AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 128, 2 June 1927, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC.

. '"The Lady in Ermine,"' Corinne Griffith's latest film spectacle, which had its. premiere at the National and Lyric Theatres to-night, should win a j place among the best productions of the! year. A war picture, unfolding a true and dramatic episode which occurred during the war in ISIO between Austria and Italy, '"The Lady in Ermine"' again offers the star an opportunity to display her talent amid settings of regal pomp and splendour. As the Countess Mariana, Corinne Griffith is cast as the mistress of a castle in a small town on the borderline between Italy and Austria. Just as the wedding 0: herself to the Count Adrien. a member of the Royal family of Italy, is being celebrated, a party of Austrian* attacks the town, and their leader, the pompous General Dostal, makes the home of the newly-wed couple his headquarters. The Count Adriea is captured and condemned to death as a spy. Seated in the long banqueting hall of the castle, the countess relates to her unwelcome visitors the story of her grandmothtr. whose picture hangs on the wall. According to the legend, the grandmother, years before, durinz the war with France, had sacrificed herself in order to save her husband from being shot. Jokingly, General Dostal offers the Mariana the same alternative. The manner in which she outwits him and saves her lover, builds up one of the most interesting plots seen in Auckland for many months. Included in the particularly stronc cast which supports the , star, is Francis X. Bushman, whose rcj appearance on the silver sheet will be 1 welcomed by his many admirers. In the j ro'e of the imperious officer he is excep--1 tionally well cast. Einar Hanson has the part of the Count Adrien. A cool accompanying programme has been arranged lor both theatres.

"WHAT PRfCE GLORY." '"What Price G'.ory," which has been descri'oed as the greatest comedy--drama of the year, will have its Australasian premiere at the Strand and Majestic Theatres to-morrow, and will be screened at both theatres throughout the coming week. A gripping story of the Great War, it Las lost none of its original appeal through beinj: transferred to the screen, and should be particularly well received by Auckland theatre patrons. Undoubtedly the film Ls among the best war pictures ever released in this city, one "of its many attractive features being the exceptional cast which interprets the theme. The star roles are played by Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen, who appeared recently in ■ "The Isle of Retribution."' The feminine lead is in the hands of Dolores del Rio. a new star who comes from Mexico. Other artists among the featured players are Phyllis Haver and William \ . Monc. McLaelen and Lowe are seen as and Quirt, two raw soldiers who, through having loved the same woman, are forever at loggerheads. Strangely enough, when they enlist to go to France, they both fall in love with a pretty m'm'sellenamed Cbarmant. Finally Flaec. who wins her in a gamble, sacrifices his claims to "her, because he knows that she is in. love with his rival. Despite th-s apparently beavy plot, there is scarcely a dull moment throughout the story, which u crammed ■with scenes that hold the audience in laughter. In addition to the big picture.

interesting supporting programmes have been arranged for both theatres. At the Majestic th* feature turn ■β-ill be the appearance of Jack Lumsdaine, who has delighted audiences for the past fortnight His numbers will include ""Cobber o' Mine," which will be presented in an original stage setting. Eve"s Review and the Majestic News are also billed to be screened, and the picture section of the entertainment is completed ■α-ith a hilarious Felix cartoon comedy. The Majestic Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Fred. Mum ford, will play enjoyable music throughout the evening, aud* will render "Idylle and Moulin"' (Popy) for an overture. Jack Lumsdaine will also be heard at ;the Strand, where the programme w-.1l include the screening of the- Strand Magazine. An overture, "Slavonic Rhapsody" will be played in addition to several popular numbers throughout the entertainment.

