AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 258, 29 October 1921, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

THE NATIONAL THEATRE. Very striking ure some of the Alaskan scenes, particularly that of the great avalanche, in "Wolves of the North,' the Lntk'crsnl production which deservedly holus first place upon the current programme at the National Theatre. This particular picture has Eva Novak playing in the capacity of a girl whom circumstances have placed iu the rugged environment of Alaska, and ore she has come to realise the meaning of life and love she becomes the object of the attentions of two men. One, a sheltered weakling, is the rival of a warded giant who ouo day grasps the girl ana caresses her, with the result that sue becomes engaged in pique to the weakling, lie goes away to make a man of himself, and falls into the ways of vice. The romance ends in the usual way. But, apart altogether from the story, the picture is .1 very interesting one indeed. The incidentals to the development of the plot are very good. "Gilded Lies," from the Seilznick studios, is the second best picture, and ir docs not come up to the standard of the other. The play itself is u melodrama with quickly eiiangiug incidents, love, hate and adventure being the main themes; but the settings can hardly compare in interest with "Wolves 01 the North." The programme in good one, with splendid musical accompaniment. iIIPI'ODKOME THEATRE. Alice Ilall, the pretty wife of Tllcliard Hail (William Farnuin* in "His Greatrst Sacrifice, *' has many special accomplishments that" lend themselves to good dramatisation on the screen, and even if tho silent drama cannot produce her voice, there are sufiicieut other attractions to supply a good hour's entertaimuput. Incidentally this voice, silent though it is, supliw a large part of the interesting scenes. The point where a jealousy arises between the husband and wife appears to be fntiuded on rather a paltry quarrel, but the vanity of the heroine is evidently out of accord with her husband's temperament, and a series of happenings sad, though none the less real, follow 011 the unfortunate quarrel. After the separation the wife's plans for tJie future arc apparently successful, but they lead to a heartfelt desire for a reconciliation, which shows an admirable emotional side to the lady's character, and a consideration for tin; misfortunes of ber husband. The different threads of the story, which have, all this time been converging, coalesce in a happy denouement where the various parties confess their guilt, and with a special happiness after the trials they have passed through they are reunited in love. The atmosphere in the story is romantic and the tone at times tragical, but the ending has all the elements of a delightfully conceived romance between a number of people who have still the mark of youth upon them. William Farnum is fortunate in having been assisted by Alice Fleming in the leading role land main plot of "His Greatest Sacrifice. THE STRAND THEATRE. "Snowy" Baker Instils into "The Jackaroo of Coolabong." which is his latest picture. for E. «l. Carroll, an amount of redblooded action that is siulieient to hold any audience all the time. Typically Australian in atmosphere, incidents, everything, tho I film gives Raker as the Jackaroo perhaps too much "gallery play" to do. lie is alwavs there, always lighting his way through II gang of hooligans who fall like ninepins beiore hint, or catching a cornered kangaroo by the tail and playing tricks with it ; or eise driving a high-powered motor car at ninetv an hour into Sydney. One feels that, good as Raker is, there might quite logically come a time when he was not in the forefront, and this would in no way make the story less convincing. .As a matter of fact, the story is weak in several places, but it conies up to the usual dramatic standard. The kangaroo drive is one of the greatest Incidents of the picture, and the rescue work, when the Jackaroo gets the girl out of the Sydney slums, provides more excitement. The prologue to the. picture introduced a new Strand feature, fills is tne provision of a stage for songs, dances, and other practical entertainments as prologues to the tilms. This particular exhibition was the captivating "Dance of the Wattle I'lossotn," by Miss Rettina Edwards. The remainder of tho programme included an interesting Chinese scenic introducing countless thousands of tame ducks, the Rathe Review, the Current Gazette, and a laughable farce, "Red Hot Love. TllE LYRIC THEATRE. The?e can be no shadow of a doubt that folk who visit the Lyric Theatre this coming week and see the. Charles Ray picture. •Fortr-five Minutes from liroadway, will get a'great deal of enjoyment, for thr him is bright, the story Is light, and an air ot i hanpiness and red-blooded youth pervades everything. It is the typo of picture that will put everybody in good humour. A man i falls heir to'a million, he brings his great friend, a young pugilist, up to "his mansion, and instals him then' as his private secretary. The young fellow, overflowing with vitality and*good spirits, is always on the jump, and yet he does every possible thingsave two —In tin? wrong way. Laugns aplentv blend in with thrills m this serioI coinedv, and the romantic part (for, ot course', there must be a girl) is simply delightful. There is a marked <'o«trjist be; tween this happy story and the tt\hejthat is told by Vitagraph 111 ' Closed Doors, the other Lvrlc headliner. which is splendidly mounted, but is a trltle on the heavy side in its action. THK TIVOI.I. Thr dramatisation for the film of "The Bronze Hell" by that .irUliant lietionist, Louis Joseph Vance, lias resulted in a pielure that holds the interest from projection to fade away. Kusteru pictures always kindle the imagination, and "The Ilronje Hell" being bv a man who knows his India particularly well is a more than usually vivSJ- story. liar Dyul Hiilion is retailed from England by his dying father, who makes the Maharajah of Ihe morrow promise to lead a rebellion against the English. Hut linlton is Knglish in education and sympathies, ami Been to seek obscurity in America, i Then enters the'woman in the person ot ; Sophia Farrell, daughter of a British colonel of the Indian army, who has left her tiani'e. t'aplain Hal Harrington, behind. Sophia meets .David Amber, a rlcn and travelled voung American, whose attentions are not too we'll received. Amber Is In- ■. in red bv a fall from a horse, and reaches a hut itist in time to be spectator to a duel ' between ltiilton ami another Hindu, rcsultI I ill" in tie- death id' the latter and the mor--1! tal wounding of the former. Amber bears " a striking resemblance to Uulton, and promises him before he dies to speed to India. :{ : , nt i, posing as the Maharajah, try to prevent -idle rebellion. Exciting incidents follow, . I Amber (still posing as Kulton) refusing to 1' lead the rebellion. Sophia is back m India, t|"nd \ruber, after denouncing the rebellion . from the high altar of the Bronze Bell, is set upon by tho infuriated native princes - and soldier!;, and flees to an ante-room. ,• Here he discovers Sophia, who lias been abducted, and rescues her with all the nceomtranving thrills of picturcdom. l.ntish 1 troops arrive in time, and as secret servire ' I men have learned that Harrington, to whom ■ Sophia is engaged, is tiie real instigator ol ; the rebellion, that gentlemen meets an on- ' 1 nleasant end and the path is left clear for ! Amber and Sophia, v.-ho are presumed to ! live happily ever after. It is a really spleii; did picture, magnificently produced, ami well aeied, with I'ourteiiay Foote til tin; •'dual roles I very cleverly done) of Button .'land Amber, and" Doris May as Sophia Farrell. The Tivoli orchestra is excellent. SEASON' OF JUVENILE UI'EIU. The Auckland Associated Choirs are bring 1 ill" to a close their activities for the yeat " i bv a reason of comic opera, ••ouunencinu -'ion Wednesday next with a oj ' j the ever-popular "Snow White ami I.lk. • Seven Dwarfs." This will be followed on • Thursday by the sparkling opera "Golden > Straw." and the two operas will be given on ''•alternate evenintrs during the res: of tin '>' week. A special feature of "Snow White " l is the fact Unit principals and chorus aliiu 1 sire children of school age, as are a great ■J manv of the youus? performers 111 'Golden 1 ' : '-t i'w" The rehearsals are said to lv , going so well that these two works promise ;o be the most successful given by the assoiciated choir:*. 'j 'HIE GRAND THEATRIC. ; i! Norma Talmadge ha* the leading part ir i;' the society romance "The Way of i' • Woman." which is current at the Gram '■ i Tceat.ro now, and i-upported by the serla, »i -'fiip Silent Avnger." !n which the ad von r: rures of the hero and his girl r.re advance*! ;by another thrill. The Norma Tal mad# ' iijctur" is notable for its splendid produe tion. the setting for some of the interio; e ; scene? being very line. In support there an lithe usual topical and comedy films, witii : 4 I melodious orchestral accompaniment.

ORGAN RECITAL TO-XIGHT. A varied procramme arranged f° r recital In the Town Hall to-night will inelmle -Nevin'ri popular suite, "A l>a>* la Venice." The city organist will also play works liv Cesar Frant'k and Glnck. Songs by Landon iltonald aud Covrcn will lie sung by Mrs. D. Isaacs. EVERYBODY'S? THEATRE. Jewel Carmen, in the part ot a beautiful blril of prey at Everybody's, is proving an attraction. The lllin is "The Silver Lining, and it develops into drama of high intensity. Tho chief support is a film of the boot and shoe industry, takeu in the factories aud warehouses of Auckland. A MTU SSMEKT S GUIDE. HIS MAJESTY'S—WiIkIe Bard. THE OPERA HOUSE—Fuller's Vaudeville. FICTUBE THEATRES. THE NATIONAL—F.va Kovalc in "Wolves of the North" and Eugene O'Brien In "Gilded Lies." THE HIPPODRORIE —William Faraum in "His Greatest Sacrifice." THE STRAND—Snowy Baker in "The Jackaroo of Cooliliong." THE LYFllC—Charles Ray in "45 .Minutes rrom Broadway" and "Closed Doors." THE TlVOLl—Doris May in "The Itronze Bell" and "The Lion Killers," Vandenbergli exploration picture. EVERYBODY'S —Jewel Carmen in "The Silver Lining." THE GRAND —Norma Talmadge in "Tlio Wav of a Woman." THE PRlNCESS—"Appearances." THE QUEEN'S —"Two Moons" and '-Oliver Twist." THE ARCADIA —"What's Worth While" and Serial. THE BRITANNIA —Doraldlna in "Passion Fruit." THE WEST END—Conptance Talmadge in "The Love Expert." THE EROADWAY—"The Face, at Your Window." THE VICTORIA—May Allison in "Social llvpocrltos." THE EKPRESS—"GirI of the Sea."