"HOBO" PICTURE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 238, 28 May 1932, Page 2

"HOBO" PICTURE

LAWRENCE TIBBETT, WELL KNOWN SCREEN BARITONE SOUTH AMERICAN COLOUR "The Prodigal," which opens on ' Thursday at the Majestic Theatre, proves that Lawrence Tibbett can be just^ as magneti'c in modern clothes 1 in the glittering uniforms and trappings of "The Rogue Song" and "New Moon." In his latest vehicle, the metropolitan baritone is .cast as the scion of a wealthy and aristocratic family who has quarrelled with his snobbish brother and become a tramp. When the prodigal son returns he discovers that his brother is married and ipeets his new sister-in-law, Antonia. It becomes apparent, however, that Antonia is desperately unhappy when she attempts to elope with a former lover. In attempting to prevent this

scandal Tibbett succumbs to the charms of the * irresistible Antonia and the complications begin. The charm and colour of old South America can permeate the entire film, but is particularly evident in several masterfully filmed' sequences, including a "hobo" camp meeting at the bottom of a river bed, a spectacular negro barbecue scene and a picturesque fox hnnt. Besides 70 horses and a pack of 50 hounds in the fox hunt scene, there is "Red," a trained fox, which jumps into a boat with Tibbett; Cliff Edwards and Roland Young in a comedy scene; "Ignatz," a trained eel, brought from Mississippi to appear in the boat sequence; "Alice," a tame tortoise, who follows her master like a dog — only slower, and "Ralph," a skunk, tame as a pet catTibbett sings several Southern songs, including "De Glory Road," one of his greatest concert hits; "Chidlins," "A Child Is Born," "Looks Like Pappy," "Life Is a Dream" and "Without a Song."