AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 115, 16 May 1924, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL THEATRE. "The Spider and the Ro_e," featurin* Alice Lake, Louise Fazenda, Gaston Gins? Joseph Dowling. Noah Beery, Robert Mc kirn, and a number of other notable screecelebrities, Is the premier attraction now being shown at the National. The storv \_ Placed in a Siate in Mexico in the tin_i nr the reign of Maximlllian I. The «_u__ characters ln the play are Paula, the beau.' tifui daughter or the State governor ma Don Marcello, a revolutionist. Ma.cpi__ and his baud are endeavouring to rid tincountry of the usurper Mendozza who however, Intercepts a message which Pauii sends to her father. The result is that the girl and her lover are made the prisoner, of Mendozza. The climax is reachS when Don Marcello, with Paula, endeavor to escape. They are caught in the act but the man's skill as a swordsman holds him In good stead, and. after a most exciting light, tbe pair escape, and are flnii__ happily married. The usual comedy gazette, and scenic complete a most attractive programme. HIPPODROME THEATRE. A story or London's Night Lire, its a___ traffic, its sordid side, is the fascinating ana Interesting subject upon which is built vi» story of "Cocaine" now being shown at the Hippodrome Theatre. It is a special ntc- • ture by Shadow Plays, London. This remarkable lllm play, which takes the spectator into the by-ways of mighty London, has been brought to the screen primarily as an entertainment, but underlying it there Is a terrific moral brought to light, ln that it exposes a danger that Is one or the greatest menaces to our modern society.—the drug traffic. The central character or the story is played by Miss Hilda Bayley, who will be remembered for her sterling work in Carnival. Miss Bayley is cast In the role or a youngr girl, who, like many other girls of tender years ln the sordid byways ofT Piccadilly, rails into the pit or degradation in the house or oblivion. The story, besides containing a most interesting ana rasclnating background with a powerful plot, gives a remarkable insight into the i methods or operating the drug traffic The usual supports are also given. SI RAND THEATRE. "The Fighting Blade," a glorious, exciting, romance or the days or Oliver ; Cromwell and his Roundheads, with Richard i Barthelmess, as a daring swordsman, and I enemy or the Cavaliers, is the most attractive picture now being presented at the - Strand. Barthelmess is reatured as Van Kerstenbrook, a young Flemish soldier, who had gained great fame as a duellist. The story concerns the time when Cromwell was undermining the throne or Charles L, and establishing the rainous Protectorate. Van Kerstenbrook, after a great duel, kills a Cavalier, in revenge for the death or his sister, and joins tn with the Roundheads. From that point he becomes known as the most dangerous , swordsman in all Europe. Advpnture upon adventure he bas, and becomes such a scourge to the Cavaliers, that he is a marked man, with a price on his head. But they never get him—at least —not for good. All lovers or old-day English pictures will enjoy this reature. The supports include "The Rural Cinderella," a comedy starring Louise Fazenda and Chester Conk- I lln, and the usual British gazettes; while the Lyric Four will sing "Cotton Field Melodies" In the interval. LYRIC THEATRE. % "His Children's Children," the latest Paramount production now being screened at the Lyric, is said to be one of the most up-to-date and modern stories or tha season, and is described a3 a "stirring revelation or the lives of certain modern youths." The picture traces the history or one family from the first generation to the third, showing tbe sins and mode of living of the forerathers, and their forefathers. It then endeavours to propound the theory that, not only are "the sins or the fathers visited upon the children" but the sins or the llrst generation may quite easily be visited upon the children of Ihe third. The whole story Is embodied in an Interesting, human plot, and. placed is it is in New York, there are some dazzling nlgbt lire scenes depicted. The cast includes Bebe Daniels, Dorothy MacKiii, George Fawcett and Mablon Hamilton. TIVOLI THEATRE. "The Cricket on the Hearth," a screen version or Charles Dickens' great story; - Is the premier attraction now appearing on the Tivoli programme. The