AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL THEATRE. "The Spider and the Rose," a thrilling romance or old Mexico, in the days or Maximiiiian 1., is tbe attraction now being screened at the National. Alice Lake, Louise Fazenda, Gaston Glass, Robert McKim, Joseph Dowiing, and Noah Beery, together with an excellent supporting cast, play the leading characters. The story concerns , a revolutionist, "Don Marcello, and his ; sweetheart Paula. Marcello is the leader of a band or men whose aim is to rid the j country of a usurper, Mendozza. Paula | sends a letter to her rather, the governor, Which, however, falls into the hands or Mendozza, and results in his capturing and l Imprisoning the revolutionists. He also endeavours to ride away witb Paula, but I amidst tbe greatest excitement, Marcello manage;, after a great light, to escape, and sets out on a wild ride in pursuit of j Mendozza, who was escaping with Paula. Ultimately, Mendozza fades out of the picture, and things end happily ror the lovers. The usual supports are also fea- i tured. HIPPODROME THEATRE. "Cocaine." is the title given to a dramatic reature now being screened at the Hippodrome. The picture Is a stirring one, produced with the intent or disclosing the tearful menace which the everincreasing drug trafllc is to white countries. The story is placed in London, and tells how the beautiful daughter or a wealthy Englishman Jlnds herseir almost on the level with the other poor wretches who have doped themselves with the deadly cocaine. Scenes in certain night clubs, where the drug is rreely distributed, are shown, as are also the methods or the authorities to combat, what is undoubtedly the greatest scourge ever brought to a country, and rostered in it by its own Inhabitants. Hilda Bayley plays the leading part. Other attractive items are also on the programme. STRAND THEATRE. "The Fighting Blade," starring Richard Barthelmess, which is now being screoned at the Strand, is a picture that is hound to please all picture patrons, especially those who ravour historical and costume plays. This story is tbat of a daring, reckless young Flemish soldier named Van Kerstenbroock, who, at the time when Oliver Cromwell was bringing about the downfall or the king, throws in his lot with the Roundheads. As a swordsman. Van Kerstenbroock was widely Tamed, and he became such a thorn in the sides or the cavaliers, tbat they made him a marked man, and placed a purse on his bead. There is a ralr maiden in the story, and, on her behalf, the gallant swordsman nghts many duels, and rescues her rrom some precarious positions. Adventure upon I adventure Is crowded into the mm, to- | getber with a combination of spectacular and beautiful scenes. "The Rural Cinderella," with Louise Fazenda and Chester ' conkiln, is the comedy, which is shown with the usual supports. The Lyric Four, during the interlude, at the evening session, present "Cotton Field Melodies." LYRIC THEATRE. "His Children's Children," a Paramount attraction with Bebe Daniels, Dorothy Mackail, George Fawcett and Mahlon Hamilton in the leading roles heads tbe programme now being screened at the Lyric. Billed as a stirring revelation or the modes or living or a certain class or modern young society people, the picture traces in detail the bistory or a ramlly, rrom the first generation to the third. It tells or the human Joys, sins, and sorrows or each generation, and then sets out to show, in a series or appealing episodes, how the sins or the first generation may be visited on the children or tbe third. Just as those or the rathers may be visited upon their children. The plot is a particularly human one, and tells a story that is more or less true to lire. There are some great night lire scenes in the film In huge restaurants, cabarets, and wild parties, and altogether, the picture is most interesting aim will undoubtedly appeal to all. The usual comedy, gazettes and scenic are shown aa additional attractions. TIVOLI THEATRE. "The Cricket on the Hearth," a screen version or Charles Dickens' story, is the main Item appearing on the Tivoli's programme this week. Tbe story is one from the immortal gems or the great English writer, whom lovers or English literature love so well, and it Is undoubtedly a source of pleasure to them that such a story, typical or England and English lire, rrom tne pen or so great a writer, should be chosen as the subject for a screen play. So lew really English pictures are seen that, when they do happen along, tney come as distinctly refreshing, arter the continual series or the usual types of picture. So when a story such as "The Cricket on the Hearth" arrives, it is doubly welcome. Patrons are assured that this screen version is practically a perrect replica or the original. AU the old characters appear, the leading ones being portrayed by Virginia Browne Falre, Margaret Landis. Fritzi Ridgeway, Josef Swickward and John Standing. Other attractive pictures are also shown. PRINCESS THEATRE. The usual two-star programme is being shown at tbe Princess -tnls week. "Blue Blazes," starring Lester Cuneo, and "Lawrul Larceny," are the two main offerings. "Blue Blazes," is the story or a pugilist who -tires or the ring and decides to take up ranching. So he goes "out West," and becomes a cowboy. His adventures make a thrilling picture. There is a villain in the piece, who holds a mortgage over the home or a pretty girl with whom the cowboy falls in love at llrst sight. Tbe villain uses all sorts or trickery to outwit the man who makes himseir the girl's protector, but Hnds the cowboy one too many tor him, so he retires from the play, leaving the girl and her rancher happily together. "Lawrul Larceny," is a domestic story, which tells or a woman's attempt to rob another woman or her husband and her happiness. Hope Hampton, Nita Naidi, Lew Cody and Conrad Nagel are In the leading roles. A monkey comedy "School Pals," is shown, with other supports. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Harbour Bar," the story by Peter B. Kyne. continues to draw large audiences to Everybody's Theatre. Tbe story is that or a young sea captain who rails in love with the daughter or his millionaire employer. The old man rorbids the girl to have any dealings with her lover, but, despite all opposition, the pair defeat the rather, and are happily betrothed. Tbe picture is a most entertaining one throughout, many episodes taking place on board ship at sea. "A -typical Kyne story," sums up tbe film. Other attractions are also shown. GRAND THEATRE. "Hate," a Metro production starring Alice Lake and Conrad Nagel, is the principal attraction now at the Grand. The story concerns a pretty sJiow girl who finds herseir implicated in a murder mystery. Her fiance, a district attorney, is endeavouring to the best or his ability, to secure a conviction against a man who is accused ot the crime. At the same time the girl knows that this man is Innocent, but is unable to make known this ract, owing to a promise made .to the murdered man. That Is the crisis in which she nnds herseir. Then she starts out to see what she could do to thwart the plans or the attorney, and so save an innocent lire. Ultimately, everything comes to a happy ending. Another or the "Leather Pushers" series is shown, with other attractive reatures. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Three attractions are, as usual, being screened at the Queen's this week. The nrst is Peter B. Kkne's story "The GoUetter," which is a most entertaining comedy-drama. "Kissing Cup's Race," a great racing film, adapted rrom the poem of the same name, rorms -the second reature, while the third is _ good comedy "Own Your Own Home." EPSOM LIBRARY CONCERT. The Epsom Library Winter Course will be opened on Tuesday next with a concert. A programme consisting of vocal, elocutionary, and instrumental pieces has been arranged. The artists contributing are: Misses Muriel Standsell, Gwendoline Taylor, Ysolind McVeagh, Messrs. Walter Brough. Harold Wilson. Frank Stichbury, and Masters E. Blomfield and Frank Hoffey.