AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1925, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC THEATRES. It Is now some years since "Suo Vadis?" first appeared on the screen, but even in the old days it was hailed as a wonderful picture. Far greater still, and worthy or all the claims that have bi>en made Tor it. is the new "Suo Vadis?" which is now being shown at the National and Lyric Theatres. It is spectacular in the extreme, but it is not that alone that justllles the Him being described as a mighty triumph. The story itself is one that will appeal to the emotions. It tells or Vinicius, a young Roman general, who, on returning rrom a successful campaign against the Parthlans, accidentally Ilnds himseir at the home or | Plantius, a patrician who has become a j Christian. There he sees and rails in love with Lygia. a beautirui hostage ol' the Emperor Nero. Despite his attentions, Vinicius is not ravoured by Lygia, but, through the aid or an uncle at the Emperor's Court, he gains. permission to make the girl his wire. But Nero himself then desires the woman. Pretending that he is saving her rrom Vinicius he takes her to his palace, when, in the midst oi' a scene in whirh the amorous Emperor is getting the worst or it with I.ygia. the Empress enters, and Nero, under the circumstances, can only hand the girl back to Vinicius. Lygia escapes, however, and seeks refuge with Christian rriends. Much happens arter that ere the girl llnds that she really loves the brave young general. Among- tne colossal scenes in the Illm are those or the court or the licentious Nero, where mad revels are forever held; the burning or Rome, while the tyrant plays his llddle; the arena, where Christians are red to the lions for the edification or the frenzied Romans; and the mighty climax with a rearrul holocaust. Thrilling- chariot races are brought back into this age with all the realism or the past. Against this background of vice and mad-living IS shown in marked contrast the supreme raith or the martyred Christians. In the cast are featured iO.OOO players, the leading roles being- in the hands or Lillian Hall Davis, Emll Jannings. Alphons Fryland. Andre Happay, Elena Di Sangro and Gino Viotti. The picture was made this year 111 Home, and, having- seen it, it is easy to believe the producers when they tell us thai it is the most costly film offered to the public ror years. STRAND THEATRE. " The Adventures or Algy," the Beaumont Smith production, which includes selected aspirants rrom the movie type search conducted in this city by the Australian producer, came to the Strand Theatre to-day with the change or programme. Miss Bathie Stuart, of Auckland, the well-known exponent or Maori rolk songs and dances, plays her first screen role in this reature, as Kiwi, the beautirui girl round whom so much or the romance revolves. Claude Dampier, the popular Australian comedian, has the leading male role, while Eric Harrison, also familiar to Aucklanders, concocts the villainy. Commencing in England, the story moves with swirt pace to Australia, and then to New Zealand, where the smiling and imperturbable Algy seeks a fortune, the hand or a pretty girl, and the solution or a crossword puzzle. How he obtains the three or them is shown in a picture which, according to reports, is by far the best mm ever produced in Australia. Scenes or Rotorua and other parts of New Zealand are sliown. while Sydney forms a background to some of the action. An intimate peep Dehlnd that city's theatrical lite is given in the gorgeous revue scenes which are features of the production. The picture has been screened with remarkable success in Australia, and earned the commendation of the Governor of New Somh Wales. The usual British Gazette and Pathc Review are shown, and a special prologue staged. EVERYBODY'S AND TIYOLI THEATRES. " The Ten Commandments," the wonderrul Paramount production, which has broken every record In IVew Zealand and Australia, is now being- shown at Everybody's and the Tivoli Theatre. This is the third occasion on which the remarkable nim has been offered to the Auckland picture public, but so great was the success that attended it berore that the management have no rears in presenting • it again. It might well be said that " The Ten Commandments " is a picture that will never die. Following is a typical reference to it rrom an Adelaide paper:— : " Breaking- all long-run records, both . motion picture and theatrical, by many weeks, the massive Paramount production, " The Ten Commandments," is now in its eighth week, and will commence its ninth week in Adelaide-on Saturday next. August 29. The big picture is playing- to wonderrm business at the Wondergxaph Theatre, where it is being; presented on the same grand scale as in Sydney and Melbourne. . The road show company presenting It is under the management or Paul Verdayne, who also plays the role of Pharaoh in the prologue. Never berore in the history or Adelaide has any attraction remained for such an extended season. It commenced us ninth week last Saturday." A premier cast Is reatured. headed by Ricnard Dix, Ramon Navaro, and many other stars. HIPPODROME THEATRE. " The Uninvited Guest," a Metro production, starring Jean Tolley. Maurice Flynn, Mary McLaren, William Bailey and Louis Wolhelm, heads the present programme at the Hippodrome Theatre. The picture is a novel one, in that it was taKen with the assistance or both the Williamson undersea photographic process, which allows or action and are under the sea and on the ocean bed to be filmed and the technicolour system, which enables scenes to be taken in natural colours It was used in " The Ten Commandments" and "Wanderer or the Wasteland." Ralph Ince. one of the greatest producers or the screen, was responsible ror tho film The story is a thrilling one that moves' between the ultra-rashionable bandits or society to the out-of-the-way places or the tropics, with their derelict population and beachcombers. It tells or a young and beautirui girl travelling to her uncle in New York, who meets two proressional gamblers. The steamer is wrecked, and these three are the only survivors. The gamblers steal the girl's papers and manage to get to New York, where they take her place. Later the girl fs rescued and taken to the States, where a happy endmg SSX . Blg sc l nes ln tile feature are the nght between the hero and the villain a nre at sea, and a battle with an octonus On the same bill are the usual gazettes' ?ee B l U cometl^ taeS ' traVe,ogUe ' «* a*°t"£ DANCE RECITAL. «v^i'2 c »T? wn £ an Concert Chamber this evening Miss Aileen Beresrord's annual dance recital will open, and will eoniMn»l : until Monday evening with a ma nee . to-morrow arternoon This year the recital is in the rorm or a beautirui Estm. tan ballet, told in dance story OuSKi pld-rashioned dances will also be ?! U ,red 't, Ass 'stance will be given by mil May ]s Beresrord's orchestral b J in s n S § DIXIELAND CABARET. Dancing will be held this evpnino- ... the Dixieland Cabaret rrom 8 om* tm nighTVhe* [2!" a Slmilar tTme to P morro v nignt. The International siv -,-iii _. , all.the latest jazz music. '" play RIALTO THEATRE. Another double-reature nrogrammn «„ JoSS_^_r_S_^^a t^i excellent roles, nortrnvs tnj f\V_\ in - many