AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 114, 15 May 1924, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL THEATRE.

The usual programme, consisting: of 'audeville and pictures, will be presented it the National Theatre during the coming: veek. The picture on the programme will in " The Snider and the Rose." The story leals witn a state in Mexico, which was >nee under the reign or Maximlllian I. At he time of the revolution Don Marcello, a rovernor of the State, pledges himseir to he revolutionists. From that point many sxcitlng adventures take place, in which Uarcello and his sweetheart Paula are the :entral figures. The film is packed with sxciting episodes, and reatures Alice Lake md Gaston Glass. In addition, the usual terns or support will be shown. HIPPODROME THEATRE. Much controversy has recently ranged round the ever-increasing menace or tho Irug traffic. Statistics in England and America show that each year more and more people Tall victims to what is undoubtedly one or the greatest curses that ever creep into a country. Despite the vig-ilance or the authorities, the liredestroying drugs are smuggled In, and the stuff sold to miserable wretches who seek relier, at least temporarily, rrom their troubles, by putting themselves into oblivion. Many ultimately put themselves to death. This Is indeed a sad state or affairs—that white people should sink to the level or the heathen races in this respect, but the ract is there. Of these drugs the deadly cocaine is well known, and this is the title given to a picture which was produced with a view to exposing certain "drug-clubs," and showing the evil existing in England. The Him comes to the Hippodrome to-morrow. The story tells how a beautiful girl, daughter or a wealthy Englishman, finds herseir almost sinking to the level of hundreds of others who, having had one dose or cocaine, crave Tor it always. The picture is a most dramatic one, and teaches a lesson that is sordid, but, unrortunately, true, and a warning to others. Hilda Bayley Is in the leading role. The usual supports will be shown. STRAND THEATRE. "The Fighting Blade," featuring Richard Barthelmess, is the ettracton coming to the Strand to-morrow. This Is a glamorous romance or the Cromwellian era. Daring exploits, hairbreadth escapes, secret amours and sanguinary combats thrill the spectators as there is unrolded the dramatic story of a young Flemish soldier of rortune whose sword was the most dangerous in all Europe at the time that Oliver Cromwell was bringing about the downfall of Charles 1., and establishing the famous Protectorate. This ramous duellist, Kerstenbroock, played by Richard Barthelmess, arter slaying a Cavalier in avenging his sister, casts in" his lot with the Roundheads, joining in the revolution against the monarch and his Royali3ts, known as the Cavaliers. Kerstenbroock becomes the scourge 'of the Cavaliers, and his head is sought. Exciting events follow In breathless succession. The supports include a comedy, "The Rural Cinderella," featuring Louise Fazenda and Chester Conklln, and the usual British gazettes, while, during the interlude, the Lyric Four will be heard in "Cotton Field Melodies." LYRIC THEATRE. "His Children's Children," the Paramount feature coming to the Lyric to-morrow, is the story or a family from the first generation to the third. The theory set forth Is that not 6n!y are "the sins or the fathers visited upon the children," but that the children also surfer for the sins of the foreTathers. The story tells or the human happiness or this lire, and is produced as a happness or this lire, and is produced as a warning to "modern daring youths." It holds a particular human appeal, and Is most interesting entertainment. The cast is a strong one, and Includes Bebe Daniels, Dorothy statical!, George Fawcett, and Mahion Hamilton. The story was adapted from the novel by Arthur Twain, and produced by William de Mille. In addition other attractive pictures will be included on the bill. TIVOLI THEATRE. Dickens enthusiasts will have an opportunity of seeing one of the immortal writer's best-known works, "The Cricket On the Hearth," in a screen version at the Tivoli during the coming week. It is not orten that classics or this sort are tinned, and, no doubt, the fact that one of Dickens' hooks has been chosen will prove an attraction to all lovers of the great writer's works. It is useless to go into a long story of Dickens' influence In English literature, or the standard and originality of his tales. They are world-famed. Sumce it to say that "The Cricket On the Hearth" Is a simple story that will appeal to all, whether they are Dickens readers or not. The rum version Is described as being a faithrul reproduction or the original, and the different leading characters are portrayed by Joser Swlckward. Virginia Browne Faire, Paul Gerson, Margaret Landis, John Standing, and Fitz Ridgeway. The usual supports will also be featured. PRINCESS THEATRE. The two main attractions at the Princess Theatre during the coming week will be "Blue Blazes," with Lester Cuneo in the leading role, and "Lawrul Larceny," starring Hope Hampton, Nita Nadi, Conrad Nagel. and Lew Cody. "Blue Blazes" is Just such a picture as the title suggests. It is the tale or the wild adventures or a dare-devil cowboy, who • has some most exciting adventures, which make excellent entertainment on the screen. There Is not a dull moment in "Blue Blazes" from start to finish, and it is billed as one of the best Western pictures shown for a long time. "Lawrul Larceny" is a domestic story, with a peculiar plot, but an irresistible appeal. It Involves the usual triangle—two women and one man in this instance—and shows how one of the women endeavours to steal the other's nusband— with Impunity. In addition a Monkey comedy, "School Pals," will be shown, with the usual supports. GRAND THEATRE. "Hate," with Alice LaKe and Conrad Nagel portraying the principal characters, is the main attraction to be screened at the Grand, commencing to-morrow. "Hate" is described by the producers as "a sensaround the story or a show girl, who, when Hume, a man-aboiit-town, showed her attention accepted it wltnout demur, thinking that by so doing she would be breaking some *of the monotony of her every-day existence. But when he begged ber to marry him, telling her that the doctors had g-iven him only six weeks to live, and that she would thus inherit all his money, then she was race to face with her first crisis. Just how she meets the position is shown in the film. Another "Leather Pushers" item will be shown, with the usual supporting items. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. So great was the success at Everybody's Theatre last week or "Harbour Bar," the screen adaptation or Peter B. Kyne's great sea story, that the management or the theatre are showing the nim Tor a further week. Peter B. Kyne's sea stories are great favourites with readers of fiction (aa are all his talcs), and many have been filmed, each one giving satisfaction to the most critical or the popular author's readers. The same may be said or "Harbour Bar." It is an entertaining story woven round the captain or a ship and a g-irl and combines drama, humour, anil pathos, while The screen version is practically a perrect replica or the original story The usual supports are also included or the programme. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The usual three-star attractions will come to the Queen's with the change or pro gramme to-morrow. The first picture wii ue -Hie uo-getter, , the screen version o that popular author's, Peter B. Kyne, well known story or the same name. Thi M-cond is a racing drama, "Kissing Cup': Race" adapted from the poem of tna name, while the comedy will be a Pathi production, "Own Your Own Home."