NEW REGENT

A bill of fare, embracing both vaiiety j and quality, is to be presented for the; change at the Xew Regent Theatre to- ; morrow. '"Stranded in Paris,"' Bebe ! Daniels' latest starring vehicle, will head" the picture section of" the entertainment. I Miss Daniels, who was last seen in "The i Pahn Beach Girl"' and "The Campus Flirt," has the role of Julie McFadden. a timid shop girl who wins a trip to Paris, and there become stranded without any money. Masquerading as a well-known countess to whgm she bears a remarkable resemblance, she is carried by her adventures from one hilarious situation to another, until she is finally saved and taken back to her home in AmericaInteresting views of Parisian cabarets where the elite of society gather for recreation, and the dingy cafe*, where the ahache finds pleasure, abound throughout the film, while an exciting sequence of events runs through the entire story. Excellent scenes of the great city are also a feature of the production, tbe views presented including the Eiffel Tower, which rears itself up and overlooks ihe whole city, and the famous Paris Opera House. Ford Sterling, who plays opposite Miss Daniels, has the role of the Count Pasada, a characterisation which he portrays to the best advantage. The featured players include James Hall and Iris Stuart. An interesting supporting" programme will also be presented with the main attraction. The second series of song slides, accompanied by Eddie Horton at the Warlitzer organ, will be given. A laughable comedy and a gazette will comprise the remainder of the -picture -side of the programme, which is complete with delightful music , from the Regent Orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Maurice Guttridge. An overture and a musical interlude will also I be played.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. ,_"lt," Paramount"? vivid pieturisation of Elinor Glyn's popular novel, which was screened with success at the Xew ftegent during the past week, is tWe current attraction at Everybody's Theatre. "It" has been described by the authoress as that quality possessed by some which draws all others with its magnetic force. The theme centres round Betty Lou. a shop girl, who attracts her employer. Cyras Waltham. Bolh are possessed of "'it." An estrangement takes place between them, and they don t see one another for some time. Later Betty persuades her employer's friend to take her with him on a. yachting trip, but Cyrus does not approve of the scheme J»d determines that she must rot go. A tensely dramatic climax is reached when she finally forces him to change his mind. Clara Bow is particularly well cast in the leading role, for which she was specially selected by the authoress. First coming into prominence in "Down to the Sea in Ships," she so impressed producers that it was not long before she had a leading part in 'The Plastic Age"' and "Mantrap." Since then she has been starred in "Kid Boots" and "My Lady of Whims," and her perlormanee in "It" is described as the crowning triumph of her sensational career. Antonio Moreno, the popular star of "Mare Nostrum," plays opposite her. He handles a difficult role with distinction. Supporting the two stars is a strong cast of players, among whom are William Austin, and Priscilla. Bonner. On the eanie bill of fare, is "The Fighting Doctor," a film which is directly contrasted with the main attraction in that it is entirely an athletic prodnction. . Frank Merrill, a new star, has the leading role, and is assisted by .a strong cast, which includes Florence Ulric, who has the feminine lead. A good supporting programme has also been arranged.

HIPPODROME AND EMPRESS. "Desert alley," a gripping epic of the lands, 15 the present centre of attraction at the Hippodrome and Empress Theatres. A William Fox production, the picture stars ""Buck" Jones, and is crammed with action, most of which takes place in a small oasis in the heart of the vast waste hnds of the West. Joaes has the part of Fitzsmith, a wandering cowboy, who. in the course of his travels, comes across a herd of cattle dying by the roadside He immediately breaks an adjacent waterpipe, which contains enoush water to save the animals, fin-.nj on. the cowboy comes to Desert Valley, which he finds* to b<? a small township ruW by Jefferson Hoades. a wealthy young ranch owner, who monopohscs the water supply of the settlement and the surrounding districts. Ho allows only his r.wn strvck to use the water, and when Fitzsmith arrives at the Dean ranch, he finds ail the ca:;l«. dyins of th:rst. Bo:n? hungry himself, and see:nz a neuh-made batch of cakes cooling en a_ wmdow-sill. he decides to make a meal of them, hut in doine s->. is causht by a colours! ro ok. who has him lacked in tne local eaol. Here the prisoner learns that Dean has been Warned for the waterp:pe broken, and that Hoades has a warrant for his arrest. He escapes and whiie retreating to the hills for hiding, discover* Hoades forcing his attentions upon Mndred Dean, who is taking shelter irnm a storm in a cabin. An exciting tizhi follows and Hoades is driven to his home. When Dean is brousht for trial. Fitzsmith confesses to the burster.; of the w-atre-ujpe, and Dean is released. His rescuer is at once made the hero of the town, and as a reward for his services 15 given the hand of Dean - ., pretty dauchter. An interesting supporting programme accompanies the main attract.on at both theatres.

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. Two bis pictures, both of an entirely ditierent type, are now being screened a": the Princes and Tivoli Theatres. They are -'The Perch of the Devil" and '"The nt T J !lJt ' r '" ho *h Universal releases V. ™ rch ° f the De v ''-" which stars Mae Busch and Pat O'Malley. u, a powertul drama of domestic life. They are seen as hits-band and wife, but are separated through the wife finding that her husband, whom she worships, is in love with another woman. Uncouth."but tremendous is the part of the prospector s wife, played by Miss Busch. and the scenes which follow her betrayal, are gripping in the extreme. Pat O'Malley gives an admirable performance in the role of the prospector, while Jane Winton, an ex-Follies dancer, who has her first film characterisation, is perfectly cast as the rich young woman who r/oves to be more clever than honest. \ tensely dramatic scene is provided when the wife caases r.er rival through a mine. Just as she has cornered her, they are swept through dark passages along the shafts °-A. ?! ne by a su<if len torrent of water. The Silent Rider.- the second attractionu Hoot Gibsons latest sUrnng vehicle. Gibson has the part of Jerrv Alton. a cowboy, who. together with the other raiKh hands. ;»1U in love with llarnn her. who comes to the ranch on a holiday. Shortly after her arrival a cowboy named \\ ender, whom she evidently iear*. is ensaced as an extra hand. Ihe crisis is reached with a hand-to-hand fight between Jerry and Wender. who is finally duven from the ranch. Gibson .displays some remarkable riding, -while his trick shooting is also an interesting *ejuure of the picture. A good supporting programme is also being presented.

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