AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 233, 2 October 1928, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPRESS THEATRE. Wendy and Alphonse •will provide the principal turn on this evening's vaudeville programme at the Empress Theatre. These two entertainers, who are from the Fuller circuit, will present a novel act which is assured of a good reception. There will also be the appearance of Bert Harrow, London comedian, in a change of bill. Thi* will probably be the last opportunity that Auckland audiences will have of seeing this popular artist. "The { Hawk's Nest will be the chief picture j attraction. This is Milton Sills' latest vehicle for First National. This is a story which takes place in the Chinatown of an American city, and which deals with the underworld, Doris Kenyon (Mrs. Milton_ Sills) plays opposite the star, and four of the screen's most sinister villians contribute the dark and dirty work. They are Mitchell Lewis. Stuart Holmes, Montagu Love, and that clever Chinese actor, Sojin. All have hatched innumerable plots, robbed safes, imperilled heroes, and eventually died horrible deaths or pone to prison in the last reel. In ''The Hawk's Nest"' they form as strong a villainous combination as could be wished for. Entertaining supports accompany the film at the Empress. To-morrow, the change of programme will include "Sadie Thompson." Gloria Swanson's first effort for United Artists, and '"Horseman of the Plains," a Fox Western, starring Tom Mix and Tony. "LA FAVORITA." As there can be only one performance of "La Favorita"—that this evening at St. James' Theatre—the opportunity should not be _ missed of hearing this operatic masterpiece of Donizetti, with its lovely solo arias and brilliant ensembles. All the Australian c-ritjcs agreed that it was Signor Rota's best opera, and the popular tenor should be kept busier than ever with his admirers of the fair sex (who inundate him for autographs) after they have heard his "Spirito Gentil." Rota looks the part of the young monk who falls in lovie with Leonora, and seeks release from his vows—with tragic results.

NEW HIPPODROME THEATRE. An enthusiastic crowd of three thousand people forms the baekjrround for the big rodeo scene in '"Horsemen of the Plains," Tom Mix's latest Western thriller, which will open at the NewHippodrome Theatre to-morrow. The rodeo is a faithful reproduction of one of those thrilling meetings which are held in the West, of which so much is heard and yet so little really known. Again Tony contributes largely to the success of the picture, and it cannot be denied that without him. Mis would not be able to perform mapv of the difficult stunts which are such a feature of the production. Sally Blane plays the feminine lead, and Heinie Conklin is one of the featured players. Olive Borden's entertaining, film "Came Ta My House," will also be screened. It i 6 the story of a girl, who, though wealthy, beautiful and intelligent, connot master her own heart. She is continually torn between the man to whom she is engaged, and another, played by Antonio Moreno, whe has flashed across her life like a meteor. In a moment of weakness she visits this man's ho • e and is discovered. She is an outcast from society. All people avoid her except the man to whom she is betrothed. Distraught, she does not know whether she loves her staid fiance for his loyalty or whether it is the dashing man who has completely captured her fancy at first sight. Varied supports have been arranged to aceompany the two big pictures at the New Hippodrome.