ENTERTAINMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19017, 7 August 1933, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“HELL BELOW.” THRILLING SUBMARINE FILM. AT THE STRAND THEATRE. “Hell Below” Is a deoidedly appropriate title for the film screened at the Strand Theatre on Saturday. Although a traglo love entanglement Is the main spring of the plot, most of the aotion takes place below the sea, in an American submarine operating in the Adriatic. As portrayed by Robert Montgomery and Madge Evans, hero and heroine are -very human people, trying to adjust their lives to the strained conditions of a great war. With his usual forceful acting, Walter Huston, as father of the girl and commander of the submarine, dominates the play throughout, eliciting admiration even at the same time as he inspires dislike 'for his martinet manner. Wonderful photography has given some amazing scenes of the submarine’s activities under the sea, as she flees from the combined attaok of an enemy cruiser on the surface, and seaplanes in the air. The submarine goes out to torpedo an enemy minelayer, but, after sinking the vessel, Is attacked by a flight of seaplanes, and has to submerge, leaving the orew of her boat at the mercy of machine gun Are from the air. On* her second oralse, the following day, her orders are to reconnoitre another enemy mine-layer, which is protected by two cruisers, hilt not to show herself. The abandoned boat is sighted, but the oommander refuses to come to the surface to pick it up, even if there Is a ohaaoe of any of the crew being alive, as it would be. a breach, of his orders. His lieutenant, already out of favour for his attentions to the commander’s daughter, who is married, usurps command of the submarine long enough to .torpedo one of the enemy vessels' and bring the submarine to the surfaoe. She has to submerge ag'aln, however, under concentrated shell Are, and is nearly destroyed by depth charges. For this the lieutenant is disgraced, but by stowing away on the submarine, wins the opportunity of restoring his honour.

THEATRE ROYAL. A deliciously funny burlesque of manly women and feminine men was presented at the Theatre Royal on Saturday. “The Warrior’s Husband" is a piquant burlesque whioh throws baok to Pontus In 800 B-C., when the AmazoDS, ruled by Hlppolyta, rule the land, supported by her women warriors. Man’s place is by the cradle and at the tapestry' loom, while the sturdy women fare forth to work and fight. In order to get supplies to fight the Greeks, Hippolyta consents to marry the effeminate Sapiens, who seoretly yearns to see man dominant in the land. When the Greeks, under Hercules, attack, it is Sapiens who helps to undo the power of the Amazons by stealing the saored girdle of Diana, the symbol of the Amazons’ power. When the dash comes the Greeks are victorious and make merry with the Amazons to the tune of “It’s a Hot Time In the Old Town To-night.” The romance between An tiope (Hlppolyta’s daughter) and Theses is more comic than sentimental. Indeed, as the whole of the dialogue consists of modem American wise-craoks and slang, an Idea of the fun created can be gained. Yet the picture is lavishly mounted, and is peopled with hundreds of beautiful women, while the acting of the principals is all that could be desired. Elissa Land!, as a female warrior, gives a great performance, and David Manners is a handsome Thesus. Ernest •Yruex is very amusing as a timid male and excellent studies are also given by Marjorie Rambeau, Maud Ebume, Helen Madison (former swimming champion) and others.

CIVIO THEATRE. There 1b probably no more popular aotor on tibe screen than Ronald Golman, his work Is always sincere and polished and he has a very likeable personality. “ Raffles ” Is one of the most fascinating characters In flotlon. A "gentleman crook," his adventures are always Interesting, providing romanoe and sensation, with some delightfully humorous touohes. The manner In whioh he eludes pursuit keeps an audlenoe thrilled. Mr Golman brings the fascinating rasoal to the screen very realistically, the result being a Btory that holds the attention throughout. Beautiful Kay Franols plays opposite the star, and good character studies are 'contributed by Alison Skipworth, Fred Kerr and others. A charming colour cartoon, "Birds in Spring," is a delight from beginning to end. “An Irish Fantasy’’ introduces the popular old songs of the Emerald Isle, In a beautiful setting. "If Animals Could Speak" is a very interesting Nature study. ROXY THEATRE. "70,000 Witnesses" Is more a mystery drama than a football picture, the football sequences serving as a background for a drama centring about the inexplicable murder of a player on the field, as he is about to score the winning try. Phillip Holmes, Dorothy Jordan, Chnrllo Ruggles and Johnny Maok Brown have the featured roles. The entire cowboy colony in Hollywood was called Into action for “The Vanishing Frontier," a tale of the Old West. They were needed to make up a cavalry troop and a mounted outlaw gang.