AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1927, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. Two pictures of a high standard commenced with the change of programme at the National and Lyric Theatres yesterday. "The Prince of Tempters" is said to introduce one of the finest aggregations of talent ever assembled for one picture. At. tha head of the cast is Ben Lyon, who is seen as the' young man released from a monastery to take up a title and a position in the world of luxury. The exotic and fascinating Lya de Putti. who created something of a sensation in

"Variety," by which she was first introduced to American audiences, has another interesting role, as the lady of London society who tries to captivate him. Other players in the cast are Lois Moran. Mary Brian x. n lan Keith. The story develops into a fast-moving romance as a number of beautiful women try to ensnare the star for the sake of his wealth and title. The second picture, "Up in Mabel's Room,"' is the gay, light farce that affords Marie Prevost a most delightful role. Harrison Ford and Phyllis Haver are other prominent members of the cast. It was adapted from a successful stage play and relates the trouble that arises when jealous wife refuses to believe the explanations of her husband.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "Variety," that German film which lias set all Auckland picture patrons talking, concluded its season at the New Regent last evening." It has becu transferred to Everybody's Theatre, where it was screened to a capacity house for the first time to-day. It seems that once on a time Boss Huller had been a member of the world's greatest acrobatic act. They were prime favourites at the Berlin Winter Garden. Hundreds had applauded them each day. Then—something happened which spelt the beginning of the end. The prisoner's partner had made love to his pretty wife. And she. faithless. had returned the affection, completely forgetting her husband. Things went along quietly, until some one whispered in his ear telling of her faithlessness. That night—high over the heads of a huge audience—he had debated whether or not to kill the man who had stolen his wife. Just a movement of a single linger—and he'd be rid of him. What should lie uo? Looking down, a thousand faces seemed to say,

."No!" Ono would think for a moment that lie was watching the actual performance and not the picture.' Altogether, it is a strange picture, with a strange atmosphere and a stranger theme. In technique, it is brilliant, in detail it is complete. And the acting has rarely been excelled in Auckland. Kmil Jannings, who plays the tragic part of Boss Huller, gives a performance that will long be remembered. Frail, with seductive beauty, is Lya de l'utti. .She is new to Auckland audiences, but she has made a big impression. and will not be forgotten for her excellent characterisation. Warwick Ward, who is the famous Artinolli. is an English actor, anil he gives a remarkable performance. A delightfully varied supporting programme is also shown.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

A programme high iu entertainment value was presented for the first time at the Majestic Theatre to-day. "Battling Butler,"' starring the farcical Buster Kcaton. is the stellar attraction. "Battling Butler"' is different. The plot is different. Even Buster, funnier than ever, is different. Imagine the frozenfaced comedian, minus his pancake hat aud ill-fitting clothes, and being instead a Beau Brummel —a fashion plate who changes his attire several times a day, with the aid of a valet! And then, because lovesick youths rush in where even policemen fear to tread, thrust such a dandy into an atmosphere of hard-boiled pugilists, and the result an' happenings arc a scream. That is a thumbnail review of the picture by a well-known American critic. Tilt picture part of the programme is completed by a Majestic News, a New Zealand film "Whaling in New Zealand."' an interest film entitled "Eve's Review," and a Mermaid comedy "Going Crazy." The Majestic All Soloists Orchestra will play selections from "Lilac Time" (Schubert) as ai. overture aud Hadyn Mur ray will play a violin solo, "Liebesfrend" (Kreisler). A delightful divertissement entitled "Harlequin and Columbine" will be provided by Yalcska and Mr. H. A. Kayes.

STRAND THEATRE. "Compromise," the Warner Bros, classic of the screen starring Irene Rich, which opened at the Strand Theatre today, finds that talented and charming actress again in the role of the neglected wife. She plays Joan Trevore, a Cinderella half-sister of Pauline Garon, whose favourite sport as Nathalie Trevore, is spoiling Joan's good time. Nathalie persists in this childhood habit with Alan Thayer, played by Clive Brook, while he is Joan's sweetheart and even after lie becomes Joan's husband. With only the weapons of a sweet-tempered, conscientious idealist. Joan fights the jaxx?hound, shimmying tactics of imperious Nathalie and her faithful satelitcs. Miss Rich was never lovelier, or gave a more dramatic performance than in this characterisation. The remainder of the supporting cast is also excellent and includes Winter Hall, as Joan's lovable old father: Helen Dunbar as her catty stepmother; and Raymond McKee as "Cholly" of the silly simper and Nathalie's pot. Louise Fazenda and Frank Butler, as the Swedish maid and butler, are responsible tor the wealth of comedy in the production. The Strand Magazine, a scenic film, and a comedy will also be shown. A varied musical programme has been arranged. Mr. Geore Poore will play the piccolo solo, 'The Wren." and a vocal duet will be given by Messrs. Richards and Thomas. The Strand Symphony Orchestra will render the overture, '"Looking Backwards."

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI

"Moon of Israel." which opened at the Princess and Tiroli Theatres last evening, was screened to capacity houses. Critics have been loud in their praises of this spectacular film. One said: "Moon of Israel ' is the name of the main character in Sir Rider Haggard's novel, 011 this occasion interpreted by Maria Corda, who gives a masterly characterisation of the Israelite slave girl. This maiden is in love with the Egyptian Prince, who, in spite of his position, sympathises with the oppressed tribe. The dramatic part of the romance is furnished by the racial differof the two lovers who are confronted by adveise circumstances in a series of very tense scenes of great tragic force. The English director of this picture. Michael Courtiee, has drawn from the Bible, not only all the wealth of material required by the novel, but also quite a number of very interesting events. Richard Talmadge is delightful in his latest comedy, 'The Prince of Pep." The popular comedian has another popular role and combines thrills and humour in a skilful manner.

