AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 251, 22 October 1926, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. "The Silver Treasure," an adaptation from the story "Nostromo," by Joseph Conrad, was screened for the first time at the National an J Lyric Theatres yesterday. Both theatres were crowded It is a -wonderful drama, and one of Joseph Conrad's stirring stories of the sea, most of the scenes being laid at Sulaco, a townhip on the west coast of South America. Nostromo, a lover of adventure, is the cargo-master of Sulacu. Bold and arrogant, he is the hero of his subordinates and the idol of the town. Most of the action centres round the actions of of Gould, an American, assisted by Nostromo, to get a valuable cargo of precious metals from the mines to the port. Sotillo, a wild outlaw, raids the town and barricades the plaza. There is a desperate pitched battle, the robbers are temporarily defeated, and Nostromo performe many deeds of gallantry. Meanwhile, however, the treasure has been secreted in a hay-cart and conveyed to a lighter to await shipment. There are many thrilling incidents before the treasure is finally saved, and the fierce temperament and the character of the ■born fighter are wonderfully portrayed by George O'Brien as Nostromo. A splendid romance runs through the story, with Joan Renee and Helena de Algy as the principal actresses. On the same programme is a First National comedy, "Sweet Daddies," with Charles Murray, Jack MuUiall, and Jobyna Ralston in the leading parts. The fourth section of the film-record of Amundsen's Polar flight illustrates the hardships of the explorers. A Fox News completes the excellent programme. HIPPODROME THEATRE. *TVild West Rodeo , ' is the adventure picture now showing at the Hippodrome. The, leading pajts are taken by Fred Thomson and his horse, Silver King. The Alturas round-up, one of the outstanding cowboy contests of the. great West, is filmed in detail, and Thomson stars in the bucking contests. Silver King steps out of his usual equine roles for a .moment and takes the part of a sunfishing, sidewinding, wild broncho. It is said to be a fine exhibition, and truly representative of the West. The events in the picture are strenuous, and there is some romance, too; for Jean Dawson, the pretty daughter of a ranch manager, has a willing lover in the person of Bart Andrews (Thomson); and the final scene shows the horse rescuing his master from a lynching plot to join hands with the girl of the ranch. The story was written by Frank Richardson Pierce, and the picture was directed by David Kirkland. "Wild West Rodeo" has been described as a "whirling tempo of action—a story taut as a drum-head, with burlesque, farce, (satire,( and (comedy all intermingled—a Western picture with romance, speed, drama, love, stunts, pathos and laughs." STRAND THEATRE. "The Limited Mail," which commenced at the Strand Theatre yesterday, was filmed in the Colorado mountains in the West of America. It is said to provide some of the most beautiful mountain, scenery yet seen on the screen. It is the story of the fortunes and misfortunes of Bob Snobson (Monte Blue), who is a happy-go-lucky Easterner. Bob goes on a tramp and meets with Spike and Potts, , two other members of a carefree brotherhood. The three join together in adventures, and among other things save the Limited Mail from a crash to destruction at a mountain landslide. Bob then encourages the friendship of Jim Fowler, the mail clerk. The two of them fall in love with Caroline Dale. Miss Dale is a waitress, and trouble appears to be brewing just when Jim is killed in a wreck. Caroline and Bob get married. The story is a fastmoving vehicle, with many laughs. One critic said: "Somehow it is different from the usual run of locomotive films. Although the theme is one which we have seen many times, the story is presented in an entirely different manner. It appeals instantly. With the same programme is shown a farcical comedy, "Hay Fever." The Strand Symphony Orchestra play as an overture "The Pink Lady," and Rene and Renard entertain delightfully with their banjo novelties. The pair has come direct from the London Coliseum. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Made famous by his portrayal of the title role in "The Sheik," the late Rudolph Valentino is seen at the Majestic Theatre in the sequel to the picture, "The Son of the Sheik." The picture commenced its season to-day. Edith M. Hull was the writer of the etory, and she was also the authoress of its forerunner. The film was released by United Artists, and was directed by George. Fitzmaurice. Filled with romance and adventure, the story affords the players even greater opportunities for convincing acting than were provided by "The Eagle," the last picture in which the star appeared. Yasmin is the daughter of a French mountebank, and is the prettiest girl in the travelling troupe. Because he makes love to her, the hero is attacked and made prisoner by her friends, but is rescued by hie own followers. Thirsting for revenge against the dancer, whom he believes responsible for the trap, he kidnaps the beauty and flees with her to a desert camp. His pride and hie father's displeasure prompt him to release the girl Later she is captured by mountebanks, who murder her father, and she is taken to a wild cafe in a village on the edge of the desert. Exciting adventures follow, but a!t last a happy -ending ie reached. The supporting programme includea a New Zealand scenic film, a comedy, and topical pictures. "In the Days of Pompadour," a spectacular stage production, is also presented. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A Paramount special production, "Volcano," starring Bebe Daniels, Wallace Beery, and Kicardo Cortez is the picture that has been drawing capacity houses at Everybody's Theatre. It is adapted from Laurence Eyre's play "Martinique. , Bebe goes away from Paris with all the extravagance of a Parisian wardrobe, and tries to fall in with life as it is lived on Martinique. She etarta off by finding her aged parent dead. Then, .destitute, she auctions her wardrobe. The man who buys it is her lover. Events seem just about to straighten themselves out, when insinuations follow that she is inferior because of. her colour. After a number of dramatic adventures the tangle is unravelled, and the girl diecovers that she is- of pure French descent. The film was directed by William Howard, who was director of "The Thundering Herd." Jack Hoxie's latest production for Universal, "A Six-Shootin' Romance," is the second attraction on the programme. It is a picture of th* old-time west, with the glamour of wild steers, fearless riders, stage hold-ups, six shootere, and lariats. Several thousand head of cattle are seen in a thunderous onrushing etampede of destruction, with, a cow puncher making, the riot of hie life to bead them off.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Wanderer of the Wasteland," thought by many to be Zane Grey's best novel, is shown in picture form on the programme now screening at the Queen's Theatre. It is a gripping story packed with thrills, and a charming romance runs through it. It is the clean, virile type of western story so familiar to all readers of Zane Grey. The picture was filmed amid the grandeur of the canyons of America, and was done entirely in natural colours. Nothing so amazingly beautiful has ever before been seen on the screen, according to a critic. It is the thrilling adventure of an outcast who became a hermit of the desert. The picture was directed by Irvin Willat for Adolph Zukor and Jess« L. Lasky. The strong cast is headed by Jack Holt, Kathlyn Williams, and Noah Beery. GRAND THEATRE.