fact that such a gem rrom the immortal works or the great English writer has been brought to the screen, will come as a distinct pleasure to lovers of Dickens' stories, and not only to them, but to all those people who welcome any picture that detUs directly with -.nglish lire, as apart from, those stories or artificial, high society 1 existence to which picture patrons are so used. This tale or Dickens' is a simple story, i— in a manner that is world- . renowned, and the screen version is billed as being a faithful reproduction or the original story. All the old characters wUI appear on the screen—Caleb Plummer; Dot Peerybingle, Tilly Slowboy, the blind girl. May Fielding—and will be portrayed by Virginia Brown Fame. Margaret Land!., Fritizi Ridgeway, Joan Standing, and Josef. . Swickard. The usual supports wiU also be shown. PRINCESS THEATRE. "Blue Blazes," a William Fox production starring Lester Cuneo, and "Lawful Larceny," a Paramount attraction with Hope ■ Hampton, Nita Nalda. Lew Cody and Conrad Nagel in the principal roles, are the main pictures now being presented at the Prin- ' cess Theatre. The flrst-mentioned film Is a drama of the West, and is the story of the adventures or an ex-champion pugilist, who decides to forsake the ring for ranching. So lie becomes a cowboy, • and has not been in the West very long, before he becomes the central figure in a long adventure in which a girl, a villian, and numerous cattle thieves and the like are featured. The hero, or course, plays the part or protector to the girl, thwarts the villtan and the bandits, gains the mortgage on the girl's rarm, and the girl tor himseir. "Lawrul Larceny" is a society Urania, which shows that while there Is a law forbidding many wrongs, there is none forbidding a woman to steal another's husband and happiness. Needless to say, it is Nita Naldl who is the vampire in this play. She learns her lesson. The usual comedy and gazettes are also shown. GRAND THEATRE. "Hate," a Metro production starring Alice Lake, is the main attraction now being screened at the Grand. The story concerns a pretty show girl who figures in a murder mystery. She is in love with the district attorney, wno, because it Is his duty to do so. Is trying bard to secure a conviction against a man accused or murder. The girl . knows tbat the accused is innocent, but, because or a promise to the murdered man. she is unable to tell all she knows and so save the Innocent man. But, determined to thwart the district attorney, and so save the accused, sbe sets out to prove the case herseir. What bappened, the methods she employs, and the ultimate happy ending Tor all, makes a most absorbing drama. Conrad Nagel plays opposite Miss Lake. In addition, another picture rrom tbe "Leather Pushers" series will be shown with the usual supports. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Harbour Bar," the screen version or Peter B. Kyne's well-known story, gained such a distinct success when screened at Everybody's last week that the management nave extended the season ror a further period. The great popularity which Peter B. Kyne's stories enjoy no doubt accounts for the .act that so many or them have been filmed, and also that the films, too. have been great successes from the picturepublic's point or view. "Harbour Bar" is a sea story, dealing with the adventures or a young captain and the pretty daughter or his employer. • It Is told with the typical Kyne touch. In addition to this malu Item, gazettes, scenic, and another film will be reatured. • FULLERS' OPERA HOUSE. On Monday next Mr, .Urn Gerald and a talented company will open in a tabloidmusical comedy entitled "A Millionaire For a Night." Mr. Gerald has Just arrived from Sydney, after a long and successful season there, and Auckiandcrs have a rare reast of humour awaiting them. Mr. Gerald's work is in a- class all its own, and does not follow in the lines of his predecessors. He excels as a dancer, and his whimsicalities are most mlrth-provoklny. The supporting company is a strong one, and includes many names familiar to patrons or vaudeville. Mi.s Essie Jennings line voice will be heard in tunerul songs. Mr. Reg. Hawthorne (well remembered in the Walter George Revue) assists in the comedy line, and Miss Polly Maclaren as _ solo dancer is also a popular llgure. A" adequate ballet is also carried, and special scenery bas been brought Tor the production.