THE SUPER-CINEMAS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1935, Page 20 (Supplement)

THE SUPER-CINEMAS

BUILT IN MARZIPAN STYLE. THE PROGRAMME IN ACCORDANCE A super-cinema is a fearsome place, says an astonished English stage critic who visited one recently. Its architecture has to be seen to be believed. The Early Marzipan style prevails, but the supercinema to which I went was. built in the Later Marzipan manner. Included in the programme' was a fearful picture that was well up to the standard of the architecture. If it had been submitted in the form of a short story to an editor it would have befen rejected with scorn and contumely. But film fans, apparently, will accept stuff that would be received with sneers even by effeminate bottle-washers. I began to fidget in my seat, and to wonder how much longer I should be able to sit through the programme. I had almost decided to go home when the screen was whisked away, and I found myself gazing on what appeared to be a film in three dimensions. I was mistaken. I was gazing on real people, and I took note with great interest of the fact that in the modem supercinemas the managers have thought It advisable to eke out the picture-pro-gramme with music-hall- tumi. The setting in which these turn*, some of them excellent, were exhibited reminded me of a “layer” cake which had gone bad. The unpleasant sensation was not diminished by the gyrations of a jazz band, which was led by a gentleman who looked as if he had recently bought a brilliantine factory. Every member of the band' appeared to be sorely afflicted with St. Vitus’s dance. At intervals, one would leap from his seat as if he were in great pain, and advance upon a microphone, into which he made pitiful moans about his sweetie. Three grotesquely' clad persons, blowing into queer pieces of brass, approached the microphone and made discordant noises. Each note they blew caused them to give way at the knees. I have never before In my life seen such a sight. As the dismal groans issued from the trumpets, the unhappy invalids. who were responsible for them sagged se severely that I thought the entire trio would collapse in a screaming heap oa the stage. The conductor, who glided restlessly about them, wagging a little stick without any relevance to anything that was being performed, appeared unconcerned about the state of the trumpeters; he took no notice of their 'knee-jerks, except to imitate them, for presently he, too, began to wobble. In a little while the entire band was swaying or genuflecting or giving way at the knees, and at the same time emitting negroid noises either vocally or instrumentally. “This,” I said to myself, “is too muchl” and I prepared to leave the cinema. ##* ■ *

The famous stage success, “The Beggar’s Opera,” will be one of the highlights in the Warners’ forthcoming production schedule.