AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1926, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC THEATRES. "Rainbow Riely," Johnny Hines' latest production for First National, now being shown at the National and Lyric Theatres, shows the comedian in a role that suits his particular style to perfection. He is featured as a "cub" reporter, who, the minute he joins the staff of a large newspaper, is given a "star" job. He is told to get the "story" about two rival families, the squabble in existence between them having originated by both sides claiming a stray pig. The young reporter gets together a quantity of clothes, and, armed with golf clubs and tennis racquets, sets out to have a good time. He receives a rude awakening when he enters the war zone, for both families take an instant and hearty dislike to him. He becomes the central figure in a series of exciting and laughable plots, and is rescued only by the combined forces of the United States Army and Navy. Playing opposite the star is Brenda Bond, a newcomer to the screen, who has the role of a school teacher, with whom the hero falls in love. A second attraction is "True as Steel,". a Goldwyn feature, starring Eleanor Boardman and Aileen Pringle, with Huntly Gordon in the supporting cast. The story concerns a friendship that springs up between a middle-aged business man and a fascinating business woman. The friendship reaches a dangerous phase, but the woman, remembering, her husband, springs back in time, like true steel. The usual supports are included on the bill. "YPRES." "Ypres," the British War picture, opened its season at the. Strand Theatre to-day. The producers have obtained j 100 per cent realistic entertainment in every foot of film that it takes to :ecord the story of the Immortal Salient. I "The scenes are so life-like that you find j yourself reaching round to stretch your- ; self, feeling in the dark for the water I bottle where you carefully stored this 'morning's tiny shell-cap issue!" writes a London critic. "Ypres" is not just an ordinary movie. It is an historic j record. tell : ng in dramatic and thrilling j style the story of Ypres Salient, which j was probably tlie most continuously ! dramatic sector of the whole w f ar, it unfolds the great deeds of regiments and [individual heroes. You will see cannon firing shell* bursting, and trenches. There are several scenes in trenches that nobody—not even the old troops— should miss; real trenches, broken, dirty looking trenches, and one trench in particular, up to the knees in mud, with a poor old corporal carrying rations up it with a sniper pottin* at him! Tanks are shown, pill boxes, biw'es, • gun pits, ration wagons—one by one the pronerties of the old days go pictured past. Nq war picture made after the event has ever yet (riven so graphic a | nresentntion of the war in so many of ' its phas;s as "Yore*." A supporting programme is also shown and a special i prologue staeed. j MAJESTIC THEATRE. , "Married Flirts," a Metro-Gold wynMayer "production, starring Pauline Frederick, the famous dramatic actress, came to the Majestic Theatre to-day. The story is an adaptation of Louis Joseph Vance's novel, "Mrs. Paramor." I The supporting cast is headed by Mac Busch, Conrad Nagel and Huntly Gordon. The story handles a tremendous theme of love, marriage and divorce, in such a way that the eternal triangle is now squared. Mac Murray, May McAvoy. Norma Shearer, A'leen Pringle, i Robert Z. Leonard, the producer, Hobart ' Hpnley, the director, John Gilbert and j William Haines, all appear as extras in one of the scenes. The sets are all modern, delightfully done aud artistic- • ally decorated. Charles CadwaUader, I art director, designed them all, from the s-mnle home drawing room scene of the j Pendleton Wavnes in New York, to, the elaborate hotel apartment in Paris of Mm. Paramor. Also the interesting 6ets of the Tanglewood Country Club on Long Island, with its latest feature, ■ a mah jong room. The delightfully j intimate boudoir of Mrs. Paramor. that [of Jill Wetherell, and the bachelor 1 apartments of Perley Rex, all have , their distinctive personauty and Beem ;to breathe the atmosohere of their oqcuj pants. Supporting features are shown j and the orchestra provides a special ' jazz interlude on the stage. TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY'S THEATRES. "Flower of the Night," the new Paramount production now being shown at the Tivoli and Everybody's