AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1926, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

STRAXD THEATRE. "Welcome Stranger," a screen version of the stagre-play of the same name, which scored a huge success on Broadway and in other parts of the world, la now being shown at the Strand Theatre. Tne leading- roles in the fllm f are taken by Florence , Yidor, Dove Davidson. Virginia Browne ; Fairf, Noah Berry, Lloyd Hughes and O:U Harlan. The story opens by tellinghow Isidore Solomon breezes into Valley Kali- one New Year's nig-ht. and nnds the Inhabitants much colder than the atmosj iiiiore. lie is told that Jews are not i allowed In the village, and replies that ; mat is the reason why it is still a "onpI horse town." That worthy gentleman ■ resolves to make it a city. With good j humour arid humility, he foug-ht the town's ! narrow-mindedness and rarial prejudice. !He and Clem Becrnis bought a waterfall , and planned to electrify the town. But ■ the Mayor was on the other side and gave : Win a st:rr ngtit. Solomon stood every- ! thing- until they set nre to all his worldly possesstons. That was a blow that almost felled him. But Izzy was a philosopher i with a sense of humour—and a fighter. iHn won through. The usual supports ; are shown, while, in addition, there is an excellent prolog-ue by Wish Wynne, the famous English character entertainer, who provides twenty minutes of most enjoyable amusement. Miss Wynne has been declared by critics to be the foremost performer in her cla=s to-day. >he is highly original and is altogether a finished artist. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Sinners In Silk," the latest of the first-class Metro-Goldwyn production?, heads the present programme at the Majestic Theatre. Eleanor Boardman, Conrad Nagel and Adolph Menjou have the leading- roles. The story is described as a vivid account or New York society life, and tells how a rather and son both rail in love with the same g-lrl and the amazing- complications that rollow. In the picture there is a multitude of the very latest creations which will thrlJ! fascinated feminine (and maybe masculine) eyes. The story is or New York society with g-ilded cabarets and beamirul homes as background to what Is virtually a fashion parade. Here one recalls a g-or-g-eous evening wrap of white satin, with ermine collar and deep silk fring-e. which receives rather unusual usage in the picture. Two or the many afternoon frocks call for special mention. One is a sleeveless navy blue marocain embossed in white. It Is ankle leng-th, with a double skirt, and completed by a panel railing rrom the shoulders almost to the heels. The second is a black georgette frock with wide bands or noral ribbon inserted in the bodice and skirt. One or the most eye-arresting- bathing- g-owns Is seen in the picture. It is or black and floral-llnlshed white satin, with head-dress to match. That it is made ror use as well as display Is to be seen when it remains unimpaired from a frolic in a bathing- pool, whilst enveloping- the rorm or the delig-htrul Miss Eleanor Boardman. And these are but six or a wonderful six hundred or more. The usual supports are also shown, and there is an operatic prologue in which Myra MonK, Ethel Rae, Miss Poole and Mr. Arthur Ripley are the perrormers. PRINCESS THEATRE. Known the world over as a wonderful athlete. Fred Thomson, the cowboy actor, who has come rapidly to the rront rank or Western actors of late, has the leadingrole in '-The Ftg-hting- Sap," a screen adaptation or the thrilling- story by Marion Jackson. In this exciting- feature, the star has the best opportunity of his career to display his remarkable athletic prowess, is daring-, amusing- and versatile, and is always responsible ror providing an entertainment bound to entertain the most critical audiences. Silver King-, his wonderful horse, supports, and he gives a remarkable performance that keeps the audience thrilled from beginning- to end There is no doubt that Thomson deserves thoroughly the title or "Tom Mix's only rival." He equals him In many of the thrilling- scenes that are depicted. The second feature on the programme is "Grounds For Divorce." a Paramount production starring- Florence Vidor, Louise Fazenda, Matt Moore and a big- supporting- : cast. The story tells or a beautirul young- -wife, who Is married to a ramous ; French divorce lawyer. So engrossed is | he in looking- after the afTairs of other I married women that he completely neglects his wire, and even forgets the anniversary or their wedding-. ATter a time, things come to