AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 47, 24 February 1923, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL THEATRE. Excellent for strength of story, acting, l and direction. "Human Hearts." which opened iit tlic National Theatre lust oven- i inp. stands fortll as the best of the I uivrrsal .Icwcl pictures yet screened at tins theatre. The siar, House ret»rs, Rives an pxipllrnt portrayal of a row which .alls for miT.li emotional aetltiK. "Human Hearts" is the story of liunily life in the Moiir,'?-" r-. I'eters is spen as Tom l.nsnn. ~ -"■* yiienrtert son of the xr.il. who look* ill/ (Bβ world willi trustfulness nnd holp—j .'s- i llto (his peaceful setting comes 11 fur .mil worlclly-wise .rook. With the aid cif a pal. who is a convict, she plans lo jfot ~n sWs si,,u r.f the 1-ojniu estate, knowing fhnt ri.li coal deposits lie beueatli the land. !„ insure her success she marries Tom. mc ftrniilte-lienrteil faiiier ™« »i» « ! not on the square and ruts Tom out of hi» i rtill xt this point t lie play readies a , .wedy tempo anil .'lpvpr dirPftlnu linn*' ,ll)out a dniumfle suspense that holds unti (he tinal s.-ene. There are also s,-reene.l ■ .it her pictures, while en.ioyal.le mus,.- is jlvea l.y Hie National <)r<-hestrn. UrVPODBOMK THEATRK. j All the fun of a ■•hi? top" performance i i|.« •■ontnlnril in "Shirley of the «ir.u». I tvhli a few additional thrills thrown in 1,-,,, ,„) measure Tliis Vox film is now in season at the Hippodrome Theatre, at . ithe head of the hill. The dainty Miss I Mas.m as a Marine. (lnazllMß linre-l.ack rider of die sawdust rins. proves that she not milv is n capalde nctress. hut an eveppiiona! ■ eoiiestfienne as well. Her stiirflinß feat-=; of horsemanship, sur-h as leapinß throueli I I a imper hoop while her stee.l is rhitrcinu j I around the circus rine at top speed, pro . I vide any numliei- r.f thrills. "The (iiiide." 1 Clyde I'mrk-s l.e-t comedy to date, a Mutt ; I and JetT .artoon. and H Kox News aiso , 1 appear on the same programme. j 'STRAND THEATRK. j The SI rand Theatre Was well tilled Inst '. eveiiini,' on the occasion or the first screen- ] line of Alia Nnzfhiovn. the fiunons Hussian | actress, in die Inited Artists production. "A Doll's Honse." The picture !s one wilh \ n (rreai liiiinnn appeal. It deals with fern- ' liilsm. Nazlmova apnears us Norn, the did; wife of Torvald Helmer. who l.elieves th.it ■i liu-dmn'rs every wish and whim should lie as Inw to his wife. When the great crisis in | her life arrives. Nora is forced to use her , Initiative and in dealing with the resultant . sitmittoii she linds herself liable to die ! criminal Ihw. Tier illusions are shattered , hv exposure and slie lejives her liusbiind. if he conclusion is well -worked out. nnd j I altogether "'A Doll's Aloiise" may he said to j Iho Mil excellent picnire The comedy ele- ' ment is well filtered for this week. Harold ! Unyd once nfrain appenrins in one of his rtluis. It is entitled -Flaunted Spooks." «nd is packed with fun. Strand World Visions. Pnfhe Oazetto. and a scenic com plete the tiHl. Ijist er.-nins Mi.ss I ior» flpnerman w«s enthusiastically received. I nnd sans a bracket of sonps in her usual I lilKh -class mnnner.

