AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 214, 10 September 1925, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC THEATRES. " Twelve years ago there flashed upon Australasian screens a motion picture I which rocked the audiences or the day j with its majesty, its power, its ti-emen- | dons advance on what' the motion picture I had achieved up to that time. And now,; in 1025, comes a gigantic recreation or the 1 i masterpiece or twelve years, made by First National, and carrying back or it all the experience those twelve years of effort have taug-ht." That is how the producers offer " Quo Vadis? " the gi grantlc spectacle now being shown at the National and Lyric Theatres to the picture public. " The world's mightiest dramatic triumph," and " The screen's crowning achievement" are two or the ways in which critics rel'er to the reature. It was made this year in Rome, and includes SO,OOO performers and 50 African lions. it shows thrilling chariot races, Rome burning while licentious JVero plays his addle, and, above all, the supreme faith of the martyred Christians. It is actual history set in the splendour and pompous dressing- of its day, showing- the mad revels of the Romans at the Court or the greatest tyrant the world has known. Through it all runs a great love tale, showing the intimate and outstanding J moments or the lives or two beautiful characters. The picture ends in a mighty ' climax with a fearrul holocaust. A great cast is reatui-ed with Emil Jannings in the leading role. The picture is without dOubt one or the greatest and most spectacular or the times. It was produced at enormous expense. The box plan is at Messrs. Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd. STRAND THEATRE. . j As a sequel to the screen tests carried out a Tew months ago by Mr. Beaumont Smith, the Australian producer, at the Strand, there will be shown at that theatre to-morrow " The Adventures of Algy." Great interest is attached to this reature, as far as Aucklanders are concerned, in that the leading lady is Miss Bathie Stuart of this city, who is widely known as an exponent or Maori folk songs. She supports the popular Australian comedian Claude Dampier, who appears in the title role or Algy. The amusing story is told against a background composed largely or New Zealand scenery. There are scenes of, Rotorua and Maoris, and many other features or interest In the various parts or the Dominion, while glimpses or Sydney are frequent. An intimate peep behind the theatrical lire in that city is given in the elaborate revue scenes that are shown in the film. The story tells or Algy, a " sortie," who, with another brother, is left a giant tract of land in New Zealand. They commence a race ror the Dominion, but in Sydney Algy's brother plans a foul deed and slips a potion into Algy's drink. The hero mistakes the Manly boat ror the New Zealand-bound liner. The run thenbegins. Later, when Algy does reach these shores, he meets a wonderful girl, and then—but the picture must complete the tale. As Kiwi, the heroine. Miss Stuart Is said to give an exceptionally line Interpretation. Eric Harrison is in the supporting cast. The usual supports will be shown and a special prologue provided.

EVERYBODY'S AND TIVOLI THEATRES.

" The Ten Commandments" will be shown, at Everybody's and the Tivoli theatres to-morrow. The occasion will mark the second return showing or this most wondernu film, which has scored Ehenomenal successes wherever it has een shown. It has broken all records in New Zealand and Australia, and ran for nine weeks in this city alone. No picture made can boast its achievements, and it wiU be sure to be welcomed back again by enthusiastic Aucklanders as a picture that can be seen any number or times Without being boring. The following are some of 'the screening records established by "The Ten Commandments":—62 -weeks in New York, 30 weeks in Chicago, 3? weeks in Sydney, 14 weeks in Paris, 10 Weeks in Auckland and two weeks return ■ season, 4 weeks In Wellington (includes two return seasons), 4 weeks in-Christchurch (return season to play). These -.figures represent records in each In! every town in New Zealand the picture will have one or more return seasons, and it has therefore teen necessary to obtain fresh copies or the nim n-orii America. Certainly the picture is all that It is claimed to be—the greatest moving picture or all time. Nothing like its record has ever been achieved before, and it will be a long time berore anything or its calibre will be seen here again. HIPPODROME THEATRE.

" The Uninvited Guest," a thrilling Metro production made with the aid or the new technicolour process, will be shown at the Hippodrome Theatre during the coming week. The reatured players are Jean Tolley, Mary McLaren, William Baiiev, Maurice ITynn, and Louis Wolheim. Briefly, the story tells how Olive Granger, Irene Carlton, and Fred Morgan are the only survivors of a shipwreck in the South Seas. Washed ashore on an Island, Irene and Morgan, international crooks, tlnd that Olive is the sole heiress to a New York millionaire uncle whom she has never seen. They steal her credentials and escape on a passing steamer, leaving Olive imprisoned in a cave. She is found there by Paul Patterson and Jan Buorner, island derelicts, >who are partners in a pearl hunt. rhey light through the jungle to possess the girl and Paul wins. Jan Boomer tries to double-cross his partner by diving ror 2 earls hidden in a sunken wreck, but is illed in a terrific battle with an octopus ; Paul follows him, and comes up with the pearls, escaping from the octopus arter a violent struggle. Olive and Paul return ' to INew York in time to expose Irene and i Fred Morgan just as they are about to i make their get away arter having poisoned ' the uncle. There will also be shown a I Burton Holmes comedy, a Gazette, and a ' comedy.

PRINCESS THEATRE. • Two most thrilling yet varied productions wm. come to the Princess Theatre with the change of programme to-morrow. &««*_* _f m .' 1 »* "Cow and the Girl." an exciting Western reature. in which the popular Buck Jones is starred. Jones is regarded as one or the most daring or all the portrayers of Western roles on the ?o„r c f n ;c? nd , llas I ? een responsible for not a few first c]aS s pictures dear t0 the n - or those movie-patrons who enjoy really exhilarating stories of cowboys ana the romantic West. In this reature he has an enureiy original role, but on" which give" him every opportunity to ride and nc-iit with all the wild enthusiasm which he r,. a h». Sh , OWn , in P rev 'ous offerings Gold is what he risks life for in this feature, with °, n ?.„f? c , ept °, n ' and tllat exception' Is a £i e . a '#„ r l 11 „ 8 ' lr .k Needless to say, he wins ?n' ,_?Vif c y* ]na ro1 '- including the lady n the question, a good supporting cast s featured. The second offering will be "Secrets or the Night," a mystery storS which should satisry the greatest sun ■porters or mysterious productions a comedy will also be shown.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. hJl Man ? one or Beaumont Smiths best productions, starring Claude Dampier will be; shown' at the Queen's Theatre durlng-the Wee.k-commencing to-morrow A second production will be " Fabiola" Xrammr e(?y - WIU be inclutlea °" &0

GRAND THEATRE. Fred Thomson, the athletic cowboy, and his horse " Silver King," will aDDear at the Grand Theatre, tomorrow in™ North or Nevada" The story tells or an old man who Intends leaving his ranch to his foreman. Tom: Taylor,; but who dies just as he IS: about: -to "sign .Ms will. The ranch then goes to a niece and nephew. A «__ of endeavours to cheat them of certaih ■ property, but. thanks to Tom &__?&__& ha 2 ra,lcn in love with the niece, joey, are frustrated. The picture: is nil of. thrills, and-the star, w»a .__ asafstance: of his intelligent horse, nerforms some very daring feats, in the supporting, cast are Hazel Keene and Josef SwiKardA j .-. -.