ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 22188, 2 December 1933, Page 20

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE. “THE MATCH KING.” TERRIFIC DRAMATIC THRILL. For two days only, to-day and Tuesday, the management of the Civic Theatre is screening the sensational life story of Ivar Kruger under the title of “The Match King.” Four beautiful actresses are cast as the victims of a financial genius in First National’s most remarkable romance, “The Match King.” They are Lili Damita, Glenda Farrell, Juliette Compton and Claire Dodd. The story is: Paul Kroll, a brilliant Swedish boy with magnetic personality, comes to America to make his fortune, and starts work as a street cleaner. His genius for organization and his utter unscruplousness, which showed later in his life in his great financial deals, at once makes itself manifest in a plot with the foreman to pad the pay-rolls. He double-crosses the foreman, robbing him of his money and his girl, whom he deserts to return to Sweden. Pretending to have vast holdings in America, he floats a loan to finance a small match company. The bankers discover he has no assets in America, but before his note is due he has obtained a much larger loan, paid back the first debt and contracted for a gigantic tract of timber from which to make matches. He continues his financial manipulations by constantly borrowing larger and larger sums to pay back the comparatively smaller debts, keeping his business running on a succession of ever increasing loans. All the time, however, he is dabbling in political affairs to get a monopoly on the match business. He induces Sonia, a beautiful woman who is in love with him, to entangle a high government official by her charms. Through her he learns the government has debts it is unable to meet. He bribes the official to give him the match monopoly of the country in return for the payment of the national debt. It matters nothing to him that he has wrecked both their lives. In this way he becomes extremely wealthy, although his gigantic financial deals involve him in an ever increasing amount of debt. He places country after country under obligation to him, ruining men and women with equal ruthlessness, to obtain secret information of international affairs. Eventually he controls practically the entire match industry of the world. Kroll’s ambition is insatiable. He expands his financial deals until he is looked upon as the world’s greatest financial genius. He has forged a chain of credits that are ever mounting, but he hopes eventually to control the finances of the world, in which his tremendous accumulated debts will be owed only to himself. He falls in love with a beautiful screen star who, after trying to elude him, finally succumbs to his charms. But the world has hit upon trying days, with a financial slump. Credit tightens, and he finds that loans are being called. He is compelled to leave his beloved to meet financial obligations he has neglected. Finding it impossible, he engaged a noted swindler to forge millions in government bonds which he deposits with America bankers for cash, after ruthlessly murdering his dupe to keep the matter secret But discovery eventually comes. He sees the great financial structure he had built crumbling about his head. The woman he loves has been won away from him during his absence. Nothing is left and he takes the easy way out—suicide—and he dies in the gutter, as he started. The supporting programme includes “Putting it on” comedy; “Sports Thrills” sporting and “Passing the buck,” comedy. MAJESTIC THEATRE. “KING KONG.” TO-DAY AND TO-NIGHT. The most amazing of all pictures, “King Kong,” is due to open its Invercargill season at the Majestic Theatre this afternoon and again this evening. The Auckland Herald, speaking of the picture’s season in that city says: So thrilling did the sensational film “King Kong” prove on the occasion of its first screening at St. James’ Theatre that it was only a matter of a few minutes after the opening scenes before the audience had reached a state of intense excitement, and when the gigantic and terrifying monster himself appeared he was greeted with cries of fascinated horror. Unique and ingenious even in conception, the fantastic ideas which have been transmuted to the screen with a touch that can only be referred to as brilliant, are of such a rare character that one will not have many other opportunities of witnessing a film of this description. Imagination scarcely encompasses the way in which the subject has been presented, and these points remaining in one’s memory most vividly are the manner in which human beings are caught up in one of the monster’s hands, mammoth fights in a primeval forest between gigantic beasts, horror stamped across the face of King Kong’s living idol, acted by Fay Wray, as she is carried away into the mountain fastness, and the panic in New York when the captured beast breaks its chains and creates death and destruction everywhere its animal instincts lead it. The succession of adventures that befall a cinema exploring party visiting a hitherto unknown island forms an effective introduction to the scene where the main portion of the story is laid. Robert Armstrong plays the part of a fearless film producer for ever in search of new subjects for his camera, and it is his idea which leads the large party to search the mysteries of the island. Landing and going into the native village, the party finds the natives in the midst of a ceremony of sacrifice, but retreats to the ship after signs of hostility. Fay Wray is captured that night by a small party of the natives, and