HIPPODROME THEATRE. Hoot Gibson's latest starring vehicle is "Taming the West," and it is having a remarkably successful season at the Hippodrome Theatre, where it is the featured attraction. Marceline Day plays opposite the star. Gibson's versatility is called upon in this picture, and he gives an admirable presentation of the soft Easterner turning Westerner. The picture is said to be replete with comedy and thrills. A pursuit over the boundless prairies of the West with Hoot Gibson and the girl he has kidnapped leading in a racing car, and followed by a group of cowboys and an auto load of cow-punchers, is one of the exciting touches in the picture. "Anthing Once" is a strong second attraction. The photoplay is a class play picture and has been commended everywhere it has been viewed. It is a delightful comedy, with touches of intense drama enacted bv such artists as Tully Marshall, Gladys AValton and Francis McDonald. The dog's work ip this film stands out as extraordinary, and in this picture Arko proves his standing as a dog of remarkable intelligence.

"IS ZAT SO?" Saturated with Americanisms to the point of being hard to follow in places by people who do not speak the language, "Is Zat So?" which was put on for the first time in Auckland last evening at His Majesty's, proved to be an cpic of two lower stratum New York gentlemen who talk about "foist" for first, "woik" for work, and so on, and mouth their words in a way that is rather jarring to English ears. But the makers of the play have given this pair the traditional "hearts of gold," and plastered up the chinks of the story with a liberal supply of typically American sentiment, and the whole is strongly impregnated with the humour characteristic of the people who speak the

"foist" and "woik" patois. Dealing with the idyllic times before the Volstead Act put the stopper in the whisky decanter,

"Is Zat So?" opens with a very inebriated member of the Four Hundred (in a silk hat and a dinner jacket) who runs into Chick Cowan (a lightweight pug) and Hap Hurley (his manager-trainer), the latter pair being very much down on their luck, owing to a disastrous fight in which the Chick conies to grief. The merry person is Clinton Blackburn, who insists on taking the pair home, housing them, and entering into a compact with them to get him back to sobriety and form in order that he may punch the head of his bro-ther-in-law. who is rather more than a bounder, and making away with the Blackburn dollars, was not the meanest of his offences. The Parker home is run on lines which are most convenient for farcical comedy, and Hap and Chick are soon installed as the butler and the footman, in place of two functionaries who decamped at a moment's notice, owing to Parker's hoggish manners. Naturally the presence of the pair masquerading as domestic helps opens the way to lots of fun of the.ringside and the similar walks of New in k life, spiced with the peculiar argot made familiar to English people through film "captions"' and literature of the type of "It aint gonna rain no mo." A pleasing heart interest is lent to the situation from the fait that Chick finds in the Parker's nursemaid the fascinating little "goil" he had befriended when she twisted her ankle in the street, and Hap. the irascible trainer-manager, who was supposed to be girl-proof, makes unconventional love to Marie, the typist attached to the Parker household. There are two parties in the house, the prizering pair aud everybody else on the one side and Paiker on the other, Parker being too utterly impossible, even for a farcical comedy. There are two fights in the play, one staged most realistically iu the Parker day-room, cleared for the occasion. and the perfect ladies of the entourage cheering like a crowd at Carlaw Park; while the other is conducted "off." which was a pity, as judging from the sound, as of a man falling through the conservatory roof, the go must have l>een most willing, the "contestatants" (as Hap called them) being Clinton Blackburn and his precious brother-in-law. and needless to say Parker takes the count. The piece is very adequately staged, and acted with a complete knowledge of the niceties of the

"foist"' and "woik" lingo. Mr. Hale Nor- | cross takes the very exacting part of Hap I Hurley, and nothing could be more convincing than his hustling, bustling representation of the hard-faced, soft-hearted | ringside frequenter who fell so violently j in love that he even tried to learn English. In the role of Chick, the unfortunate ! lightweight champion, we have Mr. Kichard Taber. whose name appears on the programme as joint author of this very characteristic play, and nothing could have been more natural than his diction and mannerisms picked up in the ring and gutter. Mr. Barrrc Livesey was natural in the part of Clinton Blackburn, either drunk or sober, and the only thing the audience regretted was that it did not see his apparently very effective settling with his brother-in-law. An amusing and uncommonly precocious little fellow named Bruce Walker, who could not have been more than six or seven, but who acted with an aplomb that is not always attained by grown-up. A likeable member of the strange house and its entourage was Major FitzStanley, who, like the audience, found some difficulty with the pato&. Miss Daphne Bairn had a lot to do as Mrs. Parker, and other ladies in the cast included Miss Hanlev and Miss Carroll. as the two young women who attracted the rough but leal hearts of Chick and Hap. There were several other minor characters well sustained, including that of the cliauffeur-boxer, taken by Sammy Green, a name not unknown in the ring. The play will hold the boards at His Majesty's until next Thursday.

GRAND THEATRE. ''Mademoiselle from Armentieres.'' that famous British production which had such a successful season at the Strand Theatre, has been transferred to the Grand, and commenced with the change of programme to-day. Opening some years after the Great War. the story is an absorbing one. I lie opening shot shows the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. A little boy sits perched 011 his father's shoulder, revelling in the spectacle. The stately slow inarch changes to the lively tune of

"Mademoiselle from Armentieres" and the father tells of his experiences during the war. which the song recalls. The acting of the British players in the cast is very line.