AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 292, 10 December 1925, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AXD LYRIC THEATRES.

'The Making of O'Malley," one of the new features now being shown at the National and Lyric Theatres, i≤ a First National production in whicu the everpopular Milton Sills has an unusual and altogether congenial role. He is seen as a policeman, who rails in love with a New York society girl, who has rorsaken idle pleasures ror work amongst the poor of the city. The inlluerice or the beautiful girl lifts the burly officer of the law to a newer and higher plane, but he never forgets how to battle ag-alnst those whom it is bis duty to control. To him, duty Is a religion. The picture embodies action, thrills, and laughter. One of the most thrilling scenes j> that in which the hero l= responsible for a successful raid on the headquarters of a gang or rum-runners, sills enters their domains per medium of a rope, from a high roof. Dorothy Mackaill is" the girl who loves the officer. Others in the cast are Helen Rowland, Warner Richmond, and Claude King. The second offering is a new William Fox. spe'-ial, •Tiurand of the Bad Lands." a thrilling feature, in which Buck Jones has the principal part. Durand is a daring character, who. through an unfortunate chain of circumstances, lias earned the name of the most brulal bandit in the district. Exploits of an extremely vicious nature are credited him, despite his attempts to live down his reputation. Then into his life crimes a wair or the desert, who wins his heart, and gives him an opportunity to show his accusers in their true light. Marion Nixon is the girl. The villains or the piece are portrayed by Malcolm White and Kred De Silva. The picture was directed by Lynn Reynolds. STRAND THEATRE. " The Spaniard." the much-heralded Paramount production, which was screened against a background of lavish settings and society splendour, will be shown at the Strand Theatre to-morrow. Ricardo Cortez, Jetta noudnl. and Noah Beery are featured in the leading roles of the production, based on the novel of the same name by Juanita Savage. The Spaniard is Ricardo Cortez, idol or the bull rines or Spain, who turns out to be a nobleman. When the picture opens he is found at a fashionable affair in London, where he has created nothing less than a sensation among- the women-folk. It Is the eve or his departure for Spain. He meets, and true to form starts to woo, the beautiful English society girl Dolores Annesley. Hut Dolores has quite a reputation as a heart-breaker herself. This annoys the fiery Spaniard not a little, and he decides then and there to tame Dolores ir it's the last thing he does. The scenes that rollow cany audiences to Spain—to the bull light, where Dolores discovers to her horror that the hero of her latest love alTair in London is nothing more than a common bulllighter. The scene shifts to an isolated castle far up in the mountains, where Don

Pedro, the Spaniard, 'holds the girl a prisoner until she has learned to love him. How the girl manages to escape, followed by a thrilling experience among bandits, to be at last rescued by the Spaniard, brings the production to a fitting climax. In addition, an " Our Gang" comedy, entitled " Derby Day, - ' will be shown, together with a'Pathe Gazette and another or the " Urban Chati " series. EYERYBODY-S AND TIYOLI THEATRES. it i= only a short time since Auckland theatregoers were given something to discuss in "Spring Cleaning." the ••thin-ice play produced here by Pauline I rederiek and her clever company. A screen version of the play will be shown at both hverybodv's and the Tivoli theatres during the week commencing to-morrow. In the dramatic story. Hetty Cornpson, one ol the best or Paramount* stars, has the leading role. It is better than any she had in " The Female." " The Enemy Sex." " The Garden of Weeds," or any of her other big features. Adolphe Menjou, admirable screen villain, scores another success, and Elliott Dexter has a suitable role, while Zasu Pitts is also in the cast. The famous director, William de Mille, was responsible for the production. The play was written by Frederick I.onsdale, who also wrote •• Aren't We All?" The theme is tensely dramatic. Do authors become so involved in their world of llctlon that they fall to realise that romance is the part of everyday life? it asks. Do they pour all their romance into their works/and leave none for their wives and families. , Elliot Dexter, as a successful novelist, appears in a role which gives support to the- contention. He is blind to the charm of his wife, played by BeHy compson. till a philanderer with women's love, played by Adolphe. Menjou. comes along. It is the. attentions of this man to his wife that awakens the novelist from his work of make believe Into the realm or real life. I'laying a trump card, he invites a social outcast to sit with his wire and her rriends at dinner, and shows these mentis up in their true colours. This latter scene is the llnest in the whole production, and Is made equally dramatic on tile screen as it was on the mage. Other attractions will be included on the bill.

PHIXCESS THEATKK. An amazing animal art will be presented on the new programme coming to the -Prince?-; Theatre tomorrow. Known as Apdale's Gigantic Act. thirty animals. Including bears, monkeys, do«s, and baboons, are shown In a series of extraordinary feats. They ride real bicycles In pursuit races, and do fancy and trick cycling. They play musical Instruments, and perform on horizontal ladders. one or the runniest features or tin- show Is that In which chariot races arc run, the dog-s acting , as horses and the monkeys ;is jockeys. A special children's matinee will be held on Saturday afternoon. The chief picture on the prolamine will be " Any Woman." a Paramount production starringAlice Terry. Henry Kolker, I.awson Hutt, Ernest (illllan. Marjrarlte Fischer, and James Nell. It depicts the intimate and vital problems that confront a popular

and wealthy society debutante who Is rorced to earn her own living when her millionaire father loses his money. The picture raises an interesting question: is beauty a handicap or a help to a working girl ? ~ The society girl soon learns that her employers are not so much interested in her business efficiency as they are in her personal charms. Eventually, through no fault of her own, she is named as the co-respondent in a sensational divorce suit, which indirectly leads to a happy and satisfying ending. One of the novel and thrilling- features incorporated in the production is '• the treasure hunt," the latest fad of the smart social set. This unique game has never before been pictured on the screen, and is guaranteed to make the most blase lllm-goer sit up and take notice. The usual supports will be shown. HIPPODROME THEATRE. " Charley's Aunt," the Paramount adaptation of the famous farce, win come to the Hippodrome Theatrp with the new programme to-morrow. Syd. Chaplin has the title role, and the supporting cast is composed of players of wide repute. As a stage play, " Charley's Aunt " has already grossed over one million pounds and holds the money-making , record for the stage. It has been produced in every civilised country in the world, which. In addition to giving It an international reputation, has established it as a play with the basic qualities or farce-comedy that can be appreciated and understood in any language. " Charley's Aunt " was llrst produced at Bury St. Edmunds, in SufToik in in<.)2. with \V. S. Penley starring, and was then brought to London, playing llr*t at the Royalty Theatre, and then at the Globe, where it ran continuously ror four years, a total of 14 60 performances. The fame or " Charley's Aunt " spread far and wide, and seven touring companies started out through the provinces. Several companies are still touring with it in England, and each year it Iα put on in London where it is one of the " draws" of the holiday season. Some or the great «tage stars have played in " Charley's Aunt" and the original W. S. Penley "is said to have made a quarter of a million pounds out or li. The usual supports win be n-atured. and a special children's matinee will be held on Saturday afternoon