AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 200, 24 August 1928, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

STRAND THEATRE. "The Bush Cinderella. 7 ' Mr- Rudall Harvard's latest New Zealand-made production, which stars Dale Akmi OU \ew Zealand 1927), opened at the Strand Theatre this afternoon, the screening being its world premiere. While the American producer has everything whica vast capital and an army ot stilled •workers can provide. Mr. Hayward worked under great difficulties: he was withou. elaborate studio equipment, and h:« cameras, although efficient, were as nothing compared with the expensive plant used Bv American and Continental producers. Yet he has turned out a picture of which all New Zealand may well be proud. He has overcome the apparently insurmountable difficulties whicQ lay "in his path, and which hindered him throughout his work, and has given New Zealand a film which, considering the conditions under which it was made, can be clawed with the best. There are few studio shots in 'The Bush Cinderella/' and in photographing the bush scenery. Mr. Hayward has indeed scored a. Xrriuinpb- Beautiful scenes of the dense virgin bush at early morning, and views which stretch out before the eye- till they are lest in the hazy distance, are a feature of the ; picture. Opposite Dale Austen, there is Cecil Scott, who came to New Zealand ■with "The Diplomats" company. Al. Mack, who has the role of the comedian, was also with "The Diplomats. 3 and also in the cast is Tony Firth. With the film at the Strand there ifi an atmospheric prologue, and the supports include a Strand Magazine, a cartoon and a scenic of Tasmania. Eve Bentley s orchestra plays enjoyable incidental music and renders "Round the World' as an overture. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Marjorie Beebe, who has risen from minor parts in two-reel comedies to featured parts in large productions in less than two yeans, scores another suece«B a* the superstitious maid in 4 "A, Thief in the Dark,"' Fox Films' mystery drama, which opened at the Majestic Theatre this afternoon. The picture deals with a sang of circus sideshow crooks, who "raise" the spirits of the departed and reap a harvest from their credulous victims. Critic* have acclaimed the picture as something new in the mystery type, and as having some unusual angles. All the tricks of mediums and how they arrange their seances are exposed in this p reductionMis; Beebe furnishes most of the laugha in her encounters with the "phoets" of an old mansion. The stellar role baa been given to a new star, George Meeker, and others in the cast are Michael Vavitch, the noted Russian character acstor. Gwen Lee and Doris Hill. Also on the Majestic'* programme are a Majestic news, & scenic of the Auckland Zoo, a laughable Aesop Fable cartoon and a short comedy. Throughout the entertammect- enjoyabl* music is provided by the Majestic Orchestra, under the capable condactorship of Mr. John Whiteford-Waugh. This combination also renders '"Buy Bias"' (Mendelseohn) as an orchestral interlude.

"WINGS." Not only did "aces" of all nations participate in the making of ""Wings/' the Paramount epic of the air, which commences at the Recent Theatre to-day, bet the picture itself reveals the supreme fight on both sides of the air lines daring the titantic struggle of nations from 1914 to 1918. When the organisation responsible for the production of this picture conceived the idea of transferring t-o the screen the life of the World War aviators, plans were started more than a full year in advance ot the camera i work. The picture was planned to encompass all phases of the war in the air, and for this reason all of the nations who had participated in that war to have representation in the picture. The initial campaign in the production of '"Wings" caisisted of the sending abroad of men whose mission it was not only to collect data on actual air battles, bat also to secure genuine British, French and German aeroplanes, and to engage actual veterans of the war in the air to go to Paramount's studios, and to there supply technical advice on the production. These plans were carried still further to the extent of having the aces actually participate in the picture, where they give remarkably creditable accounts of than* selves. The picture was produced by Lucein Hubbard and directed by w-iHiaTTi Wellman, who saw air service with the Lafayette Escadrille of France, and who was acclaimed an "ace" after shooting down seven enemy 'planes. Heading the cast of players are Clara Bow. Charles Rogers, and Richard Arlen. who was a sub-lieutenant in the British Air Force during the war. "Wings" will be presented in Auckland with amazing sound effects.

LYRIC THEATRE. "Chicken a la King," a Fox Films' production, is being screened as the headline attraction of the new bill of fare at the Lyric Theatre. It was adequately described by on© critic as "a dainty dish of movie fare that will tickle the palate of the most discriminating picturegoer.** Nancy Carroll, George Meeker and that over-popular comedian. Ford Sterling, have the principal roles and thev are supported by an all-star cast. '"Wyoming,"' which ia screened on the same programme, is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer vehicle for Tim McCoy, the Western star. The storv telfc of the hardships of the earlv American pioneers and their encounters with Indian tribes. There is some beautiful scenery in the production, that of the Wyoming Vat ley being especially fine. Dorothv Sebastian plays opposite McCoy and the pair PJ°^ e themselves a strong starring team. \aned supports accompany the two pictures; these include an interesting newa reel and a short comedy. Enjorabla music is provided by the Lyric Orchestra. "THE GOOSE GIRL." The Patrician Amateur Operatic SoHetr will stage "The Goose Girl" for a return season in H» Majesty's Theatre this evening and to-morrow evening. The piav w excellently presented and a feature is the singing of the choir of SO voice*. Booting arransements are advertised.