AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 76, 30 March 1928, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. Delightfully varied, this week's bill of fare at the National and Lyric Theatres includes two big pictures, both of which should appeal to Auckland cinema fans. It is difficult to say which would be the more popular, for while one is a thrilling photoplay of adventure, the other is a light comedy drama. "The Adventurer," as the main attraction is called, is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature, starring Tim McCoy, who appeared recently in "War Paint" and "The Frontiersman." One critic, describing the film, said: "A Spanish beauty, a Yankee hero, a story of revolution and adventure, without a dull moment." McCoy, it is announced, has been selected to play leading man opposite Miss New Zealand 1927, Miss Dale Austen, in her first screen venture. That ever popular comedienne, Louise Fazenda, is at the head of a strong cast, which interprets the theme of "Finger Prints," the psuporting film. Miss Fazenda, who became so well liked through her performance in the leading role of "The Cradle Snatchers" (the film version of that laughable American stage farce), rises to unusual heights in "Finger Prints." Good supporting numbers accompany the double-feature bill of fare at both theatres.

STRAND THEATRE. Always out of work, always iu somebody else's way—Charlie Chaplin has been like this for many years, and in his latest film, "The Circus," which is now showing at the Strand Theatre, he has not changed. Cinema fans will find the same old Charlie who has delighted them for years; he is just as clever a comedian a 6 he was eome time back, just as witty, just as amusing, just as enjoyable; the thumping, bumping little man with the trick derby and twirling cane, the wriggly moustache and mighty feet. From the opening scene to the final fadeout, "The Circus'" holds the audience spellbound with its thrills and its laughs. When a circus hand is called upon to appear in the place of one or two of the star artists who have suddenly become ill, the performance is bound to be amusing. If it were not, Charlie Chaplin would make it so. He makes it more than amusing in this picture, for he brings out quite a number of drollities which are entirely new to motion picture®. Everything which one would expect to find in a travelling road show is contained in the picture, which has obviously been made with careful attention to even the smallest detail. It is well supported at the Strand, among the numbers being an atmospheric prologue, a Strand Magazine, Eve's Review, an Aesop Fable cartoon, "Memories of the Old Country." Good music is provided by Mrs. Eve Bentley's Orchestra. "Pot Pourri Airs" is the overture.

MAJESTI& THEATRE. Set ip a quaint old English town during the Napoleonic Wars, "Quality Street," which is being shown at the Majestic Theatre, is probably as suitable a story as could have been chosen for Marion Davies' latest picture. Written by Sir James Barrie, the play was adapted by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who gave it a cast worthy of the work and of the author's name. Miss Davies appears as Phoebe Throssel, who, with her sister, lives in Quality Street. Right frem the opening of the story there is a charming romance, and into the theme there is also woven the tale of how the hero went to the wars, how Phoebe waited ten long years for his return, how the Throssel sisters.

:i ■ t > hard times, have to open a small school, how, when he does come back, the hero no longer loves the girl whom the passing years have aged, how she makes herself look younger and poses as her own niece, winning hi 6 love that way. Nearly all the action of the story take place iu the Throssel drawing room, and so close to Barries original has the director of the film kept, that he has managed to get eight full episodes, totalling nearly four hundred scenes, into one room. Conrad Nagel plays the hero. "A Corner of the Officers' Club," which is played by the Majestic Quartet, is this week's stage turn. Other supporting numbers are a scenic, the Majestic Magazine, and a comedy. w_.ie throughout the entertainment Mr. John Whiteford-Waugh's orchestra plays enjoyable music.

NEW REGENT THEATRE. Something entirely new in picture theatre entertainment is offered on the programme which opened for the change at the New Regent Theatre to-day. It is a novel d.iving competition, which is actually presented on the theatre stage. For this attraction, a huge tank, capable of holding twenty tons of water, which passes over a special electrical heating apparatus, has been built. Gold medals are to be presented to the winners, and a silver cup to the club of which the winner is a member. Such a turn as this has never been attempted before, anywhere in Australia or New Z'/aland, and during next week it should draw capacity audiences to the New Regent. The competition is being conducted under the auspices of the Auckland Centre of the NewZealand Swimming Association, which body will appoint three judges every night. Starred in "Get Your Man," the stellar picture attraction af the entertainment, there is ''the madcap of the screen, Clara Bow. Few screen artists have had the same sensational rise to fame as Miss Bow, who will be remembered by film fans for her excellent work in "Children of Divorce" and_ "Rough House Rosie." "Get Your Man" is a spicy story of a French love intrigue. Supporting numbers on the programme include the Regent Review, a travel film and a comedy. Leslie Harvey offers several enjoyablepieces at the Wurlitzer organ, while Mr. Maurice Guttridge's Operatic Orchestra plays a fine musical score.

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. Nearly 1000 Indians—braves, squave and Navajo children—appear in scenes in the Metropolitan production, "The Last Frontier," now being screened at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres. An Indian village reminiscent of the days of the pioneers, was built where the movie outfit established its headquarters for the proof the picture. Hundreds of tepees nestled in the picturesque canyon, and at night, as the Navajo warriors gathered round their camp fires, they presented a vivid contrast to the quarters where the European players were housed. Besides the scenes in which the Indians appear, there are also several other thrilling shots; these include the drive of 3000 head of buffalo. That well-known figure in fiction, Bill Cody ("Buffalo Bill"), is seen in the film, which is the story of the romance of a prairie scout and the daughter of a pioneer. William Boyd, who was so well received in "Two Arabian Knights," is cast as the scout, while the role of "Buffalo Bill" is in the capable hands of Jack Hoxie, the well-known Western star. J. Farrell Macdonald portravs Wild Bill, the life friend of "Buffalo Bill," and the feminine lead has been given to Marguerite de la Motte. Supporting "The Last Frontier" at both houses, there are two other pictures, "The Irresistible Lover." featuring Norman Kerry and Lois Moran, and the last erf "The Collegians" series.

"IF." The Little Theatre Society's second presentation of the exotic play of the East, "If," by Lord Dunsany, was given before a large audience in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night. It went smoothly from first to last, and was even more successful than on the Opening night. Miss Joy Bartley is seen in the role of Mary Beat, wife of the principal male character, and not Miss Beryl Nettleton as stated yesterday. Mif=s Nettleton plays the maid. "If" will be staged again tonight sad to-morrow ay—ing