AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17750, 30 April 1923, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

PICTURE HOUSES. GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. IRENE OASTLE IN "FRENCH HEELS." '• PRANK MAYO IN "THE FLAMING HOUR."Irene Oastle, who heads .the new bill at Greater Crystal Palace this weoi, commencing to-day, in Clarence Bnddington Holland's great story, "French Heels," Is the latest and most popular sensation in Now York' 3 brilliant night life. And don't for a minuto think that because there Is prohibition (?) in the United States, that New York's old night life has disappeared. Quite the contrary. The New York crowds feel that the Government can take away its wine, but it can never take away the spirit that makes New York the pleasure headquarters of the world. Always there are new sensations that keep the old spirit keyed up to the highest possible pitch, Tho latest sousation is Irene Castle, the same Irene' who was the hit of New York a few seasons ago. Not an instant older, and, if possible, brighter and more vivacious than ever, Mrs Oastle is the beacon that nightly attracts hundreds of pleasure-seekers to the New. Knickerbocker Grill at Forty-second street and Broadway. Mrs Castle's act at the Knickerbocker opened in November. From the very start the crowds at the Grill were larger than ever before. During December the demand for tables increased, and indications now are that Mrs Castle will remain at the Knickerbocker until spring is ushered in. "French Heels" is a modern story, and Jn the unfolding of the interesting plot, Mrs Castle presents many dances which have made her such a huge drawing card at the Knickerbocker. Besides, she rides, swims, »nd wears countless /'stunning" wraps and /owns the like of which has seldom been <een on the screen. The production is more <han seven thousand feet in length, and n said to be one of the most elaborate hd lavish photoplays ever presented. ,'A picture that ought to interest any oung married couple, and specially those . which the husband is a little hot-tempered 1 likes to flare up once in a while, is I he Flaming Hour," a Universal attrac--1 starring Frank Mayo. It is a picture .dramatic interest, picturing something ■ any young hot-heod knows something at by his sixtieth birthday, but not beiposite Mayo is pretty Helen Ferguson, as his wife, and quite charming In ole. 1 authors of tho story are Lillian ir and her celebrated husband, George lph Chester, the novelist. In writing jry the individual characteristics of v imself were the dominating influence Construction of the plot. acular. thrills in the explosion of a plant are held .down to a length it with the dramatic interest of of the story. The theme of what * quick temper can do in business, and friendly associations is the ating interest of the plot, and is an element that every human 1 understand. sporting films are the fourth chapperils of the Yukon," which has tioh largely from historical facts; inny Century' Comedy,' and the rnational News film, al to and in conjunction with the >tion pictures, the big Symphony of '. more than twenty protessional , under the distinguished conof Mr Alfred J. Bunz, will pretgnificent programme of classical •r numbers, which include tho folverture.' "French Heels" (Kela arsifal' 1 (Wagner), "La Paran•>bois), "Joyous Youth" (Eric Why?" (Schumann), "The Shepie" (Gregh), "A Night Out" , '.'Waiting" (Ancliffe), "Fol Esjdoux), "Fete des Papillons" 'Russian Rose" (Grofe), "Pour;Horne); entr'acte, "Happy" plan is at : The Bristol, or seats •eserved by telephoning Greater lame, number 3758.

BTRAND THEATRE. fAZIMOVA AS A DANCEB. new programme at the Strand Theatre /s Nazimova, the gTeat emotional actin the picture "Stronger than Death." 'interpretation of Sigrid Fersen, the ,ile dancer of the London music halls, <m Fate throWß into a vortex of oonflict i intrigue in the heart of India, deinonates why Nazimova .has been called "the Ar of a thousand moods" and the greatest ctress in the world. Her expressive features register every shade of meaning and all of the tumult that rages in the dancer's soul. A widely read novel by I. A. R. Wylie was adapted by Charles Bryant as a vehicle for Nazimova. It is a romance of the most thrilling sort, ,with a love story that reaches altitudes of poetic beauty. The scene is in a small British community in India. Thither comes Sigrid, the dancer, in quest of rest and a change. She falls ia love with a physician, known as the hermit doctor, because he lives alone and devotes his labours to curing the natives ill wrth cholera. Because of the cruelty of the British commander of the post and a wrong he had perpetrated against "the bride of Vishnu/' the sacred dancer of the temple, the native troops, incited by the high priest of the temple, plan a revolt. On the night tho uprising and massacre are to take place, .Sigrid, in pensive mood, goes to the steps of the temple to dance in the moonlight, as her lover had often imagined her doing. Her lithe figure, in flowing white, fill the Hindus with religious owe, and believing. her to he the returned spirit of the bride of Vishnu, they prostrate themselves before her in worship. Sigrid's heart has been ailing her, but in desperation she dance 3 on, knowing that when she ceases lie natives will discover ser corporeal nature. .She manages to rivet their attention long enough to' enable the loyal British regiments to roily. to the defence of the whites. The cast supporting Nazimova is excellent. Charles Bryant plays Major Tristram Boucicault with sympathy and. a manly ruggedness that wins appreciative recognition. Charles W. French and Herbert Prior are » couple of "heavy" men who impart dash to their performances. Others in the cast are Margaret McWade, Millie Davenport, Henry Harmon, W. H. Orlamond, and Bhogwan Sin"h a native of India. Several hundred persons appear in the big turbulent scenes of the photoplay. , The supporting films are also strong this week, the Paramount feature "Is Matrimony i Failure " being the best of them.