offered as a living sacrifice to King Kong. When a drum is beaten, he comes down from his caves and takes her into the palm of his hand. Pursuers set out from the ship, but disaster overtakes them in a lake and only two are saved. There are elemental encounters between enormous beasts, and many times King Kong has to kill other kinds of animals which try to steal the living treasure he has gained. Eventually Fay Wray is rescued, and the capture of King Kong effected. The huge creature is taken to New York, but when it is shown on the first night, the chains do not prove strong enough to hold him and pandemonium reigns until eventually the combined attack of four aeroplanes settles its fate. A special musical comedy featurette entitled “So This is Harris” is in three reels and introduces the famous Phil Harris from KFI Los Angeles and the famous Coconut Grove orchestra together with several outstanding stage and radio artists. The complete programme will be shown this afternoon. THE REGENT. PAT HANNA'S “DIGGERS IN BLIGHTY.” GEORGE WALLACE COMEDY. If there is any doubt about the ability of Australian producers to make laughable, clean and technically acceptable comedies of the type, now so much in demand in Australia and England, it will be immediately dispelled by witnessing Pat Hanna’s hilarious comedy, “Diggers in Blighty,” which is now at the Regent Theatre. This film, which is Pat Hanna’s first independent pro-

duction, graphically proves the fact that enormous strides have been made in Australian film production. “Diggers in Blighty” is a splendid achievement for all concerned in its production, and its director and star. Pat Hanna, deserves congratulation. The story is mainly concerned with three lovable but irresponsible Australian Diggers— Chic, Joe, and Scotty and tells of how they receive ten days’ “Blighty” leave for capturing and extracting valuable information from several German officers. They go to London, but on arriving they are penniless, so accept an invitation to stay at the home of a wealthy English spinster (excellently played by Nellie Mortyne). Then the fun becomes absolutely riotous. In fact, the audience completely drowned the dialogue at times, so deafening weretheir roars of laughter. Joe Valli and George Moon prove to be good comedians as “Scotty” and Joe Mulga. Pat Hanna proves himself to be a master of this kind of comedy, and should become a popular star throughout the country. Alfred Frith the famous musical comedy star, makes his film debut, and is intensely amusing in several of the highlights of the film. Norman French gives an unusually fine performance as “Sir Guy Gough,” of the British Intelligence. Others who are outstanding in the film are Thelma Scott, Field Fisher, Prudence Irving, Guy Hastings and John D'Arcy. In addition to “Diggers in Blighty,” George Wallace, Australia’s own comedian, contributes another halfhour’s hilarity in his humorous sketch, “Oh! What a Night!” There will be other interesting short subjects on this programme. Seats may be reserved at Rice’s, Regent Shop or by ringing theatre, phone 1938. Dress Circle reserves are now 2/3, including tax. CONCERT AT GORE. INVERCARGILL MALE CHOIR'S VISIT. Much interest has been shown in the visit to Gore next Tuesday evening of the Invercargill Male Choir and Orchestra to present a concert in aid of the Gore Children’s Health Camp and Clothing Club funds. The concert will be given in the Princess Theatre, and the box plans are now open at McCorkindale’s music strop, where reservations may be made. The Invercargill Male Choir has a splendid reputation for the quality of its programmes, and last year when an exchange of visits was made with the Royal Dunedin Male Choir, the Invercargill organization was received with great enthusiasm by a very large audience in the Town Hall. The choir recently made its first appearance in Invercargill under the baton of Dr. Stanley Brown, who will conduct next Tuesday’s concert, and the performance was very well received. The selection of numbers for the concert is calculated to please the audience, while it will be a test of the choir’s ability. An orchestra, under the baton of Mr W. W. Millar, will travel with the choir and will provide several attractive items. An instrumental trio consisting of Miss J. McStay (piano). Mr W. W. Millar (violin) and Mr V. Le Petit (’cello) will also contribute to the programme. Solo items will be provided by the well-known Invercargill artists, Mrs B. W. Hewat (soprano). Mr Frank Johnson (baritone) and Mr Robert Henry, F.T.C.L. (pianist). A special train will convey the performers to Gore and special arrangements have been made to add several extra carriages for the benefit of Mataura patrons, should a sufficient number express a desire to attend. EMPIRE THEATRE, RIVERTON. “ZOO IN BUDAPEST.” “Zoo in Budapest,’ reported as one of the most unusual pictures ever portrayed on the screen, comes to the Empire Theatre, Riverton, to-day at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The story, built around the activities and the atmosphere of a great zoological park, deals with the romance of a young man who has lived all his life among the animals, and a simple, unsophisticated orphan girl who comes to the zoo for a lesson in natural history. The two meet for the first time and, drawn by an unknown urge, find themselves strangely in love with each other. But back of this gentle theme of young love lies the terrifying pattern of caged beasts, their hates and hungers, their loves and lusts, the source from w - hich the plot gains its momentum and moves from one overwhelming thrill to another.