Theatres, is said to bring Pola Negri to the screen in i her best performance to date. As a dashing Spanish girl whose love of life and hungering for company leads her to defy her father and leave her home, it is one of her greatest characterisations. The story is one of the early Calif ornian gold rush days. The hordes of goldseekers take the old mine of Don Geraldo. who, thereafter, hates all Americans. One of them falls in love with his daughter, and, despite the old man's almost brutal opposition, wins htr for his own. The tale was specially written for Pola Negri by Joseph Hengesheimer. famous novelist. Paul Bern directed the picture, and the supporting cast is beaded by Warner Oland and Joseph Darling. HIPPODROME THEATRE. "The Lullaby," which heads the present programme at the Hippodrome Theatre, contains an exceptionally romantic and dramatic plot. It tells of a pair of Italian lovers, who, after their marriage, go to New York to make their home. They are supremely happy for the first few months, and then there arises the eternal triangle, the third angle being provided by the husband's best friend. They follow many sensational incidents,' which culminate in the other man murdered and the husband standing his trial for the deed. He is found guilty, but just after •he is sentenced, fate intervenes in a nenilTar manner. Jane Novak has the lead'ne role and is supported by a number of noted players. The usual supports are also featured. THE KENDALL QUARTET. Before a large audience in the Unity Hall last evening the Kendall Quartet gave its final concert of a delightful season. The programmes have been of the • best, and the performance by the lady musicians have been of tbe highest kind. These concerts wilUfong be remembered, and it is hoped this gifted organisation will return in the near future. Beethoven's quartet in D, opus 18, No. and Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" received interpretations which fully exhibited the intrinsic value of the* music, and McEwen's "Les Dunes" and 'Xa Racleuse" were effectively presented After each work the Misses Kendall. Jones, Brook and Hanson were enthusiastically recalled. . The ladies left to-day for Sydney, where concerts are to be given.

DON COSSACK CHOIR. V Tbe famous Don Cossack Choir gari its third change of programme l a8 t 1 night before a large and deliohted assemblage of lovers of choral music There was a charming vocal blend ami" excellent concerted singing i n the oil church chorale "Blessed is the Man " ■ Very impressively sung was KastalskvV ' "The Holy Light" and Vedei's "Ooen the Doors of Repentance," exquisitely phrased and. musically treated was Rachmaninoff's devotional hymn, "We Sing to Thee." Admirable 1 shading and vocal, blend of extreme' beauty marked the performance of Alexander Archangelskv's "Dusk» whilst the musical setting in praise 0 f the Kuban River, which flows like th Don through the Cossack country w .! a remarkable piece of ensemble*' work The bass solo was effectively m"- venthere was line vocal play, and i„ & \ full harmony parts the voices sounded like the open diapasons and principal of a large organ. The low bass not! were of unusual quality and fulness in the old folk song, "The Imprisoned Cos sacks," and the impassioned phrase, were sung with decision and marked emphasis, culminating i n a st i rri n„. climax at the final cadence. Nauru w niks "The Joke," Pinin's "Down"!! Dear Mother Volga." "Monotonously* Rings the Little Bell," and the Cossack song, "From a Forest" were also in a way which displayed the varill character of the settings. Tim S ]Z\T of the National Anthem ! brought to an end a memorable n cr formanee of Russian music. Throughoutthe audience was deeply moved Vith the concert, and showed its appreciation' by hearty applause and insistent Sand for extra numbers. To-night ano3 change of programme will be made, aridl the final concerts will be given to- mor . . row afternoon and evening. .. *; PRINCESS THEATRE. J The war comedy, "Behind the Front» continues to attract crowded houses ffi ■ the Princess Theatre, where its screening last week was a memorable success.'