AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1927, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC

Competitors in the tests now being carried out by First National Pictures to j rind a New Zealand screen star will appear j t to-morrow and ail next week lor the rinal t decision of the judges. Four provincial _j representatives will appear in stage tests, and. in view of the experience gained in earlier trials, they should prove an attrac- c tive feature. The judges are working c with a regard to the requirements of ;■ motion picture acting, and lieu - decision j 1 will be given at the end of the week. The winner will go to Melbourne to compete j with Australian representatives. The . picture programme includes a film giving I views if the four finalists. Ken May- ' nard's latest Western drama. "The l"n- t known Cavalier" and "Red Dice." .'tar- i ring Rod La Rocque. wiil be screened at ] both theatres. Rod La Rocque is the \ actor chosen to p'.ny opposite the winner ( of the present screen star contest. ! PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. j Two pictures of outstanding merit will commence with the change of programme at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres to- | morrow. The stellar attraction is "Lure j of the Wild." described as a strong. , stirring drama of primitive emotions set in the magnificent grandeur of the Great Woods. The story is one that is full of excitement. Jane Novak, who plays the principal part, has a typical emotional role. She is the young wife -.hose jealous husband unjustly accuses her and leaves for the wilds of Canada, taking their baby <laughter with him. A gentleman, who has reasons for desiring his death, sends a scoundrel after him to accomplish it. The murderer succeeds, but is trailed by a dog. It is a picture full of thrilling interest, and it holds the audience in suspense until the end. The second attraction is "The Runaway Express,"' a _L"ni-versal-Jewel release. It is a story of one of the most fascinating topics to young and old—the railroad <jame. There are said to be some thrilling feats ii. the picture. There is the thrilling sight of the limited train dashing along the steel rails without guidance, the huddled passengers fearfully awaiting their expected doom. A fine cast is said to have been assembled to portray the various characters. The leading man is Jack Daugherty. and playing opposite him in the role of his little Irish waitress sweetheart is Blanche Mehaftey. who made her big success in "Her People." '"The Runaway Express*' was directed by Edward Sedgwick. A fine supporting programme completes the bill of fare. HIPPODROME AND EMPRESS. A fighting drama of adventure, courage, loyalty and manly vigour on the high seas is a brief description of "The Blue Eagle," which is the featured film on the programme now showing at the Hippodrome and Empress Theatres. It is a Fox film. based on a story by Gerald Beaumont and George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor play the respective leads. The story centres about the love and hate of two stalwart i members of city gangs, which are constantly at war. Much of the action concerns Father Joe. a kindly parish arbiter, who is forever engaged in making peace j between the two warring factions, which ' are headed on the one hand by George 1 D'Arcy, and on the other by big Tim j Ryan. The stor.. opens on land, but moves to sea, and the scenes in the stoke- ' hold of a battleship are said to be remarkable examples of photographic and dramatic art. Director John Ford, who was mainly responsible for the production was himself once a member of the United States Navy, and naturally he had first class knowledge as to how the actors in the naval scenes should be dressed. George O'Brien had to go into strict training before acting the scene; which are shot for "The Blue Eagle.'' This is no new experience for him as his work in "The Man Who Came Back" and "Fig Leaves" had akeady necessitated a high degree of physical fitness. t ERYBODY'S THEATRE. Screening for the last time to-night at Everybody's Theatre is that brilliant Ger- . man film. "Variety." starring Emil . Jannings and Lya de Putti. All through its two-week Auckland season, the pic- [ ture has been a big attraction. It contains many spectacular and intensely i dramatic scenes, and is brilliant in tech--1 nique. The acting of the stars is remark- ' able. Warwick Ward, the English actor, gives a splendid performance, but the por- ', trayal of Boss Huller by Jannings overshadows it. Frail, with seductive beauty ; is Lya de Putti. She is new to Auckland «' audiences, but she will long be remem--1 bereil by her excellent characterisation. • T : v l;test. "Our Gang," comedy is also