AMUSEMENTS.

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

AMUSEMENTS.

' ■ I NATIONAL THEATRE. ; "The Spider and the Rose," a thrilling ! romance or old Mexico, in the days or Maximilllan ... is the attraction now being screened at the .National. Alice Lake, Louise Fazenda, Gaston Glass, Robert McKim, Joseph Dowiing, ana Noah Beery, together with an excellent supporting- cast, play the leading- characters. The story concerns . a revolutionist, T_on Marcello, and his sweetheart Paula. Marcello is the leader j or a band or men whose aim Is to rid the country or a usurper, Mendozza. Paula , semis a letter to her lather, the governor, which, however, rails into the hands or Mendozza, and results in his capturing- and j imprisoning the revolutionists. He also endeavours to ride away with Paula, but amidst the greatest excitement, Marcello manages, arter a great light, to escape, and sets out on a wild ride in pursuit or . Mendozza. who was escaping with Paula. | Ultimately, Mendozza rades out or the picture, and things end happily ror the j lovers. The usual supports are also Tea- ; lured. j HIPPODROME THEATRE. j "Cocaine," is the title given to a I dramatic reaturc now being screened at the Hippodrome. The picture Is a stirring one, produced with the Intent or disclosing the rcarlul menace which the. ever- ' Increasing drug- trafllc i_ to white coun- ! tries. The story is placed in London, and I tells how the hcautiriil daughter or a! wealthy Englishman llnds herseir almost j on the level with tho other poor wretches who have doped themselves with the deadly cocaine. Scenes in certain night clubs, j where the drug is rreely distributed, are | shown, as are also the methods ot the i authorities to combat, what is undoubt- I edly the greatert scourge ever brought to a country, and rostered in It by Its own I Inhabitants. Hilda Bayley plays the leading | part. Other attractive items are also on the programme. STRAND THEATRE. "The Fighting Blade," starring Richard Rarthelmess, which Is now being screened at the Strand, Is a picture that Is bound , to please all picture patrons, especially : those who ravour historical and costume ' plays. This story Is that or a daring, [ reckless young Flemish soldier named Van , Kerstenbroock, who, at the time when ' Oliver Cromwell was bringing about the I downrail or the king, throws in his lot j with the Roundheads. As a swordsman, Van | Kerstenbroock was widely Tamed, and he j became such a thorn In the sides or the ] Cavaliers, that they made him a marked man, and placed a purse, on his head. ] There is a ralr maiden In the story, and, on her behair, the gallant swordsman (lghls many duels, and rescues her rrom | some precarious positions. Adventure upon adventure Is crowded Into the film, together with a combination or spectacular and bcautirul scenes. "The Rural Cinderella." with Louise Fazenda and Chester Conklln, is the comedy, which is shown with the usual supports. The Lyric i-'our, during tho 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 the programme now being screened at the Lyric. lulled as a stirring revelation or the modes or living or a certain class or modern young society people, the picture traces in detail tho history or a l'amily, rrom the Crst generation to the third, it tells or the human Joys, sins, and sorrows or each generation, and then sets out to show. In a scries or appealing episodes, how tho sins or the tlrst generation may he. visited on the children or the third. Just as those or the rathcrs 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 him In huge restaurants, cabarets, and wild parties, and altogether, tho picture is most interesting ana will undoubtedly appeal to all. Tho usual comedy, gazettes and scenic are shown as additional attractions. TIVOLI THEATRE. "Tho Cricket on the Hearth," a screen version ol Charles Dickens' story, is the main Item appearing on the Tlvoli's programme this week. The story is one lrom the immortal gems or the great English writer, whom lovers or English literature love so well, and it Is undoubtedly a source or pleasure to them that such a story, typical or England and English lire, rrom mc pen or so great a writer, should be chosen as the subject ror a screen play. So rew really English pictures are seen that, when tney do happen along, tncy come as distinctly retreshlng, arter the continual series or the usual types or picture. So when a story such as "The Cricket on the Hearth" arrives, it is dounly welcome. Patrons are assured that this screen version is practically a perrect replica or the original. All tbe old characters appear, the leading ones being portrayed by Virginia Browne Falre, Margaret Landis, Fritzi Ridgeway, Joser Swickward and John Standing. Other attractive pictures are also shown. PRINCESS THEATRE. The usual two-star programme is being shown at the Princess Wis week. ".Blue Blazes," starring Lester Cuneo, and ■Lawrul Larceny," are the two main offerings. "Blue Blazes," is the story or a pugilist who tires ol' the ring and decides to take up ranching. So he goes "out West," ana 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 himself the girl's protector, but tlnds the cowboy one too many lor him. so he retires rrom 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, Mia Naldi, Lew Cody and Conrad Nagel are In tho 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. Tho story is that of a young sea captain who rails in love with the daughter or his millionaire employer. The old man lorblds the girl to have any dealings with her lover, but, despito all opposition, the pair deTeat 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 the Illm. Other attractions are also shown. GRAND THEATRE. "Hale," a Metro production starring Alico Lake and Conrad Nagel, Is the prin- i clpal attraction now at the Grand. The story concerns a pretty show girl who llnds herseir implicated in a murder mystery. Her fiance, a district attorney, I is endeavouring to tho best or his ability,' to secure, a conviction against a man who is accused or 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 hods 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 ihe "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 llrst is Peter B. Kkne's story "The GoGetter," which is a most entertaining comedy-drama. "Kissing Cup's Race," a great racing turn, adapted rrom the poem or tho same name, rorms the second reature, while the third is a good comedy "Own Your Own Home." EPSOT.I 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 Ftandsell, Gwendoline Taylor, Ysolind Mc.Veagh, Messrs. Walter Brough. Harold Wilson, Frank Stichhury, and Masters E. Blomlleld and Frank Hoffey.