ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 21897, 24 December 1932, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE “CONGORILLA.” ADVENTURE IN DARKEST AFRICA. Because every one of its sounds is natural, having been captured in the jungle itself, and not synchronized into the film long after its makers had left Africa far behind them, “Congorilla,’ will be greeted with an enthusiastic reception at the Majestic Theatre today. Other jungle films claimed that their sound was thp real thing; “Congorilla” proves how the public has been misled. The effect of the authentic noises obtained by the talkie camera is at times overwhelming in its realism. The Belgian Congo, with its countless thousands of lurking dangers, is thrown wide open to those who care for sensational adventure. To those intrepid explorers, Mr and Mrs .Martin Johnson, who also gave us, in the early days of the sound film, “Simba,” another jungle picture, everyone owes a debt of gratitude. Not only picture “fans” are included in this; everyone is concerned, for “Congorilla” is education and not merely entertainment. Two years Mr and Mrs Johnson spent in the Dark Continent making "Congorilla,” but they have produced something of which they may feel justly proud. Their actors were the tiny, grotesque pigmies, the wild and ferocious gorillas, the shy and clumsy hippos, King Leo, bad-tempered rhinos, slithering crocodiles, yelping wild dogs, and voracious vultures; not forgetting the recalcitrant camel. “Congorilla” presents an astonishing succession of stark facts of native and animal life, and never does its atmosphere of authenticity leave the film, the naturalness of which becomes even more convincing in retrospect. It is a picture to wonder and ponder over. A rapid survey of the strange sights the spectator is to encounter opens the film, and there follow remarkable slow-motion pictures of giraffes and gazelles fleeing across the plains; unsurpassed scenes of the myriads of flamingoes on Lake Nakuru, repellent crocodiles swarming the river banks, hippotami kept awake so long by the presence of the explorers that they are unable to stifle yawns, the death of a defenceless zebra at the mercy of the king of beasts, and innumerable other unusual sights. Interest centres, however, in the seven months spent amid the 50,000 pigmies of the Ituri Forest. There is much that is quaintly amusing in the childlike contentment of this tiny people. The wooing of a chief’s daughter by a scarred warrior and their marriage and subsequent honeymoon is a study of unaffected charm. Then there is the attempt of two pigmies to light a cigar with safety matches, to the derision of their companions at their incompetence. We see the readiness with which the pigmies accustom themselves to the rhythm of modern jazz music. The final scenes among gorillas, including a catch-as-catch-can encounter bebetween two of the largest, are probably unique in the history of motion pictures. For centuries the gorilla defied man to delve into his secrets, and withstood successfully every raid on his haunts by humans; but there is now no longer any mystery about' the king of the apes. His every secret is an open book, thanks to the Johnsons. All in all, “Congorilla” has been edited with remarkable skill, and should arouse considerable interest among those persons who are looking for something new and vivid, and above all .something new which sa its roots firmly planted in reality. Supporting films will include an interesting Travelogue and two editions of the Fox International News. Two sessions, afternoon and evening, will be presented on Monday and Box Plans will be at the theatre office. THE REGENT. IDEAL HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT. THE FOUR MARX BROTHERS IN “HORSE FEATHERS.” Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo. Put them all together, stir in a wildeyed script, sprinkle with some insane dialogue, and you’ve got the Four Marx Brothers in Paramount’s “Horse Feathers,” which is to be shown at the Regent this evening and on Monday, with special matinees each day. There Is no possible doubt, about how audiences will enjoy all this merry ponsense. Groucho, believe it or not, is a college president this time. While the retiring prexy is introducing him in the flowery manner, Groucho seizes the opportunity to shave himself. “I thought this razor was dull,” he says, "until I heard the retiring president’s speech.” Groucho’s purpose is becoming pre*' sident of Huxley is to get his son Zeppo out of college. Zeppo, in his twelfth year as a freshman, is enamoured of shapely Thelma Todd, the “college Widow.” Groucho breaks that right up by falling for Thelma himself. The night before the big football game between Huxley and its arch-rival, Darwin, Groucho sends Harpo and Chico, his trusted henchmen, out to kidnap the two Darwin stars. The kidnappers are themselves kidnapped. The