. ; so much so that the season was extended Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton are the principals. They give humorous performances of a particularly high. ; standard, but at the "same time the pair ; never betray the fact that they know • they are expected to be funny. That , adds considerably to the fun of the . thing. In the opening scenes troopr : are shown departing for the front and | then, in France, the comedians come into the picture. From then on there is ; not a dull moment. The tricks of' the ; two "diggers" are screamingly funnVjand they reach the very hefght of absurdity when they lose themselves in "No Man's Land." and wander into both ( . German and Allied lines, putting the query. "Who.se enemy are we?" The subtitles in themselves are worth seeing j for their subtle wit. Tom Kennedy : is cast as the sergeant and pretty Mary.: j Brian, of "Peter Pan" fame, is there, :: too. ;. RIALTO AND REGENT THEATRES. ;' At the Rialto and Regent Theatres the ! principal attraction is. "The American j Venus," the spectacular Paramount proj duction, in which there appears, in addition to a good cast of well-known players, FayLanphier, who was etected America's i most beautiful girl at the Atlantic City , bathing beauty contest. Much of the . action in the story takes place at this i pageant, and serves to introduce hun- ' dreds of beautiful girls in highly original . costumes. The plot tells of two rival beauty-cream manufacturers who endea-' , your to get a testimonial from the win-., ncr of the contest, crediting her success, to their products. The more powerfulfs firm tries all sorts of dirty work to prer ( vent the other winning, but without | avail. Esther Ralston, Louis Brooks, anl Charles Murray head the cast. At the . Rialto, a second offering is "The Banda-" IeTO," a romance of Spain, with Renee 1 Adoree in the leading role; and, at the i Regent, the other feature is "The New" Commandment,*' a First National presentation, starring Blanche Sweet and i. Ben Lydon. QUEEN'S THEATRE. , "The Lost World," the remarkable ■ First National screen version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel of prehistoric monsters, opened a season to-day at the Queen's Theatre. Amazing things have been achieved by the producers of this film, for, before the eyes of 1926' audiences, walk the, t -te'rs of thou- ' sands of years ago—anunals with name* like brontosaurus, allosaurus, and deno* jsaur. They fight and feed on the luxuriI ant vegetation of their surroundings, witl ■ the greatest realism. The plot concerns jan intrepid little band of English explorers, who enter "The Lost World" for the purpose of proving whether of creatures still exist. A sensational climax comes when they return to London, taking with them a giant brontosaurus, which breaks away and ; careers through the streets, pushing - over huge buildings and leaving a trail of wreckage in its wake. A second feature is "Go Straight," starring Owen Moore. "THE ONLY WAY." The box plan for the National and • Lyric season of Sir John Martin Harvey w in "The Only Way," and the Sunbeam , Children 'from Sydney in "The Wedding of Baby Kerr" is open at Lewis BEadv and Son, Ltd. It is pointed out that the entertainment, as submitted in ■ its entirety, is exclusive to the National and Lyric Theatres and will not be to any suburban theatre as tie | "Sunbeam" children are due to leave f°r I Sydney immediately following the Auckland season. The Wellington season of the combined entertainment was a most conspicuous success. It lasted for eight ' days, and. for the first time in the history of the Grand Opera House, there i were eight consecutive matinees, and all of them packed. The children will arrive here on Wednesday morning next, making their "bow" the same afternoon at the Lyric Theatre. \ j GRAND THEATRE. Rudolph Valentino's popular success, ', "Sainted Devil." a Paramount . adapted from Bex Beach's story "The. Rope's End." heads the programme at \ the Grand Theatre. The star is shown as an Argentinian, who, according to a. contract between their parents, is to marry a girl named Julietta, whom he ' i has not seen. One. Carlotta. is in love { with Alonzo, and when she hears of-tar .' love for Juliet ta. she has that young glpg carried away by bandits, hi the ral i' Alonzo is wounded and his father killed- ; The hero sets out to rescue his lover, ana , there follow many exceptionally thru-, ling incidents. The <uportin<: east. « . headed .by Helen D'Alrrv and Nita >"aWf- . .- ORGAN RECITAL. , ggj An interesting programme will DB ; rendered by the acting City Organist,.--' Mr. Edgar Randal, next"Sunday evening; commencing at S.:*ll p.m. A spocljif, '"feature of the programme will be Gi«P-:.c mant's great Sonata No. 1. in D major.v ; ami minor. ■'. §__{§. . 1 . 'S>'