AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1927, Page 20

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC

Sir Philip Gibbs' well-known story, '"The Reckless Lady," is the subject for a picture which is now being presented a≤ the main attraction at the National and Lyric Theatres. It is the tale of a Mrs. Fleming, who, during her husband's absence, has become interested in a Russian, named Feodor. He ia fabulously wealthy, and when she loses heavily at gambling, insists on. paying her debts. A strong love soon grows between them, and her husband, who returns unexpectedly, finding his wife in Feodor's arms, leaves her and refuses to have any- \ thing more to do with her. Taking her young daughter Sylvia with her, Mrs. Fleming goes away to live in her villa on the Riviera, and years later is seen at Monte Carlo. Sylvia, now grown to womanhood, has fallen in love with a young man named Hillier, and when Feodor, finding her more attractive than her mother, reappears and starts to make love to her, she resents hi 3 attentions. A crisis is reached with the arrival of Mr. Fleming, who anounces his intention of taking Sylvia away with him because he thinks that her mother will not care for her properly. A stormy scene follow?. and Fleming decides to leave Sylvia, who has by now decided firmly that she will marry no one but Hillier. Fleming finds that he can no longer live without his wife, and they are reconciled. Feodor he allows to go scot free in -ider to avoid anything in the nature of a scandal. Throughout the film excellent views of Nice and other pleasure resorts on the Riviera are presented, the gay carnivals and fetes being especially well depicted. One of the strongest casts ever mustered by First National interprets the theme. Belle Bennett, who was for some years a popular stage actress, has the leading role, MAJESTIC THEATRE. The Love of Sucya," which will head I the change at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow, is perhaps the more rem_vkable b?cause the star,, Gloria Swanson, produced the film herself. The story opens in the mystic Orient, where a young Yogi learns from a brotherhood of priests, that be committed a great sin in his inearnation centnries ago. After years of searching he arrives in Vanfield, a little town near Sew York, and there recognises Stmva and Paul Judson, hsr lover, as the peo* ' he has wronged. Although Sunya has promised :o marry Paul, who is about to set out for South America to build a bridge, her father is p_ticularly desirous of seeing her married to Robert Goring—and his millions. Sunya has another attraction placed in her path, an opera manager offering her a contract to tour Europe. Louis Anthony, a poor bank cashier, also in love with Sunya, then steps into the story, and begs her to stay at home, and marry him when he has worked his way into a better position in the bank. So duty, wealth, ambition and love are the four paths open to Sunya, and as she struggles to reach a decision, the young Yogi appears and offers to help her, by revealing in a crystal what will happen to her should she take any of the four paths. Wealth will bring to her position, jewels, a luxurious home, almost anything but love. Along the path of ambition she sees disaster, and that of duty appears to be no more attractive. Finally, she decides to turn in the direction of love, and when Paul returns from South America, she rushes to meet him. She tries to express her gratitude toward the young Yogi, bat he is content with having atoned for hia old sin. United Artists have indeed triumphed by the release of the film, which should play to capacity houses during its Auckland season. Miss Swanson is excellently well cast in the leading role, and is supported by a list of player?, including John Boles. Lan Keith and Raymond Haekett. On the accompanying programme. Jack Lumsdaine, xrho has delighted patrons at the Majestic for the past few weeks, will make his final appearance.

STRAND THEATRE. A programme of unusual variety and quality will be presented for the first time to-morrow at tie Strand Theatre. '"The Man Upstairs/' a Uaster production, will head the t>lll of fare. Adapted from tarl Derr Bigger's novel, '-The Agony Column," the film offers the story of Geoffrey West, a handsome young "man wlrt) is alone in London. In a hotel he meets Marian Larnard, a pleasure-seeking young lady who is travelling in the company of a ehaperone. West addresses a letter to an unknown girl who advertises in the personal column of a large London daily paper. Intent npon winning the girl, paper. Intent upon winning the girl, West strives to cram his correspondence with mystery, and is surprised to find that the girl to whom he has been writing is none other than his friend at the hofceL Later, a guest at the hotel is reported to have been murdered, and on aeeount of his knife being found on the man's table West is accused of the crime. Subset cjuently he hears two persons confessing to the murder and is freed. Further inQtnriea reveal that the man has not been killed, and West seta out in search of him. He weaves a very convincing net of evidence arouad a man called Bray, the chief of poHce, and a woman accomplice. The cause of the "joke" is finally traced to ilariam, who, with the assistance of the man who is supposed to be dead, again stages the murder, with the bnlk of the evidence decidedly against West, who is locked up to awadt his trial. While in gaol he learns that a foolish joke is being played opoa him, amd. helped by his old servant Hose, escapes from the prkon. 1 he whole story is revealed when he finds -Marian, and despite the hardships he wae with r£ SU2 u- K* # *» to the ««'* EVERYBODY'S THEATRE The film presents an excellent contrast between the He of a shopgirl in ihl heart of W York and «penences in '"Gay Paree," with" its iashianabfe eafrs, where the idle rich gather for recreation, and its dingy restaurants, haunts of the emotional apache. Interesting views of the great French capital are also shown, amona them beinjr the tall Eifieil Tower which rears itself above the city, to be seen trom points mifes away. Mise Daniels is first seen as a Xew York shopgirl, who wins a free trip to Paris. Here she sets out <nr a spending expedition, and so effective are £er efforts t&at she soon finds herself penniless, stranded in Paris. She is mistaken far a countess, to* whom she bears a remarkable resemblance, and deeides to mamgoerade as the noblewoman. Her scheme is properly upset, however, when she meets the "Count!,* , who insists jrpon being recognised as her husband. Then comes Ber real loves,, to whom she has innumerable explanations to make. He refuses to believe her; and just as he leaves-, the real countess arriv-es. . A series of intriguing: situatiens foflb.w« T l»nt finally, after an exciting t-liase , in a'motor i-ar, the girl catches- her lover and forces him to listen to her. After a lot oi persuasion he belivey her story, and the two return to ZFew York, Bebe Daniels is •fV to play her greatest rale, in this ff'Ti. •rwle the acting, of the supporting a-:' -* * is also of the best- The featured; pJaavare Ford Sterling and James Hall, while others in the east are Tom Rickettjj and Jos Stuart. Goad fiupporta ate also