PRINCESS THEATRE. * j Thomas Melfflinn. one of the most popular stnrs mi the screen, achievesi an .other (.noes* In "ManßlaiHSbter,-' the C«H rle Mille production which captivated rapacity nudleWPK :it ;iU sessions at the Princess TnentrP last evening. "Manslaughter Is ii powerful presentation of the miinner in i whi.h in tin- pursuit of pleasure many of its votaries ore led astray. The film is jrlvpn n lavish setting and the affinity or certain orgies of modern times with those of ancient Koine lins Ijpeu disclosed in viyiu and colourful s.-oiihs. As the attofner whoso sense of rlnty lends him to have the "irl lie liivi-s sent to prison for manslaughter arising out ~t a motor-car accident. Thomas Moighan gives a convincing por-trnj-nl. An ibe trill in question I.pntrlee .Toy" i.« seen In a charming role. appearing with ease us the care-free society belle, and Inter as the .-hastened woman who see" iit'e ani>w iifter her imprisonment for manslniisrhfpr. A flnp supporting burtKet of tiliiis" ami appropriate musical selection* complete a very attractive programme. LYRIC THEATRE. ! "Thp Prisoner of Zenda" which haa thrilled tnmisands who have read the boon <.r KP.-n The play, and which is now stow'i, ■■ as thp main picture nt the Lyric Theatre preserves nil those elements which made the Kdward Knse stage version of the j r;nvel hy Anthony °£ r wnlr J n Jjj® i cast'are Lewis Stotie Rol>p'rt Edeson, Alice ■Terry Stttart Holmes, Malcolm MeOregpr. Bnrharn Le Mar, and many other eapahle artists [•..■nnrifiil settings, gorgeous cos>tntiiPS. and the Hnc aitinp contribute to ninlU thi- rornnnce onp which will .be talked alio.it hy all lovers of Rood pictures There arc some excellent supports, and ■ music by the Lyric (irenratra. CRAM) THEATRE. ! \ new British film. "The Sport of 1 Kintrs " from the <;rnngpr-Pavidson stuaios 'is the fvatureil attraction at the Grand 1 TheHtre The cast is an all-Rtar one. ! h.Ri|iMl hy victor MacLagen. and Phyllis ■ Phannaw: «ipi...rt«l by Cyril PercKai, ! r»c.usclas Monro an.l Jack Carroll , vi ™°. r ' MiiL'i"Ph scores a distinct triumph in this ! picture. The action is vigorous, including ! a hcavywlslit lioxing contest for the ! amateur championship of England, a Bat I race >nd n hurdle race, not to mention one of the prettiest love stories ever seen on the screen Films in support, include the ' ic.rh ih.-.pter of the Robinson Crusoe serial, a miod Mermaid comedy, and a Gazette. Ql/KE.VS THEATRE. i Th» present proßramme at the Queen's ■ Theitre has as the chief picture "The Suoilers " from Rex Beach's vißorou* story, and anions the supporting films are -The i Eastern Westerner." with the well-known i coiiipcliin Harold Lloyd, in the lead, and a ! Totip of "The Wonders of the Cinema" I completes the nttraction;". OPERA HOUSE. The rurreiii programme. compfislner same excellent vaudeville tnrns. and th« i-nlovnhie veviie hy the American Rerae I'miiiiauv "ill be"presented at the Opera Itc.uie 'finally this evening. On Monday at the matinee and evening performances •i new n-\ up will lie presented, as well as several fresh vaudeville attractions.

. "THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKJ" The nmllence which wltneestd t»€ Second itv. who radiates joy. and also pocsem* romance. 'The Sentimental Bloke." STai Majesty's Theatre last night wae not by auy means as large as the PntertataUoz vaiup of the play shnniri warrant. Thow present thoroughly enjoyed it. the ca« portraying the story in a sympathetic manner. -BRAN PIE." A magnificent London season »,, played by Lee White and company in •Bruii Vie." and wae followed by a nhenn menally successful tour of Australia Now S4w Zealand is having this dellghXl show, which opens on Monday. March sth at His Majesty's Theatre. Lee Wkit*' who tas been deeeriberl by the Umfloii Press as poseessinK a wonderful peMo M i. ity. who radiated joy. and also poeswoM a remarkable collection of froclig, appHr* here under the .1. ('. Williamson ntatMCcraeot. The conipuny supporting Lee White includes Clay Smith, who has been tttoelated with all her successes dntibg tk» last six years. These two will appear Iβ the parts they created and hare mad* «o famous in the orteiual London pr«o)lcr* of "Bran Pie." Other clever jxwpfc | c the cast are Ernest Refton and Lwtac Beck, well-lcnown artists on the London stage. Misses Muriel Cathcart and Zo« Wenke are also new to this country, and are sure fo become favourites. A&ttu the people already well known here are Male Baird and Archie Thompson, dancen Clarice Mardwick. f. J. Jnllan, and liiace Lister, who made such a hit wltb alt smart personation in "The B07." n< ballet, ilioniK and orchestra, alwayi futures of this firm's musical shows, an said to b<? exceptionally attractive in tall production. "Bran Pie" is built tor fan purposes only: It allows a latitude to tit* producer to introduce all the latest mecesses, and together with the origlßll members must provide theatregoer* with a> evening full of delight. All the macßlfl. cent scenery ac used in the London vi Australian productions of "Bran ?W will Be used here. The company are hen it Auckland concluding a highly eoc«*tfoi tour of the Dominion, crowded botftet being the mle in Wellington, CtirUttcbowS and Dunedin. The box puma opM on Thursday next at Lewis K. Kady and floaa, Ltd. - QUEEN'S THBATKE. A programme of more than ordinary Interest is now being submitted at tht Queen's Theatre, the chief picture Mag Rex Beach's stirring story, "The Spoikn.'" This is followed by a delightfully «mw|tn, comefly, "An Eastern Westerner," #ttfj Harold Lloyd in the main fun meklag r*le and Wonders of the Cinema, a film ctotftia* ing three short educational subject*.