Described as Harold Lloyd's greatest picture, "College Days" commenced with the new programme at the Grand Theatre to-day. The picture has been proclaimed a pronounced success for several reasons. It is a story of college life, and consequently it has an appeal to all those who look back to their college career as the happiest time in their life. Laugh a and thrills are a-plenty in the picture, and the humour ia all wholessome and refreshing. There is just sufficient pathos in it to make the comedy ring true. Much of the success of the picture, however, is due to Harold Lloyd himself. The vacant expression, characterisatic of the comedian, is admirably suited to the portrayal of Harold Lamb, the unsophisticated and sentimental freshman at college. Al manners of tricks and jokes are played upon Lamb when he first goes to college, and he is led to believe that his popularity is assured. He is given a place in the football team as water boy, but is led to believe that he is an emergency. He wins the heart of Peggy, the daughter of his landlady, and, after many troubles, becomes the college hero and wins the girl he loves.

RIALTO AND REGENT.

"Womanhandled" is the comedy that is now showing at the Rialto and Regent Theatres. Richard Dix has the part of a wealthy New Yorker, and is in good favour with the women. Unfortunately for them, he does not think much of the modern woman, but has an ideal type of his own. The heroine has an ideal type, too—a blue-blooded man of the west. She and the New Yorker are on common ground, and the romance begins. The hero goes out west to find out how he should act his'part. He finds that the cowboys are not such gentlemen as he thought them. He decides to return, bur the girl writes to tell him that she is coming to see him. . The story develops into a succession of laughs as the various tricks practised by the hcTo are unfolded. Realising tlie imposition, the heroine eventually runs away and is menaced by a. sranipedmsr herd. She ."s rescued in a thrilling manner by the hero, who explains everything in a satisfactory way. Special mountain and river scenery is featured in "The Romany," which is shown with the same programme.

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI.

"Miss Brewster's Millions," featuring Bebe Daniels, drew capacity houses when it was screened for the first time at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres weeterday. In the picture crazy inventions and wildcat schemes offer avenues for investments with no hope of Teturn, for Polly Brewster, a penniless extra girl in Hollywood, finds herself heiress to a million dollars, and before having the opportunity of investing it, she is offered an* entire fortune of a still wealthier man provided she can spend the other million' in six months. Some of her wild-cat schemes bear fruit, and that makes it harder to get rid of the million. .Finally,' she knocks over her late uncle's lawyer with a motor car, and is told that shie is flat broke. Then she finds that ttie, promised fortune has been wiped out; on the Stock Exchange, and she has lost, everything. In despair, she goes back to the motion picture studios for another job as extra girl. She learns that all has not been lost. "White Slippers" is another picture on the same programme.: It stars Matheson Lang and Joan Lockton. The etory was written byr Charlton Lawrence Edholm. Sinclair Hill .directed the picture. . .-

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. '.

"Afterglow," a delightful Paramount production is at the head of the programme now showing at the' Prince Edward Theatre. It stars Lillian Hall Davis, the well-known English actress, in a role that is described as the best she hae done. The film is from G. B. Samuelson's British studio. The story concerns the doing of a notorious criminal whose main purpose is to keep clear of the law. The remarkable fact about the picture is that the story is said to be one of actual fact and goes back to a case that was heard in the London criminal sessions fifteen years ago. In a' sleepy little English village there is a postmistress who is persuaded by an evil customer to change the hour of dispatch on a telegram. Romance is interwoven with the plot. "Below the Line" is the second attraction. It ie a Master Picture showing Rin Tin Tin, the wolf-dog.

CLUBHOUSE PICTURES.

The star picture to be shown at the Clubhouse, Bayswater wharf, to-mor-row night, it "The Winding Stair," adapted for the screen from A. E. W. Mason's novel of love and revenge in Morocco. The supporting programme is good. Visitors from town are reminded that a full jazz programme follows the picture entertainment and is supported by the club's Symphony Orchestra. A ferry leaves town at 7 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.

MURIEL STARR INDISPOSED.

TWO PERFORMANCES CAiNCELLED.

Disappointment was occasioned a large number of theatre-goers last night, when it was announced that there would be no presentation of "The Goldfish" by reaeon, of the sudden indisposition of Miss Muriel Starr. After being in conaultation with her medical advisers throughout the day, Miss Starr was informed late in the afternoon that she muet not appear on the etage in the evening and she was also counselled to rest to-day and to-night. The management, therefore, had no option but to cancel last night'e performance, and it was agreed that Misg Starr would be unwise to appear this evening, so that "The Goldfish" will not be presented till to-morrow evening, by which time, it is anticipated, Mies Starr will have recovered from the attack of laryngitis from which she is suffering. "The Sign #n the Door" will be performed on Wednesday and Thursday eveningSj while "Within the Law" will be played on Friday and Saturday, bringing the season to a close.