game has started by the time Harpo and Chico manage to saw their way out, Jand Darwin has a comfortable lead when they finally reach the field. The Marx-maniacs, however, are too much for any eleven men to contend with. Groucho himself leaps out upon the field from his field box to “take out” a would-be tackler, and Zeppo scores the winning try. There could not be more suitable entertainment fare provided for the festive period than such a Iflarious comedy as “Horse Feathers.” The Four Marx Brothers are madder and merrier than ever, in a non-stop whirl of care free comedy and mirthful wisecracks. The Marx Brothers are always doing the unexpected and always proving a source of unalloyed amusement to audiences, “Horse Feathers” in some phases takes the form of a grand hilarious satire on all American college pictures. What the Marx Brothers do with a college they inherit is a shame! They shoot wisecracks at one another with ma-chine-gun-like precision—and these are always clever. It would not be a Marx Brothers’ picture if Chico did not give us some of his trick piano playing and Harpo did not play the harp. The picture is on. the whole broad burlesque —and will have you hysterical with laughter. In fact, the whole picture is a splendid antidote for depressing times and great holiday fare. What the Four Marx Brothers don’t know about this brand of fooling with its quick fire gags isn’t worth knowing. “Horse Feathers” is a real entertainment special. There will be special matinees this afternoon and on Monday. CIVIC THEATRE. GRAND DOUBLE-FEATURE BILL. Commencing to-day at the Civic matinee at 2 p.m. with matinees on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, Amalgamated Theatres announce the screening of a. double feature programme for the holidays. The tomboy 'of the. i screen,' , Winnie,' Lightner, assisted by Joe E. Brown, present an uproarious comedy “Sit. Tight,” and the other picture is a drama of the railroad entitled “His Friend’s Wife” with Mary Astor, the leading lady/of “A Successful Calamity,” in the principal part. Joe E. Brown and Winnie

Lightner can set a crowd roaring with merriment, and with no story to speak of—but “Sit Tight” is the work of a master of comedy-making, Rex Taylor, and the dialogue is as peppy as O. Henry could have made it. Winnie is the slap-’em-down and leave- em-lay physician of a health resort—heaven help the patients—and Joe is Jojo the Tiger, hero (to hear him. tell it) of many fistic encounters —and an admirer of beauty as the lady inmates can testify. In the same building is the office of a middle-aged millionaire, Dunlap, who has a pretty daughter, Sally, who, through her dad, gets a better job for Tom Weston whom she loves. Tom won’t take the job because he hasn’t earned it, and he and Sally quarrel and part. Winnie sees him coming, recognizes in his Adonis form the white hope for whom she has been looking, hires him on the spot, and has him begin training for the champ. Sally hires a thug to beat him up and discourage him. The hard guy lands on Jojo instead, with amusing results to all but Jojo. Sally gets her pa to kidnap Weston—just at the exciting moment when the big fight is to come off, on which Winnie has staked all her fortune. How Weston keeps his word—how Jojo is whisked out of his wits and into oblivion —how Winnie saves the day—how papa Dunlap relents —how Sally learns to like the fight game, and spurs Tom on to victory—are but a few of the flashes which make “Sit Tight” the most thrilling as well as the most hilarious comedy seen for many a long day. Others in the cast are Claudia Dell, Paul Gregory, Lotti Loder, Hobart Bosworth, Frank Hagney, Snitz Edwards and hundreds of supporting people. “Sit Tight” is one of those rare pictures which everybody likes. Take the whole family and give them the biggest laugh of their lives. “His Friend’s Wife,” is a railroad drama full of exciting happenings and thrills, the principal one being the collapse of a bridge during a flood, the engine and the full train of 40 wagons going to destruction in the raging waters. A splendid caste includes Mary Astor, James Cagney, Grant Wither, Regis Toomey, Fred Kohler, Joan Blondell, and J. Farrell MacDonald. Matinees will be given daily till Tuesday at 2 p.m., and the performance will commence each evening at 7.45 p.m. sharp. Seats may be reserved at the theatre.

REGENT THEATRE, MATAURA. BACK-STAGE MYSTERY. “THE DECEIVER.” The newest type of criminologist is represented in “The Deceiver,” the great back-stage mystery drama to be screened at the Regent Theatre, Mataura, this evening. The story is one which provides plenty of scope for speculation on the part of patrons, who should be vastly entertained in trying to. solve the problem of who killed the “deceiver.” The acting in this film is excellent and it should prove an extremely popular picture. A strong programme of shorts will also be screened.