AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1928, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYBODYS PICTURES. “THE STRONG MAN” —TO-NIGHT. Harry Langdon, the comedian whose new feature length comedy for First National, “The Strong Man” will be screened at the Princess Theatre thisevening, has some interesting ideas on the psychology of the laugh. In an interview he said: “in the first place the laugh is the reflection of one’s frailties—of everyone’s weakness. We think that we are laughing at the screen character, but it seems to me that we are laughing at ourselves. Alt children at heart, we know subconsciously that when we laugh at a poor boob, the victim of circumstances, we put ourselves in the position of the pocjtr boob. To he successful in winning laughs, one must be sincere. 1 can’t fool my audience and say, ‘I am funny and I’m going to make you laugh at me.’ I must feel my part. I .must be wretched, and consequently ridiculous. Above all things', I must 'be a supreme optimist, suffering dumbly, any harsh fate that ir.r.y come my way. My optimsm must be so allembracing though pitiful, that ‘nothing can ever rock it.’ When I do a part in a film I must really suffer. Moreover,- I like to have the audience ip on what I am not on. Things must be spontaneous during the making of a comedy. I write my own comedies, and, so far as possible, the scenario is complete,, bait sixty per cent, of the laughs are, nevertheless, built op the set.” * '■ •"• The supports include a topical, scenic and comedy. On Friday next: “The Lone Eagle.”