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. The Fox Corporation's big sr>ecial feature "Silver' Wings" will be screened at the Queen's Theatre to-day and the remainder oi the week. Mary Carr, the famous mother of "Over the HU," is again featured as tlie another and leading pl*y<sr in "Silver Wings, in mis picture sue sives a wondeuui Characterisation, ahe is aL all times an appealing risrure v.no' possesses a true understanding OI the mother heart, ana- the rare- wbiuty to portray ilul understanding to the screen. She IS supported oy an excellent cast, and the photography is iluwiesa throughout the entire prouuouun. Mrs Lari'6 ro»e is that of a nioluer and devoted wile, who assumes upon her husbands death, the care ot a lainy profitable business he has built up and 'the care oi her two sons and a daughter, in me prologue she is shown during the eariy days ot her marriage, later as a prosperous business woman and then as a iorsasen woman. Her two sous furnish, a splendid example of the contrasts of character within a family. One is slow and -plodding, but sincere, and the other, although the favourite of his mother, is lazy ■and deceitful, and, as is always the case, eventually brings disgrace upon his mother. The daughter, over the protests of her worthless brother, marries for love, but is forced to leave her family. In time the entire family has left the mother, who is forced into bankruptcy. Step by step we see the family become reunited after the keen realisation that fidelity to their ■mother is a sure sign of happiness. The supports include a Sunshine oomedy, "All Wet," with Al St. John, a Cartoon Mid the latest Fox News.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "THE PRIDE OF PALOMAR." PETER B. KYNE'S GREAT STORY. Admirers of Peter B. Kyne's stirring novels, several of which already have reached the screen, ■will have an opportunity of seeing the' picturisation of his latest novel, "The Pride of Palomar." which now ranks among the best sellers of the current book season. The story was printed serially in the "Cosmopolitan" Magarine, and it scored tremendously. Now that the book has appeared, its popularity shows no sign of waning. Admirably suited to adaptation to the screen, Cosmopolitan Productions picturised the novel for Paramount release in Oalifornia, on the precise spots where the action of the story takes place. Many of the scenes were photographed at the old mission where "Romona" was born. Interesting scenes in the garden of San Luis Rey Mission in Southern Oalifornia are the feature of the picture. Director Prank Borzage took his entire company to the mission and surrounding country for the scenes of the picture. Mr Kyne. the author, had laid out the locations., and all the producer had to do was to follow in his footsteps. In his book Mr Kyuo took a slam at coolie labour in Oalifornia, nnd while most of the Japanese in Southern California are ignorant of the English language, they were wise to the fact that the coeiies had been attacked in the story, and they wouldn't do a lick of work for the picture "We .gave an order to a Japanese nurseryman for a lot of potted plants," said Mr Borzage, "but after working on the job for five days he found out that they were for 'The Pride of Palomar,' and struck work. In the same way you couldn't get a 'prop' in a Jap. shop if you mentioned 'The Pride of Palomar.' However, we got along very well." One of the thrilling scenes in "The Pride of Palomar" is the race where Don Mike's pet, Panchito. with the range burrs still in his mane, runs away from a field of bangtails and brings home the bacon of the Rancho Palomar. Since the racing was ended tho problem for the producers was to get a crowded grandstand for the occasion. Fortunately, the Spanish-American spirit still survives in Suulhei'u California, and a horse race takes precedence over everything, Advertisements were inserted in the local papers that the race scenes of "The Pride of Palomar" would be filmed of the Ventura track, and as a special attraction there would be a chariot race between Tom Olark, the county supervisor, and Bob' Anderson, a well-known rancher. The result was a crowd of about 5000 persons, whose enthusiasm for the local favourites was fine for tho cameramen, and saved Director Prank Borzage a lot of work. The only feature missing was the book-makers, and even at that Clark's backers managed to collect a lot of money when ho won, "The Pride of Palomar," which will be the feature at Everybody's Theatre this week, commencing at the matinee on Monday, has much to recommend it. The theine is powerful, and deals with the problem of a young Oalifornian just back from service abroad with tho American forces, when he finds that the family ranch is being absorbed by hostile interests. It is his fight against heavy odds tn regain his ancestral home that provides the lively action. Other features are the love interest when a girl stands midway in n Btruggle between her father and her sweetheart, and a great horse race with a surprise finish. Two of the best known figures' of the American screen are featured in "The Pride of Palomar." They ore Marjorie Daw and Forrest Stanley, and they head a practically all-star cast, which was assembled for the picture. Miss Daw is a Colorado girl, she having' been born in Colorado Springs in 1902. She began her screen career with Universal, and made her first appearance under Artcraft-Paramount auspices in "Joan the Woman." She supported Mary Pickford in "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," and later sho had an important role in "Arizona" with Douglas Fairbanks. She supported Mr Fairbanks in several of his best-known Artcraft productions, and her most recent Paramount appearance waß in "Experience." Sho is a capable actress, and has a large following of fans. Forrest Stanley is a well-known leading man of stage and screen. He began motion picture work with Morosco, and later oppcared in productions of other companies. He later joined Paramount, and was seen to fine advantage in "Forbidden Fruit" and "Sacred and Profane Love." He is*a virile player, and his role in "The Pride of Palomar" is admirably suited to his high abilities. The supporting programme includes a Paramount comedy entitled "Torchy's Nut Sundae," featuring Johnny Hines, a Burton Holmes travelogue, and the latest Gazette. A brilliant musical programme has been arranged for Everybody's Select Orchestra by its conductor. Mr W. J. Bellingham, F.S.M. Chief among the numbers are the following:—Overture, "Quarter Deck" (Alford); suites, "Kammennov Ostrow" (Rubenstein), "March Mignonne" (Poldini), "Prelude" (Chopin); grand opera, "Reinzi" (Wagner); symphony, "Surprise" (Hadyn); entr'acte, Romance" (Lee David); light selections, "Cairo" (Fletcher), "Sweethearts" (Herbert); foxtrot, "Omar" (Hall). As usual, reserved seats may be obtained either at The Bristol or by telephoning 4925.