AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 109, 10 May 1928, Page 18

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. "Square Crooks" and "Simple Sis" head the well-balanced entertainment which will _ have its first iiresentation at the National and Lyric Theatres this evening. "Square Crooks" is the fascinating story of two boys, who after living for a long time as "two black sheep," decide to become "white," and take positions, one as a chauffeur and the other as a footman in a fashionable home. Their attempts to "go straight" are hampered, however, by the work of a man who happens to know a lot about their past, and before the story reaches its unusual climax, the two heroes had many interesting experiences. There is a pleasing romance cleverly woven into the sequence of events. Dorothy Dwan appears as the girl in the story, apd in the roles of the two boys there are Robert Armstrong and Johnny Mack Brown. That talented comedienne Louis Fazenda, who appeared in "The Cradle Snatchers," heads the strong cast of "Simple Sis," the story of a simple girl who worked in a laundry, and who gave most of her time to trying to find a husband to suit her. It is one of the most laughable stories of the year, and when played by such a cast as that with which it has been peopled, it makes an excellent screen entertainment. Clyde Cook, the Australian comedian, appears opposite Miss Fazenda, and the two prove themselves a strong comedy team. MAJESTIC THEATRE. There is one -feature of "The Blood Ship," which opens at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow, which probably no other motion picture has ever had; there is but one woman in the cast. This part is played by Jacqueline Logan, who appears as the daughter of a man who loses his wife and child while the girl is very young. To the world she is the daughter of Captain Swope, of the Golden Bough, a ship which, because of the bestiality and cruelty with which the captain and his mate treated the crew, became known as the blood ship. Though this picture, it might be imagined, is one which is filled with horrors, comedy relief is_ provided by one of the shanghaied sailors of the crew, a negro, whose antics must amuse even the most dour audience and brighten the most tragic photo-play. Hobart Bosworth, Miss Logan and Arlen are the stars of this fine production. With the film tliere will be a prologue entitles "Sea Chanties" by the Majestic Quartet. Other numbers on the supporting programme will include the Majestic News, an Aesop Fable Cartoon, an interesting New Zealand Scenic of Christchurch, and a laughable short comedy. Mr. John Whiteford-Waugh's orchestra will play enjoyable music, which will include «s an overture "The Flying Dutchman" (Wagner). STRAND THEATRE. "Resurrection," which commences its third week to-morrow, continues to attract big business at the Strand Theatre. Leo. Tolstoy's classic novel is a flesh-and-blood drama of love, sacred and profane, of sin and sorrow, degradation and exaltation. It has been presented on the stages of 14 countries, in 11 languages. Rod La Rocque is the star, and Dolores del Rio is featured. Edwin Carewe, the director of the film, was assisted by Count Ilya Tolstoy, a son of the author of "Resurrection," in filming the classic novel. Rod la Rocque, in the role of Prince Dmitri, very nearly plays three characters in one, giving the changes that take place in the soul 6f the Prince and their reflection in his physical appearance. The star is perfectly balanced by Dolores del Rio as the young peasant girl who bears tbe brunt of the Prince's sin. The acting is uniformly intelligent and highly entertaining. The scenario is at all times faithful to the original. The ending leaves the audience in suspense until the last 70 feet of the film. Eve Bentley's dtchestra renders excellent music, including ."1812" (Tschaikoweky) as an overture with the prologu'e. The supports are in keeping with the high excellence of the main production. PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. Harry Langdon is an inimitable master of mirth, and .he will be the principal artist at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres for the comiDg week. A complete change of programme is announced for to-night, and- "The Chaser" is considered Harry's greatest hit. Official recorders of laughter claim that Langdon's kissing scene in this film holds the Hollywood record for sustained laughter. There is uproarious action, a strong comedy theme, which is human in its application, and a succession of "gags" that should tear peals of laughter from the audience.* "The Chaser" revolves around the adventures and difficulties of a husband who is'almost "kissless." Osculatory starvation, a theory of handling husbands evolved by a stern mother-in-law, seems to work for a time, but when Harry does finally embark upon a kissing campaign what happens is positively a panic. Gladys McConnell has the principal feminine role, and 25 famous bathing beauties help to decorate the cast. "The Count of Ten" also will be screened. As the name implies, this is a fighting picture with Charles Ray, Jobyna Ralston and Edythe in the main parts. There are soma excellent bouts in this film, while love and romance are interwoven with the prize-fighting episodes. The programme is excellent throughout, and should appeal to the majority of picture fans. NEW REGENT THEATRE. Theatre-goem - who saw "Beau Geete" will find the sequel, "Beau Sabreur," which will start its Auckland season at the New Regent Theatre to-morrow, a picture which does justice to the original. The cast which plays "Beau Sabreur" is not the same as that which appeared in "Beau Geste," and it is interesting to compare the performances of Gary Cooper, who plays the lead in "Beau Sabreur," with that of Ronald Colman, who was seen in the first production. Cooper is Paramount'e latest Western star, and his fine work in the role of a French soldier, so different from that of a hard-riding cowboy of the prairies, marks him as a very versatile screen artist. With him are William Powell, who was in the cast of "Beau Geste," and who gives a fine portrayal of the leader of the desert rebels; Noah Beery, who also appeared in "Beau Geste"; and Evelyn Brent, to whom has been entrusted the feminine lead. A varied programme of entertaining smaller films has been arranged. These include an interesting Regent Review and another laughable Inkwell Imps cartoon. Leslie Harvey has chosen several enjoyable numbers for presentation on the Wurlitzer organ, and Mr. Maurice Guttridge has a good musical score for his operatic orchestra. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The management of Everybody's Theatre provides a first-class programme for the change to-day. Heading the bill of fare there is "The Circus of Life," a film from the studios of the great German firm, Ufa, who have turned out such productions as "Variety" and "Faust." Marcella Albani, a popular Continental artist, is starred in "The Circus of Life," which is an absorbing tale of Russia in the days before the war, Russia when the people slaved under the rule of the autocratic Czar. The story deals with the privations of a beautiful young girl who, rather than throw suspicion on her husband, accepts the dreaded sentence or banishment for life to Siberia. The film depicts realistically the terrors and hardships endured by Russian "political" prisoners who were sentenced to Siberia, and the climax of this thrilling theme is the escape and pursuit of the girl across the frozen snow and ice wastes. On the same programme there is "Sailors' Wives," a First National picture which stars Mary Astor and Lloyd Hughes. This is the story of a girl who is threatened with blindness, and who determines to cram into her life before she is stricken Irs much excitement as possible.