ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE REGENT. A TREMENDOUS THRILLER, A compelling and extremely _ moving narrative of the effects of prison environment on a young boy is told in “The Big House,” now showing at the Regent, New Plymouth. George Hill, the director, achieved a masterful touch, in playing a searchlight on the devastating aspects of contact with hardened criminals, the frustration .of confinement and. the pathetic separation of the boy from the girl he loves. The acting, of thb large cast is well nigh perfect, such players as Lewis stone, Wallace Beery,- Chester Morris, Robert Montgomery and Leila Hyams giving what seebis to this reviewer unparalleled performances of sterling worth. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has a topnotcher in “The Big House,” an all talking picture, which will undoubtedly be subjected to widespread comment and . observation. The fine supporting programme includes “Who Killed Rover ’ (a comedy scream featuring the talking dogs), a second series of earthquake scenes, Fox Movietone News, Burton Holmes, Travelogue and Metrotone News. EVERYBODY’S. AN EXCITING TALE. Last night’s audience at the Everybody’s Theatre gave an enthusiastic greeting to John Barrymore in his latest screen triumph. The magnetism of his personality, the perfect poise, and the ease with which he gained mastery oyer this new characterisation proved him to be the greatest acquisition to the screen as wbll as the stage. General Crack, known also as mad Prince Christian, was a real character of the early- eighteenth century.. Born of a gypsy mother, his father being a member, of the nobility, his afterlife was a complex of many moods, the love of war, wino and women dominating. He became a soldier of fortune,, selling his services to the highest bidder. Espousing the doubtful cause of Lcopol IL of Austria, after demanding half the gold of the empire and the sister of the emperor in marriage as his emolument —he halts halfway to woo and wed a gypsy dancer. He takes her to the Austrian Court, meets and becomes madly enamoured of the emperor’s . sister, Maria Louisa—but this is telling the story. There is. not a moment when the suspense slackens—never a halt in the golden flow of the exciting tale. Marian Nixon and Lowell Sherman head the supporting cast. “General Crack wi be screened again to-night and tomorrow night. . . The supports include Fox Movietone News, a further series of earthquake scenes, Putnam, Snell and white (vocal entertainers) and “Who Killed R° ver (comedy featuring the talking dogs). “On Approval,” a British all talking adaptation of Frederick Lonsdale’s great play will commence a season at Eveiybod'y’s on Saturday next.