of the immense cost it would entail, has been brought to the screen so that it is possible for every member of the community to see and hear. Thousands of peasants rejoicing in the harvest festivities, gipsy bands playing wild passionate melodies, trumpets blaring, flutes whistling, those unforgettable rhythms that have been the inspiration of many an old master are brought to the screen in a manner that will remain in memories never to be cast out. The leading roles in the picture, which is being released by Cinema Arts Films, are played by Willy Fritsch, Dita Parlo and Lil Dagover. Seats may be reserved at the Bristol.