a head, and the woman divorces her husband. She marries ag-ain, but is not happy with her second husband. A most amusing , climax is provided when she applies to her nrat husband for a divorce from her second. This is granted and the girl is re-marrlPd to the man she has always loved. The usual supports are included on the bill. TIVOLI THEATRE. "Grounds For Divorce," a Paramount comedy-drama or marriage, with the scenes laid in France, is now being- featured at the Tivoli Theatre. Paul Bern, the man -who made "The Dressmaker From Paris," directs the production. Florence Vidor. Matt Moore and Louise Fazenda, who was recently seen with Raymond Griffith in "The Night Club," are reatured at the head of the cast, which includes Harry Myers (the "Connecticut Yankee"),! and others just as well known. Miss Vidor, as Alice Sorbier, is the charmingand very-much-in-love-with-her-husband wire or a prominent French divorce court lawyer. But for quite a while Maurice has been unconsciously neglecting- her ror his work. The fact that ag-gravates Alice most. Is that her husband does not realise that, while he is defending- other neglected wives in court, his own wife is suffering because of his neglect. Matters come to a head on the night or their ilrst wedding- anniversary, when Maurice Sorbier is busy with a client and must not be disturbed. Alice, her pride Injured, and now beside herself with rag-e, rushes to his study and lets him know just what she thinks of him, and emphasises her statement that she will not stand Tor such treatment by tossing- an inkwell at her husband's head and stalks out with the final parting- shot that she is through with him forever; she will give him a taste, of his own medicine—a divorce, though she secretly hopes that he will fight it. This he rails to do. Alice then marries a count. The amusing- climax is provided when she finds herself unhappy and applies to her Hrst husband ror a divorce. A second production is "Taming- the West," 'a thrilling- Western feature, in which Hoot Gibson is seen at his best. HIPPODROME THEATRE. Tom Mix is seen ag-ain at the Hippodrome Theatre this week in "The Weart Buster." which marks his fiftieth film for the William Fox studios. Although the title sounds rather sentimental, patrons wjll find that the Western star does not have to discard his spurs and chaps to win the beart of the g-irl he loves. In fact, the hero finds it necessary to throw caution to the winds and kidnap the Justice of the Peace, and the viliag-e minister in order to prevent the g-irl he loves from marrying- the bad villain in the story. For this he is cast' into prison, but the people who locked him up rorg-ot all about his wonder horse, Tony, who rescues him in most novel fashion. The film is crammed full of tense, exciting- moments, and shows the popular portrayer of Western roles at his best. The picture Is adapted from the story by Georg-e Scar-boroug-h. Esther Ralston is the leadingladv in the production. The second feature on the bill is "Moon Madness." the scenes or which are laid both in the Arrican jungle and the Latin quarter of Paris. The film reveals the strang-e Influence of hpredity and features an all star cast. Other attractions are included on the bill. RIALTO THEATRE. An exceptionally interesting- programme is being- offered this week to patrons of the Rialto Theatre. A novel entertainment is provided by the appearance tn person of Bobby Leach, the man who became famous by g-oing- over the Niagara Falls in a barrel in 1911. A film showinghis amazing- exploit is shown, and during the screening-, Mr. Leach relates his experiences. Among-cst other little incidents he relates is how the barrel burst and he spent twenty-three weeks in hospital as an aftermath. Another attraction Is "Don't Doubt Your Wife." a firstclass comedy-drama, produced by Paramount, with Viola Dana and Alan Forrest, Winifred Bryson and Willard Louis. The story tells of a young- wife who is afflicted by a most unreasonable streak of jealousy, w : h!ch causes a rupture In her domestic affairs. Finally, she separates from her husband, but learns her lesson, and, extremely crestfallen, returns to him. The other reature is "Women Who Give," a Metro production, directed by Reginald Barker. It is a thrilling- story of the sea, the leading- roles being- taken by Barbara Bedrord, Renee Adoree, Robert Frazer, Frank Keenan, Eddie Phillips and Joseph Dowling , . AUSTRALIAN LADIES' BAKD. The Australian Ladies' Pipe Band will give a performance at Point Chevalier to-morrow afternoon, and in the eveningwill appear in Albert Pari.

"SCARAMOUCHE." | It is a real pleasure, in these days of j "super-pictures," to see a niuch-adver- ; Used fUm complying- in all respects with the ambitious clajmj made lor it by its producers and the management oi the theatre in which it is being .screened, '•scaramouche.' , the new Rex ingrain feature now being- shown ai Everybody's Theatre, is a picture of wliicli it can be u-uthruliy said that it provides this pleasure. It is one or those rare productions to which the word "wonderful" can be applied without exaggeration. Hex Ingram, one or the foremost screen producers of the day, has scored a far greater triumph in -scaranioutho" than ho did in "The hour Horsemen." The dramatic story, with the bloody revolution of France as a background, provided huu with superb material, and he has treated it with the touch of. a master. The result is a perfectly balanced ttlni. shown amidst the most realistic, and, in many cases, beautiful settings. Ingram IIJ3 not aliuwed himself to be carried away by the possibilities provided by such a story as the one under review. He is not g-uilty of a fault common among producers, lie has not g-iven the picture public a long-drawn out iflm of the Revolution, with gore literally shriekingfrom beginning io end, he has worked m the bowling-, surging, hair-demented mobs at odd intervals, and ha.s relied on the reality of his reproductions to become Ilrmly printed on the minds of the audience, despite the limits within which he has kept such scenes. The romance of the aristocratic clown, who becomes one or the leaders of the people, and the beautiful daughter of one or the most reared aristocrats in Kpance, is told with the idea of the revolution ever in the background, but the whole Is so perfectly blended that onlookers are kept enthralled rrom beginning to end. One or the really remarkable things about the Him is the perfect types which have been obtained for many of the characters. Danton, Robespierre, and that host of other Terj ror-ists are all there, living just as we imagine they lived and acted in the period in question. Altogether, the Him is one or which thf producers might well be proud, and which is sure to delight all who see it. Alice Terry, Ramon Navarro and Lewis Stone give excellent portrayals ol' the leading roles. An effective prologue, in the rorm or a duel scene, rea-tui-ing Isolde and Alexis and Captain .Mgel K'Orniond is staged, and special music is I played by the orchestra. A great crowd of peofie were unable to g-ain admittance last evening. RECITAL. The vocal recital to be given by Ida and Laura WalKer on Saturday, Kebruary 6, at the Town Hall Concert Chamber, promises to be a musical event of more than every day interest. An excellent programme has been arranged, including operatic excerpts and numbers by Schiimman. Chopin, Bem-jerg-, Massenet, Brahms, Hoist, Stanford, Shaw and folk songs. Miss Ida Walker is making headway in her musical studies at the Melha Conservatoriura in Australia. She won a Melba scholarship two years ago. and this has been extended indefinitely. In commenting- upon her voice, Dame Nellie Melba compared it with that or Ada Crossley. Dame Clara Butt, on the occasion or her recent visit to Auckland, spoke very highly in praise of Miss Walker's voice and cordially endorsed Dame Mel-ba's opinion or her capability. Miss Laura Walker, who is also a protege of Dame Melba, studied for several years at the Melba Conservatorium. She appeared successfully on the concert platform and was a member of the recent Melba-WiHlamson Grand Opera Company. The assisting talent will be Miss Dorothy Milker, violinist, who has ju>t returned from studies 'abroad, and Mr. Eric Waters, the well known Auckland pianist. J. C. WILLIAMSON VAUDEVILLE. Another company of J. C. Williamson vaudeville will commence a short season lat His Majesty's Theatre next Saturday. A big starring bill is headed by Herschei Meniere, the mirthrul music master, with eccentricities at trre piano. One New York critic says: "For fully fifty minutes Herschei Henlere rolls one melody into another in the most bewildering fashion. He makes old ballads blend with the latest ragtimes, and all the while he has something runny to say or do, that one hardly knows what next to expect of him. He is certainly one of the most entertaining- turns that has ever visited the city, and whether one's fancy lies in a good ear ror music or a ■ joke, he leaves nothing: lacking in either." A fine company includes a popular London character comedian, Scott Sanders, the author of everything he does, writer and original singer of "On the Road to Anywhere," "The Old opera star," "Oia Knifegrinder," etc. In Scott Sanders there is the tramp humourist who vacillates between a Clydeside accent and one that would pass pretty well at Oxford. Something new under the sun te what Lee Mason and Sunny are offering- vaudeville patrons. Snappy song-s. tuneful tunes, and rancy rrocks are featured In their "Follies and Foolies of Vodvli," which Is fifteen minutes' fun. An exclusive engagement from the London Coliseum is that of the Three Swifts, comedy club jug-glers, whose hurricane club-throwing Interspersed with humour, is described as a delightful olTering. The greatest or thrills is provided by trie Aerial Benos, sensational trapeze artists. A critic says: "One of the most remarkable acts ever seen on the stage is presented by the latest Continental novelty, "Fantassi." From London theatres, Lydia and Desmond present steps and styles of 1926. a dancing sensation with specially selected orchestra, and the latest staging. The box plans for the season open next Thursday morning at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd. i THE jSIUXICIPAL BAND. The Municipal Band plays at the Zooj logical Park to-morrow afternoon at 3 I o'clock. As Is usual with this progres- ! sive combination, the programme to be presented contains several new numbers, chier among which Is a line descriptive overture —"The Dawn of Peace," and Lewis Carey's fine setting of "God is Our Refug-e." given as a cornet solo by Mr. Fr<nv Bowes. Three brilliant new marches, "The Light Dragoon." "Kopriva." and "Tlshy," will be heard ror the first time. Mr. Hal C. McLennan, the hand's brilliant nautist will give a piccolo solo, "Pantomimtque." Two grand selections, "II Trovatore" and 'Merrie England," together with other tuneful ltpms makes up a programme of charm and variety.