AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 301, 4 December 1936, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

Plaza Theatre.

An outstanding film, “The Count of

Monte Cristo,” is sure to attract large audiences again at the Plaza Theatre to-day. The production is good from all standards and the atmosphere so cleverly created by Alexandre Dumas has been admirably captured. All the romantic sweep of the famous drama is found in the picture and Robert Donat and Elissa Landi fill the principal parts in sterling performances. The story tells of the adventures of a young Frenchman, Edmond Dantes, who is cast into prison on a false charge. When he escapes, swift retribution, on the enemies who caused his imprisonment, follows.

Three Great Stars At Their Greatest.

Wallace Beery stars in Darryl F. Zanuck’s production, *‘A Message to Garcia,” which shows at the Plaza Theatre on Saturday and Monday. Beery shares the acting honours with Barbara Stanwyck and John Boles. They are three gay adventurers joined in an undertaking that changes the destinies of three nations, and their adventures in a tropical jungle make a story of high courage and glorious romance. Wallace Beery is a boisterous scallywag who accompanies John Boles into the jungle interior. Boles is the man who carried the message to Garcia, and Barbara Stanwyck shows them the way. There are thrills, hardship and romance all cleverly woven together in this fine 20th century production.

King’s Theatre. Another golden voice comes to enrich the screen in “My Song Goes Round the World,” showing at the King’s Theatre finally to-day. Joseph Schmidt owns that voice. There are few finer voices than his. It is known in every capital in Europe. In this epic musical pk’.y, Schmidt plays the part of a strolling singer—a partner in an act with Rigo, a clown. But Ricardo is only four feet high, and in the midst of happiness all is shattered by the appearance of Nina. She falls in love with Ricardo’s voice, thinking it belongs to Rigo. Ricardo falls in love with her, but is terribly disappointed when he finds it is only his voice she loves. Broken-hearted, he goes away, but eventually rejoins Rigo, and all is well. It is a film of rare beauty.

A Mystery Drama Of The Screen. Columbia’s “Meet Nero Wolfe,” starring Edward Arnold, with Lionel Stander, Victor Joy, Joan Perry and John Qualen in support, will show at the King’s Theatre on Saturday and Monday. The film is an entertaining mystery drama based on the famed Rex Stout detective character, Nero Wolfe. Thrills a-plenty are found in the film, which tells of the efforts of Wolfe to clear the shroud of mystery that surounds the murder of Professor Barstow on the golf course of a prominent country club. On the same programme is “Heir To Trouble,” a Western thriller starring Ken Maynard. This action-drama carries the the audience with it to realms of cowboys and back-country.

Killing Falls Ofi. “It is interesting to note that 19 years ago this district killed exactly double the number of freight carcases handled during the last season,” staled Mr. H. B. Williams, chairman of directors, at the annual general meeting of the Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Frozen Meat and Mercantile Mercantile Company, Limited, last ■week. “The farmers can’t have th» stock and eat it, and if they are going ta sell for good store prices, they can’t expect good freezing rates. If we could freeze 60,000 freight carcases per season, we could give you a freezing rate that would compete with Hawke’s Bay or any' other district,” the chairman added.

Schoolboys and Coronation. Commenting on a suggestion which emanated from Canada that effort,s should be made to send schoolboys to England from the Dominions during the coronation, Mr. L. McKenzie, president of the Wellington College Ohl Boys’ Association, expressed the opinion at a gathering at the college yesterday that it would be a fine thing if New Zealand could finance a trip by' a schoolboy cricket team. An excellent team could be chosen, from ’the New Zealand schools and, he felt sure, would give a good account of itself. If such was possible the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association was prepared to play its part in sponsoring the effort.