HIPPODROME THEATRE

"The Johnstown Flood," William Fox's mighty picturisation of a disaster which overtook a small American towa during the nineteenth century, is the current attraction at the Hippodrome Theatre. The central figure in the story is John O'Day, a young engineer engaged in the construction of a dam designed to hold the waters of a large river. He is continually warning the people of the surrounding districts that the dam is not strong enough, but is overruled by the contractor, his employer. Finally the truth of his statements is borne out when the waters of tlie river prove too strong fov the faulty dam. and breaking their way through, inundate a whole plain. Heartrending scenes of the suffering of the people effected by the flood are a feature of the picture. Following close in the tra* k of the flood comes a disastrous fire, in which thousands of people are burned to death. After months of work, however, order is restored and the settlement rebuilt. Scenes of the havoc tvronizht by the flood and the fire are so effectively photographed that one might be led to think that they are the real thins. George O'Brien, who is i-ow ut.c of the best known of Fox actors, has the leading role, and in it he is exceptionally well cast. His performances on the silver sheet have proved beyond afl doubt that he is one of the greatest athletic actors in America, and the truth of this is further established by his acting in the many rescue scenes in the picture. Another Fox production. "A Trip to Chinatown." is being screened as a second attraction at the Hippodrome. PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. "''The .*an of the Forest' , will provide the main attraction on the double feature programme which will be presented for the first time at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres to-morrow. A Paramount release, the film is the screen version of the well-known novel by Zane Gray, and is played by a particularly strong cast, at the head of which is*"Jack Holt, who, after a successful career in dramatic roles, is being starred in Western stories. The 1 star is seen as a chivalrous cowboy who . kidnaps a girl. She, who has always hated him. objects strongly to the way in which he treats her. A crisis is reached when she shoots him with a revolver. He soon recovers, however, and finally she is brought round to his way of thinking. Throughout the story the love theme is handled in the forceful characteristic of the author, who, despite the fact that some of his plots are well used by other writers of fiction, seems always able to bring out his yarns in an attractive manner. The feminine lead is in the capable hands of Georgia Hale, whose previous pictures include "The Gold Rush," "The Rainmaker" and "The Great Gatsby." El Brendel has a most amusing part, and hia acting is always interesting, as all who saw him in "You Never Know Women" will testify. Heading the supporting players i≤ Warner Oland, a suave villain whom everyone should cordially hate. Tom Kennedy. who was featured in "Behind the Front" and '"We're in the Navy Nmv," is also in the cast, while George Fawcett has another minor part, for which he is well east. "The Whole Town's Talking," the second attraction, is a laughable comedydrama, played by a cast which includes Edward Everett Horton. Virginia Lee Corbin, Otis Harlan, and Dolores del Rio.

NEW REGENT THEATRE.

Marie Corelli's great story, "The Sorrows of Satan," is the subject for an enthralling drama made by that master producer, D. W. Griffith. "The Sorrows of Satan," which will open a season at the NewRegent Theatre to-morrow, has been modernised to a certain extent, but a brilliant cast and enchanting settings add considerably to the magnetic appeal of the picture. As the Prince Lucio de Rimanez, the Satan of the story, Adolphe Menjou, suave and sophisticated, is excellent. An idea of the strength of the cast may be gathered from the fact that Ricardo Cortez. ■who has been starred in many Paramount films, is only a featured player. He is excellently cast as Geoffrey Tempest, while Carol Dempster, as Mavis Clare, plays a difficult role with distinction. Lya "de Putti, the star of "Variety," has the part of the wicked Princess Olga, and is indeed fascinating. In the story Geoffrey Tempest denounces God and declares that he is willing to sell his soul to the Devil for worldly wealth and possessions. His wish is granted, but after a period of reckless extravagance he finds to his cost that there is still somethins lacking. When his benefactor reveals himself in his trne light, Tempest realises the truth of his folly and returns •to his former life and love. As a novel, the story has been one of the world's most widely read tales, and none of its charming appeal has been lost through its having been transferred to the screen. Excellent photography, in which the erUlooking Satan passes as a tall shadow and becomes a man of the world, is a feature of the production. A first-class accompanying programme has also been arranged. Donald Stuart, the tall entertainer, will be seen for another week, and his turn will include several amusing conjuring tricks.

EMPRESS THEATRE. "Kid Boots," which was screened with success at the New Regent some weeks ago, is now being presented for an extended season, as the main attraction at the Empress Theatre. The film features Eddie Cantor, a newcomer to the ranks of stardom, and his performance definitely proves that he is likely to become one of the leading comedians in the

States. A Paramount production, the film is the screen version of the wellknown musical comedy of the same name, ■which invaded Auckland some months ago. Four star players combine to make the picture the success it is. They are Eddie Cantor, Clara Bow, who has the feminine lead, Biilie Dove, and Lawrence Gray. Clara Bow has rapidly become popular with theatre patrons, and the announcement that one of her films will b< screened usually means that a large audience will attend. First coming into prominence in '"Down to the Sea in Ships," she soon won favour with producers, until eventually she was starred in '"The Plastic Age' , and "Mantrap." Then followed a number of other films, among which wae "It," and now she comes in what has been described as her most alluring role. Biilie Dove was the star of "An Affair of the Follies." in which she scored a great hit.