ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18808, 2 December 1932, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES. STRAND THEATRE. The eagerly-awaited film, “ His Royal Highness,” featuring the popular Australian comedian, George Wallace, will be screened at ttlie Strand Theatre to-day. A successful season Is assured. “His Royal Highness” is the first musical comedy to be produced in Australia, and was specially written for George Wallace. Many other players well known on the stage also give excellent performances. They include Byrl Walkley, Lou Vernon, •lolin Dobbie, Donalda Warne, Frank Tarrant, Nell Taylor and .(Marshall Crosby.

The story opens with George loafing around a piecart looking for a job. He gets one as a stage hand in a nearby theatre, and is settling well into his stride, when he receives a smack over the head that puts him to sleep long enough for him to dream the rest of the plot. He is mistaken for the long-lost heir to the throne of Betonia, whither lie is taken and crowned. What follows is screamingly funny. THEATRE ROYAL.

With the Vienna of 1815, when the whole city was a blaze of colour and pageantry in honour of the presence of the kings and cinperors of Europe as a background, “Old Vienna,” the charming musical romance, is one of the most beautiful pictures to grace the screen. The story opens with the arrival of the Czar. Watching from a stand the state arrival of this royal guest is a little glove seller. She throws a bouquet at the Gzar, which contains a leaflet about her excellent gloves, but since the only things normally thrown at Czars are bombs, wild confusion follows, and the girl is arrested. She is condemned to be beaten, but the Czar hears of it, and at the crucial moment she is pardoned.

“TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT.” The new Leslie Fuller comedy, “ToNight’s the Night,” which will be screened to-morrow, is a hilarious and hectic burlesque, which goes with a bang from start to finish. Fuller, as Bill, a slate club treasurer, is robbed of the funds on -Christmas Eve. The theft is witnessed by Bill’s pal, -but lie suffers from loss of memory, following a blow from the real thief, and is unable to testify. His misfortune results in Bill being sentenced to imprisonment for three years. There is a final whirlwind chase between a Mcrccedes Sports car and a baby Austin in which the real culprit is brought to justice, and Bill exonerated.

CIVIC THEATRE. Described as “the picture terrific," “The Doomed Battalion” will be screened to-day. This unusual -production, filmed on Mt. Lagazoi, has emerged as an epic film. The story depicts the experiences of an Austrian officer, commissioned by the Austrian Government to enlist a battalion of fighters unique in the history of warfare. 'This officer was Luis Trenker and the battalion he enlisted consisted of 300 of the best-known sportsmen, mountain climbers, guides, and marksmen who had in peace time used this region as their playground, means of livelihood and tests of strength. It has been photographed spectacularly in the cloud-draped pinnacles of the Tyrolean Alps. Nothing to compare with these night scenes on the mountain slopes has ever been attempted in moving pictures. Tata Birell, Victor Varconi and Henry Armctta are featured in addition to Luis Trenker. ROXY THEATRE.

“ Arrow-smith,” the picturisation of Sinclair Lewis' novel, starring Ronald Caiman, records the thrilling, trasic story of what fearless scientists have done to stamp out. the great plagues which have always been the worst enemies of mankind, in the role of ils crusading doctor-hero, Ronald Colman goes down to a savage island in Hie West Indies to risk his life against bubonic piaguc, the historic Black Death, in hopes of proving that he lias discovered its cure.