AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 21, 25 January 1929, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

NATIONAL THEATRE

When Lane Chandler, popular feature player for Paramount, sigued a -new contract frith that producing concern, be was assigned a prominent part in support of Fay Wray and Gary Cooper in "The First Kiss," which comes to the National Theatre to-morrow. Chandler won his new contract by virtue of his work opposite Clara Bow, Esther Ralston, and more recently in the Beery-iHatton comedy, "The 6ig Killing.'' Chandler essays the role of one of the brothers in this latest production of The story was adapted from Tristram T upper's '"Four Brothers,'' which appeared in the "Saturday Evening Post." The player I has had but a year and a half experience before the camera, and there is little doubt of his rising to complete stardom iu the minds of studio officials. He was

"dsicovered" by a film director, when acting as a guide in Yellowstone National Park. "The First Kiss'' was filmed at St. Michaels, Maryland, the locale called for in the original story. Director Rowland V. Lee insisted that in order to do justice to the story, the film should lie made on the exact location called for in the story. Entertaining supports of a varied nature will accompany "The First Kiss," and the presentation of the whole programme will be of the high standard that the National has set itself. Enjoy, able music will be played by the recently augmented orchestra under the capable baton of Mr. F. Rartlett. STRAND THEATRE. "Four Sous," a Fox production, is the feature at the Strand Theatre. Briefly, it is the simple, intensely human story of a mother and her four sons. The theme is faith—the faith ot the mother in humanity. In spite of all the troubles that beset the old lady, ner eonfidenc-e remains unbroken. There are contrasting backj grounds of America and Bavaria during the war. It is not a war picture, however, there being only a flash of the battlefield, depicting the meeting of the two brothers in opposing armies. This 6cene is one of the emotional highlights of the picture. The role of the mother is beautifully portrayed by Margaret Mann, the sixty-year-old extra who has achieved everlasting film fame through her remarkable performance in this production. The four sons are played by James Hall, Charles Morton, Francis Budiman, jun., and George Meeker. Others in the company are Barle Fose, whose character role is a distinct departure from the usual comedy parts with which this player is identified, June Collyer, Ruth Mix (daughter of Tom Mix), Ferdinand Schu-mann-Heink, son of Mme. SchumannHeink, the opera singer, a.nd Archduke Leopold of Austria. John Ford, the man who made "Mother Machree*' and "Tbe Iron Horse" directed the production. The supports at the Strand include all atmospheric prologue, a. Strand Magazine, and a comedy, and throughout the entertainment Eve Bentley's Orchestra provides enjoyable music.

• MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Hie House in Order" and "Not Quite a Lady" are the two features of the current programme at the Majestic Theatre. These two British films are adaptations of famous English stage plays, "His House in Order" being the screen version of Sir A. W. Pinero's famous play which was seen in New Zealand with the VanbrughBoucicault company on their last visit, and '"Not Quito a Ladv" being a changed title for St. John Haukin's celebrated comedy, "The Cassilk Engagement," which wa6 produced in Auckland by the Little Theatre Society. . Comparison between . tbe pictures and their originals will be interesting. In "Ilis House in Order" there is Miss Tallulah Banlrhead, an American girl who is the idol of the ' London stage. Mabel Poulton, a clever comedienne, plays the principal role in i "Not Quite a Lady." On the same pro- I gi-ainnie at both afternoon and evening' sessions there is a stage presentation | entitled "The Toy Shop"; this is produced by Miss Lillian O'Leary and Yorke Gray\ A Majestic Magazine completes the bill, and Mr. John Whiteford Waugh's Majestic Orchestra plays enjoyable music. PLAZA AND TIVOLI. Although the atmosphere and locale of "Poppies of Flanders," the British International C.A.F. release screened at the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres last night is that of the war, director Arthur Maude has treated this subject so delightfully, that the many who are over-weary of the continual war-picture fare will find a freshness in this production that will not only delight, by the strength of its drama and comedy relief, but will give an entirely new aspect of this subject. Tbe picture broke upon the screen practically unheralded, and the audience eat in expectation of just another drama of- the conflict, but to their surprise when the final fadeput- was reached it was voted excellent entertainment. Colleen Moore's 1 latest comedy-drama for First National, "Oh Kay!" is also on the programme at l both theatres. This is a pieturisation of the delightful musical comedy of the same i name, and is played by a strong cast of [ comedians. Supporting Miss Moore, are ! Claude Gillingwater, Ford Sterling, Alan | ' Hale and Lawrence Gray. 1 LYRIC THEATRE. Patrons of the Lyric Theatre are going to have a real treat in "Me, Gangster," which is now being screened with "The Fortune Hunter." "Me, Gangster," based on Charles Francis C'oe's story, which van serially in the "Saturday Evening Post," and has been published in book form, was directed by Raoul Walsh, who was also responsible for such successes as "The Thief of Bagdad," "Lovers of Carmen" and "What Price Glory?" » There is not a machine gun in the ' entire pictured story, murder is not j committed, there is no enmity between - lav/ breakers and police, yet there always • is poignant, human drama, thrills, suspense, rornanc?, battles of wits, battles , of brawu with no scene that is not- as i natural as it is logical. "Me, Gangster," l as a story of the underworld, is refreshingly different. Don Terry, juvenile, play- • iug the lead in his first picture, is a real | artist in Walsh's hands, and June Collyer : is more bcautiru! than ever. Anders Ran- ' dolf, Carol Lombard, Joe Brown, Nigel | De Brulier. Arthur Stone, Stella Adams .(and Burr Mcintosh are part of the supporting cast. S_, d. Chaplin is starred in "The Fortune Hunter," a delightful farce telling of a. young man who, to become , rich, determines to marry the wealthiest '• girl in a small town, but. who eventually becomes the life partner of the poorest. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "The Matinee Idol" and "When Duty Calls" are now being screem-d at Every- ;. body's Theatre- "The Matitio Idol'" 8 stars Besirie Love and Johnnie Walker, and is an appealing story ol life behind J th? footlights. Miss Love is seen as the - daughter of a travelling showman, and J Walker appears as a uegro impersonator, .. whose cleverness has made him a star on \ Broadway. "When Duty Calls" is a fire jl brigade story. A U.F.A production, this n film stars Hclga Thomas and Henry Stuart. r ST. JAMES' THEATRE. il George Wallace'.-: Revue Company will * present an entire change of programme a at St. James' Theatre this evening. The i. j last two weeks' entertainments have been !- j unusually good, but despite their high standard, another programme equally enjoyable is promised for tb'e coming '• week. £ LUNA PARK. [. There is a big crowd o; carefree : makers at Luna I'srk every nizht. The 4 thrills by the. Park's many novelties alone y are sufficient to draw hundreds, but n- - special turns which are presented as a - " tional attractions are responsible * makin; the attendance much larger.

REGENT THEATRE. Two absorbing pictures, one or two interesting supports, and enjoyable music, make the new programme at the Regent Theatre first-class entertainment. There is a delightful contrast between the two main features, "The Forbidden Woman" and "Beyond the Sierras." Opening in Arabia, the story of "The Forbidden Woman" moves to Paris and then back to its original locale. It telk of a daughter of the desert who, to learn the movements of a garrison of the French Foreign Legion, enters into a loveless marriage with an officer. On a trip to Paris she falls in love with another man, but their romance is ruined on her arrival in faris. He is her husbaod's younger brother. From here the theme traces the hardships which the younger brother tolerates to please the whims of this capricious woman. To answer for his surreptitious love, the younger man i<s torcerl by his brother to serve in the East, and there the story reaches a climax, in which the young man nearly meets his death by being shot for treachery. A confession by •the woman, however, gains is-eedom for him, and, with her death, the two bothers are again happy in their love for one another. It is a tale that holds the interest from beginning to end. It is well enacted, the principal roles being taken by Jetta Goudal, Victor Varconi and Joseph Schildkraut. "Beyond the Sierras" is a tale of old California, with Spanish dous and grandees, senoritas, senors and desperadoes filling every scene. There is plenty of exciting action, and although an old theme is used—the star has lots of arguments vith the villain and arrives with a posse just in time to save the family of his sweetheart—it has been so artistic-ally surrounded with beautiful scenes that it is much nior« enjoyable than the average "Western." Tim McCoy is starred, and other roles are in the hand* of that arch-villain Roy D'Arcy, who dies another painful death, Sylvia Beecher anc Polly Moran. From, this evening the bil will include the appearance of Freddj Hodges and Ivy Towe, the clever dancers who delighted patrons of the Regent somi weeks ago. and Mr. Maurice <Juttridec will resume, eonductorship of the Operatic Orchestra. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE. Amalgamated Theatres' new house, thi Crystal Palace, in Mount Eden Koad, wii be officially opened to-morrow evening b 1 the Mayor of Mount Eden, Mr. E. 3 Patter. A specially selected program m will be presented. For a season of thre nights (January 29, 30 and 31) Metre Gold wyn-Mayer's screen version of th successful musical comedy "Rose Marie, in which Joan Crawford, James Murray House Peters and Polly Moran are seer will be screened.