AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1927, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYBODYS’ PICTUREB “TIIE IiKTTEI! ’OLE” TO-NIGHT. Hero is :m entertainment of the first water. A war play with all ol the horrors left out and all the laughs left in. They are the laughs that first resounded around the world when the world got acquainted with B r ueo Bairnsfalher’s cartoons and continued through tin* success ol “Jho Better ’Ole” as a stage play. Now, on the screen, with Svd Chaplin giving a momorahle performance as Oid Mill. ‘‘Jhe Bettor ’tile” seems more breathlessly funny than ever. The screen version i.-, not old stulf done over, hut new stuff that retains the quality of its predecessors. It is a quality of steady, thoroughly human humor that rises at times to a wild hysteria of glee. And, while it is consistently funny, there is an element of underlying pathos, a tender humanity that endears it to everyone. The humanity of it lies essentially in the glorious'character of Old Bill, the veteran of Flanders fields, who fails to keep his mind on the war. As played by Byd. Chaplin, the character emerges as a supreme piece, of acting. Those who remember Chaplin primarily for the amusing fripperies of “The Man on the. Box” and “Oh! AVliat a, Nurse!” are in for a shock of astonishment when they see the Chaplin make-up as the walrus-moustached soldier. They are in for an hour and a half unmitigated delight, as they •see Old Bill—for in the picture Chaplin ceases to ho Chaplin, he heroines the character—put on fatigue duty by a hated corporal, acting the front logs of a horse in a. soldiers’ show, getting captured in a. German attack, switching to German uniform and being assigned as an orderly to German headquarters, carrying a. message of warning to the British forces, finally winning his sergeant’s stripes. The picture is a triumph for Chaplin and for the Warner Bros, who have given the story a magnificent production, and for Cluvrles Roisnor, the director, who has achieved the funniest series of comedy gags that were ever put into one picture. “The Better ’Ole” is the best there is. Special prices will lie charged to-night, viz: Circle 2s, stalls Is Gd, children under 12. Gd.

THE FUTURISTS. At the Princess Theatre on Wednesday evening the English Futurists, who have had a very successful season throughout the northern portion of the Coast, will present an attractive programme. A series of new sketches will he given and Air Joe Brennan, who has already made himself a popular favourite on the Coast, will he seen in some new comedy cameos; two of the funniest of which are “ Full of the Joy of Spring,” and a cameo of London life called “ Missing the Bus.” Jn the second half, a twenty minute comedy sketch will he played. "The Crystal Gazer,” in which Joe Brennan, as the shipwrecked sailor, scores with hearty laughter. “ Dismal Desmond ” has some fresh troubles to confide to his listeners, and will he seen in an eccentric dance. New songs will lie sung by Geo. Corelli, the popular operatic tenor, while dainty Ira Vanda and Ida Newton have new offerings. The whole show will comprise a riot of laughter, and will ho as funny, il not funnier, than any programme submitted. .