ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21895, 22 December 1932, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT. EDMUND LOWE, CLAUDETTE COLBERT, STUART ERWIN. “THE MISLEADING LADY.” The scenarist has infused something of an original flavour into the plot of “The Misleading Lady,” which is showing at the Regent again to-night and to-morrow. The idea behind the story is that of a girl (Claudette Colbert), who has such strong designs on the leading role of a big show, that she guarantees to prove her acting abilities by having a certain man ■ (Edmund Lowe), fall in love and propose to her. There is an exciting twist to the climax that keeps you very attentive to the action. Stuart Erwin, as a crazy kind of character, who dumbly imagines he is Napoleon, creeps in and out of the picture, leaving bursts of merriment in his train. It is one of the best of his later roles and, in fact, he aids largely in the success of the film. Miss Colbert, wealthy, bored and dissatisfied with a round of bridges, luncheons and the like, attempts to obtain the leading role in a play to be produced by Robert Strange. He is unconvinced, and she stakes the job on her ability to make Edmund Lowe, returned South American mining engineer, fall violently in love with her at a house party. She succeeds, but the secret is unfortunately brought humiliatingly home to Lowe by accident. He immediately goes into action, via the caveman route, beginning by kidnapping Miss Colbert and taking her to his mountain cabin. She puts up a game fight and is finally chaiped to the wall by Lowe. The scenes within the cabin are amusing and evoke loud laughter. Stuart Erwin appears quietly on the scene as a harmless and mild lunatic who firmly believes he is Napoleon and Lowe, attempting to quiet the insane Erwin, indulges in a bit of horseplay. George Meeker, Miss Colbert’s fiance, who trails them to the cabin, revolver in hand, is disarmed by Lowe. The keepers come for Napoleon, and when a gun goes off, Miss Colbert, now thoroughly tamed, of course, jumps into Lowe’s arms instead of those of her erstwhile intended husband. The supporting programme includes a Paramount News with many items of particular interest, one being the winning of the 220 metres breaststroke swim at the Olympic Games by the Australian, Claire Dennis. The Paramount Pictorial deals with trout fishing, new footwear styles and Rubinoff and his violin. There are also a Mack Sennett Comedy and a Cartoon. CHRISTMAS COMEDY SPECIAL. THE REGENT, SATURDAY. THE MARX BROS. IN “HORSE FEATHERS.” Paramount’s “Horse Feathers,” latest of the mad, merry comedies of the Four Marx Brothers, opens at the Regent matinee on Saturday. Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo are again cast together in a picture that affords them opportunities for the same type of nonsense they presented in “Animal Crackers,” “Monkey Business” and “The Cocoanuts,” their three previous movie efforts. An amusing plot holds the picture together. Groucho is a college president, because that’s the only way, it seems, he can get his son Zeppo, out of college. Zeppo has been there twelve years. With the co-operation of Chico, village bootlegger, and Harpo, village dogcatcher, he ultimately accomplishes his object. Upon this frame is built many a comedy situation. Groucho talks at his usual rapid-fire rate; Chico puns in dialect; Harpo says nothing and chases every blond in sight; and Zeppo makes love to the best-looking girls available. There is some good music in the picture and, as usual Chico is at the piano again and Harpo plays the harp. CIVIC THEATRE. GEORGE ARLISS. The last two nights are announced of the “first gentleman of the screen,” George Arliss, in that delightful “Arliss” picture, “A Successful Calamity.” The picture is having a wonderfully successful run. for this time of the year and picture-lovers who enjoy a really worth-while picture can rest assured of a fine evening’s entertainment at “A Successful Calamity.” The supporting programme includes a good variety of subjects, “Screen Snapshots,” “Herald News,” “A Mail Bride,” “Sports Slants” and a cartoon, “Ritzy Hotel.” The first change of programme at the Civic Theatre is announced for Saturday when, commencing at the matinee, that tomboy of the screen, Winnie Lightner, makes what should be a welcome reappearance in a comedy entitled “Sit Tight.” She is assisted in the fun making by Joe E. Brown. Winnie Lightner, whose battle to lose surplus weight was signally successful, had no chance of gaining back any excess weight during the filming of “Sit Tight,” her latest feature comedy for Warner Bros. As Dr Harper, health specialist, Winnie puts in several very strenuous weeks in her role in “Sit Tight.” For that matter so did Joe E. Brown, her partner in the comedy. Miss Lightner and Joe E. Brown carry the burden of the comedy in “Sit Tight” and Claudia Dell and Paul Gregory are the romantic leads. Lloyd Bacon directed. “Sit Tight” is for laughing purposes only and in these strenuous times a hearty laugh does one good. Seats may be reserved at the Bristol or Theatre ’phone 1744. THE MAJESTIC. “THE WASHINGTON MASQUERADE” LIONEL BARRYMORE AS A SENATOR. “The Washington Masquerade,” a drama concerned with the lobbyist workings in the American capital, with Lionel Barrymore in a dominant role as a senator who falls victim to a woman’s wiles, is the latest attraction at the Majestic Theatre. The picture is based bn the Henry Bernstein play, “The Claw,” in which Barrymore scored one of his greatest stage performances. The plot deals with a senator who becomes a national power and a leader in the fight for public ownership of utilities. The vested interests set a woman to “vamp” him. After he marries her. she tricks him into being the tool of the lobbyists. Disillusionment comes, the dramatic climax occurring in the Senate Chambers, where Barrymore, in/an impassioned speech, tears asunder the structure of “inside” politics. As the political leader, Barrymore has a role which gives him even greater dramatic opportunities than did his brilliant portrayal of “A Free Soul.” The important role of the woman who betrays him is filled by Karen Morley, who also played with Barrymore in “Arsene Lupin.” Diane Sinclair, former society girl, makes her screen debut in the production as Barrymore’s daughter, and the part of the “heavy” is played by Nils Asther, who recently scored in “Letty Lynton.” Among the dramatic highlights of the piece are Barrymore’s speech before the Senate, ■ his defiance of the political machine, i the “hazing” on the floor of the Senate, Barrymore’s disillusionment. on learning the true character of the woman he has married, the spectacular Presi- . dent’s reception, the official banquet ; and its dramatic denouement, and the : sensational fight before the Senate In- ;

vestigating Committee. The supporting items complete a first class programme. “CONGORILLA.” THE MAJESTIC SATURDAY. Gorillas in mortal combat, a pygmy courtship, wedding and honeymoon with huge elephants, ferocious lions, mad rhinoceri and other wild beasts as witnesses, a white woman narrowly escaping death from a charging rhino, a river alive ‘ with floating islands-of flesh and slithering reptiles, the capture of two kings of the apes and hyenas menacingly teasing a lion and his kill. These are just a few of the hundreds of unparalleled thrills and sights revealed by the greatest jungle picture ever made, “Congorilla,” made by Mr and Mrs Martin Johnson who also appear in it. Incidentally, it is the only talking picture ever entirely taken in the African jungle. The audible . screen has never beheld so sensational a spectacle as that which “Congorilla” can boast. Millions of wild jungle birds, thousands of primitive savages and primeval monsters. When the Johnsons are not battling man-eaters they are battling the elements. When the elements are conquered, new menaces lurk in their path. Sounds, weird and penetrating, that humans have never heard, will pierce audiences and hold spectators spellbound. “Congorilla” will commence a season of three nights and three matinees at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday.