AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 65, 19 March 1926, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC THEATRES. "Graustark," the new First National attraction, which stars Norma Talmadge, is attracting , crowded houses to the National and Lyric Theatres. Preadverttsed as one of the most sensational films produced Tor many a long- day, the film rully rulfll3 all Uie claims made for it, and snows tne popular star in a role that gives her opportunity after opportunity to dispfay all her dramatic ability. The picture is an adaptation of tne hig-tily successful "bestsellar".by George Barr McCutcheon, one of the leading American novelists, and it tells of a fictitious kingdom, a beauttrul princess, and a handsome and. daring American who falls in love with her. The picture adheres strongly to the original story, although it has been modernised. It is replete with drama and pathos, and holds the attention from start to flnlsh. In a superb portrayal, Norma' Talmadge, a3 the princess, proves that she is too pood a match for the Court dictators, who choose a husband for her, and marries the American, but only after they have had together, a long- series or thrilling adventures. The love scenes in the film are exceptionally appealing-. Tne whole picture ha 3 been produced on a most lavish scale, the producers sparing no expense to make it something very special. They even went to the expense of building- an entire mythical city, with its palaces, houses, shops, and streets. Eugene O'Brien plays opposite the star, the pair being- supported by a very large cast, including Wanda Hawley, Lillian Lawrence, Marc McDermott, and Winter Hall, the last-named being the well-known New Zealand actor, who has made a name for himself In Hollywood, and was in Auckland on holiday Just recently. The usual supporting features are included on the bill at both, theatres. MAJESTIC THEATRE. ' Another nrst-class Warner Brothers' screen reature came to the Majestic Theatre to-day, In the form of "The Narrow Street." in which Matt Moore and Dorothy Devore are featured. The picture is a screen adaptation by Julian Josephson of the popular novel by Edwin Bateman Morris. Humour and mystery are well blended in the feature, which contains also, a fascinating love story. The hero and heroine, in the opening stages of the story, get Into the most embarrassing , position of being husband and wife in name only. The g-trl invades the' man's bachelor quarters, and, while sue reruses to disclose her Identity, she admits, very candidly, that she is hiding rrom the police. While he is Harbouring her the man rails madly in love with the unknown girl. Being unable to confess his love because of the awkward situation iri which , they are placed, the man simply aids the girl in her mysterious occupations. The film works on to a highly original finale. Thrill follows thrill in quick succession, and those whc see the feature are assured or exceiieni entertainment. Additional reatures include another "Stereoscopiks" nim, demonstrating the third dimension of the screen, ar Aesop's Screen Fable, "Pharaoh' 3 Tomb," « Pathe Review, and a Majestic News. Ar Interlude item is also.-provided. _„. 6T.&AND THEATRE. "The Bandolero," a Metro-Geldwyn production in which Renee Adoree, Pedro de Cordoba, and Manuel Granado are the featured players, is the principal attraction on the new programme a.t the Strand Theatre. The story, placed in Spain, tells of an outlaw leader In the mountains, who, after hi 3 wire is killed, becomes the Bandolero. ■He swears vengeance on the Marquis De La Torre, who Is responsible for the death, or his ytfe. Then there springs up an attachment between the son or the Marquess and the. beautiful daughter of the Bandolero,"when the former i 3 captured and hidden in the mountains. Most of the scenes in the ■ picture were taken in Cuba, thus providing it with perfectly natural settings, and with much realism. One of the llnest scenes is that of a grand bull light on a Spanish holiday, when the whole populace throng , the arena. The picture is adapted rrom the story by Tom Terris, who also directed the reature. In addition, there is shown "Rupert the Hee-Haw," a two reel comedy; an "Out or the Inkwell" cartoon, "Koko Celebrates." An orchestra extra is "The Trumpeter" as a cornet solo, while Mr. Arthur Burton provides a musical monologue. EVERYBODY'S AND TIVOLI THEATRES. "Where Was I?" a new Reginald Denny attraction from the Universal studios, is the chief reature on the programme now being offered at Everybody's and the Tivoli Theatres. The popular star becomes ramou3 for his inlmitaDle portrayals in a number or delightrul comedy dramas, and in "Where Was I?" he-adds a rurther big success to his list. Full of humorous incidents, the story tells of a shy young business man, who endeavours to remember where he was on a certain day. He is in the extraordinary position of being in love with one girl, while another asserts that she is married to him. The man makes a determined effort to rerute the charge bj' putting , forward an alibi, and it is his efforts to do this that provide most of the laughter-raising situations. Lee Moran and Chester Conklin support the star. A second production included on the progarmme is "Night Life or New York." a Paramount film, in which Dorothy Gish is the star, supported by Rod La Rocque and Ernest Torrence. The picture gives a vivid Insight into the haunts or the gay set or the city or the Great White,. Way, many or the scenes being taken in Tamous cabarets, clubs, and hotels. The story tells or a wild young man in a small Western town, whose millionaire father, remembering- his youthrul indiscretions, reruses to allow his son to go to New York. However, the youngman eventually finds himself in th.M place, where he lands himself in a heap of trouble, but is saved by a girl who fall 3 in love with him. HIPPODROME THEATRE. Another double-Teature programme is being- shown at tne Hippodrome Theatre this week. The first attraction is "The Spanish Dancer," the third feature which Pola Negri, the beautirul actress, has made in America. It Is interesting- to note that •'The Spanish Dancer" is - different from most of her other attractions, in that it has a happy ending. The st&r is supported by Antonio Moreno, who has tho rote of a gay nobleman who fall 3in love with the beautirul gypsj'. The latter comes under the notice of ,the King of Spain, a part played by Noah Beery, and the plot revolves round, the attempt of the monarch to frustrate the activities or his subject and win the girl Tor blmseir. Kathlyn Williams plays the part of the Queen, while others in the cast are Gareth-Hughes and Adolphc Menjou. The second offering is "The Back Trail," in which Jack Hoxie plays the leading- role. The picture is said to be the Best in which Hoxio has yet appeared, being full or swift action, adventure and romance. The star has the role of a son who redeems himself after causing the death of his father through his criminal actions. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Wild BUI ffickok," the story of America's greatest bushranger enemy, l= being shown as. a Paramount production, with William S. Hart in the leading role at the Queen' 3 Theatre. Another attraction is "The Clean Heart." an adaptation ol the famous novel by A. S. M. Hutchison author of "If Winter Comes." Perej Marmont has the leading roie. A Hal Roacl comedy, "Meet the Missus," completes th< bill.

PRINCESS THEATRE. "The Pony Express,"' the Jame3 Cruze epic or the screen, is now being- shown at ttie Princess Theatre. Made by the same man responsible for "The Covered Wag-on," the new feature thoroughly deserves all the glowing , praise that the critics have given it. It is described as a worthy successor to "The Covered Wag-on," and Cruze has added another remarkable success to ni= enviable list. The story Is one or love and heroism in the days when the We-t first knew the pioneers. It shows tiie adventures of brave men who faced jrrpat perils in order to bring- civilisation into the ■ extensive country which, at the time, was peopled by only the wild Indian. Great battle scenes between whites and redraen are depicted, and for these a large band of the Sioux tribe was eng-ag-ed. They are shown in one scene attacking the town of Julesbury. Colorado. Swooping down the hills, they qulrkly surround the little station and commence firing- arrows and old-fashioned muskets, adding- to the horrible din with their frenzied shouts. THen come the cavalry, and the greatest Indtan battle of the century takes place. The soldiers who take part, are real ones from Fort D. A. Russell. The featured players in the superb production are Betty Compson j (wife or the director), Rlcardo Cortez, Ernest Torrence. and Wallace Beery. Walter Woods wrote the screen play rrom an orig-tnai story by aimself and Henry James Foreman. RIALTO -THEATRE. "Sieg-e" and ''The Sky Raider" are the two featured pictures now being , shown at the Rialto . Theatre. "Sieg-e" is a Universal-Jewel special production, in whicti Virginia Vain and Eugene O'Brien have the leading- roles. The heroine is Fredericka Gag-e, who is introduced by marriag-e into a conventional, aptlstocra-tic New Eng-laad family, who are the proprietors of hug-e woollen mills. The girl is forced to battle constantly ag-ainst the domination of Aug-usta Ruyiand, a selflsb. old woman, -who controls the lives or the Ruyiand ramily, as well as the corporation which owns tne mills from which they gain their incomes. Mary Alden has the role of the old lady, and her appearance as such marks the first occas-ion on which she ha 3 played an unsympathetic part. The secona picture, "The Sky Raider" mig-ht well be described as one long- thrill rrom start to finish. In it appears the ramous flying- "ace," Captain rvung-usser, who ha 3 one hundred, enemy planes to Ms credit. THE " SPANISH FIESTA." The "Spanish Fiesta" is still "g-oiny strorrg-" at and the boatingclubhouse Is taxed every evening- to accommodate the crowds who g-o in searctx or its many attractions. The side shows have become more amusing , , and the "bull" more knowing- and rerocious, so that even those who have already visited tne snow can still find plenty or amusement. The stalls seem to have been replenished with even more attractive wares since the bazaar opened, and trade seems to be as lively as ever. The programme of the entertainers each evening- alone is well worth, bearing.