WAR OF THE JUNGLE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 643, 22 December 1932, Page 3

WAR OF THE JUNGLE.

Amazing Animal Scenes in Picture. ..The Australian all-talking production. lhe Sentimental Bloke.” will conclude its season at the Regent Theatre on Friday night. The most amazing pictorial record of jungle lile and of the dangers encountered by hunters who endeavour to capture wild animals alive is " Bring 'Em Back Alive,” R.K.O.'s remarkable film, which will be the Christmas attraction at the Regent Theatre. The picture opens on Saturday. The photography in this unique film is positively brilliant, and results in a series of amazing animal close-ups, the like of which have never been seen before. The film is rich in natural drama and comedy, and contains all the elements of vital entertainment, at the same time offering something right off the beaten track. Frank Buck, the famous big game hunter, who is the personal commentator throughout the feature, has handled his subject with a quiet sense of showmanship, and allows humour, thrills and pathos to creep naturally into the narrative. The capture of the various animals, including a python, man-eating tiger, and black panther, is of startling interest, while the fights between the tiger and python and a tiger and a crocodile, result in hair-raising incidents. A baby elephant, orang-outang, and honey bear, also included in the hag, provide the comedy and human interest, and complete the natural drama. The scenes leading up to the establishment of Frank Buck’s headquarters are full of interest, but the photography js shown at its best once the scene shift* permanently into the jungle interior. The camera repeatedly catches the animals off their guard, and the natural “ shots ” have all the definition of a studied photograph. The fights, too, are taken at hazardous proximity, and this has given them that thrilling, breathtaking realism which has been absent from most of the previous animal pictures. Cabling the Wellington office of the R.K.O. Films. Frank Buck says: “ ‘Bring ’Em Back Alive ’ has just completed four weeks' run on Broadway; 200,000 people paid for admission. I give my word that scenes such as are depicted in this film have never before been seen on any screen. Am satisfied that ‘ Bring 'Em Back Alive* will create as big a sensation in New Zealand as it has in America and England.”