AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17756, 7 May 1923, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

PICTURE HOUSES.

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. HA£ MURRAY IN "BROADWAY ROSE." [ ;' "THE POWER OF A LIE," WITH ALL-STAR CAST. The biggest and most dazzling programme «i motion, pictures and orchestral music ever presented at Greater Crystal Palace is announced for this week, commencing to-day. In "Broadway Rose," the main attraction on the new bill, Mae Murray has ajsin added to her dramatic interest of a powerful love story a dazzling production conspicuous for its gorgeous BettinKs and wonderful costumes. Not the least interestingl parte of the picture are those episodes •where Mae Murray is given opportunity to display her ability as a dancer. There shu becomes the idol of Broadway, and receives the adulation which is showered on the fiavourites of the Great White Way. Sueteas in her career only serves to increase her desire for tho love and happiness which vitry woman cravos. And so when Huzh Thompson urges her to marry him she contents In spite of the fact that she knows fihat his father will disinherit him for marrvini a dancer. The Thompsons, you see. wers of the _ Fifth Avenue elite, and had •□ aristocratic young debutante already fiiokad out for their son. So when the; nasrd the newa through * detective they trot exceedingly busy with son Hugh. The rosult added considerably to Rosalie's knowledge of human nature, but nothing at all to her happiness. However, that youns lady soon learned that happiness is often just around the corner, and in the end things tmrned out to suit her, and also the motion picture fans who see "Broadway Rose." As Rosalie Lawrence, Miss Murray has a Tole that gives her an opportunity for the best acting she has ever done. Incidentally, of course, she displays an array of dazzling •oatumes that stagger the average man and bring gasps of delight from the women of the audience. An excellent cast has been assembled to surround Miss Murray, which - includes Monte Blue, Alma Tell, Ray Bloomer, Charles Lane, Mrs Jennings, and Ward Crane.

"Broadway Rose" is a Tiffany production directed by Robert Z. Leonard. The atory and scenario were written by Kdmnnd Goulding. The photography 13 by I Oliver T. Marsh, and the art settings by 1 Charles Cadwalder. ; A noted critic has estimated that one ' out of ten motion pictures has a definite theme, well worked out and supported by the action. Of this percentage about half, be says, are logical and clear to all types of spectators. Out of a half-dozen times that an average patron attends a motion picture theatre, how many times does he want to be simply cntertained and how many times does he seek n picture with a meaning I It is the •pinion of this same authority that the yublic U getting more and more favourable to those photoplays which express a great thought, support an ideal, or present the actual facts of lit'o in a direct, dramatic fashion.

In this class of pictures with a meaning is "The Power of a Lie," which will bring to the screen of Greater Crystal Palace next week a bold picturisation of just what the title indicates—the influence in life of the insidious deceits that a great portion oi humanity practises without reckoning the consequences.

A Norwegian noted for his contempt 'or namby-pamby ideas and delicate moral creeds ■wrote "The Power of a Lie" as a novel and play, and achieved for himself international recognition as a cloar thinker and fearless writer. The name of Johann Bo.jor to-day stands for the most relentless frankness In thought and ideas. Charles Kenyon, the playwright who wrote "Kindling" judged by 'the Drama League one of America's five greatest plays, wrote the screen adaptation. George Archainbaund directed for Universal. Mabel Julienne Scott, David Torrance, June Elvidge, Maude O ♦irge, Earl Metcalfe, Phillips Smalley, and other popular artists ' are In the cast. The supporting films are the fifth chaptar of "Perils of tho Yukon," a very funny Century comedy, and tho latest International News film, _■* Incidental to and in conjunction with the screening of the various pictures, the worldfomous Symphony Orchestra of more than ' twenty solo musicians, under the distinguished conductorship of Mr Alfred J. Bunz, •will present a magnificent musical programme, which includes the following classical and popular .numbers:—-Overture, "Tho Blng Boys on Broadway"; "Don Carlos" (Yerdi), "Etienne Marcel" (Saint-Saens), (a) "A La Fontaine," (b) "A Mules" (Oharpentler); "Suite" (Eric Ooates); ■uite, • "The Pogoda of Flowers" (Wood-fbrdo-Finden); entr'acte, "Intermezzo" . (Gabriel-Marie);. "In a Persian Market" <Ketelbey), "Blue Danube" (Strauss), ■ "Anything You Want, Dear" (Hirsch), •"Moon River" (David). The box plan is at The Bristol, or seats may be reserved by telephoning Greater Crystal Palace, number 3758.

QUEEN'S THEATRE.

"THE BOSS OF CAMP 4." I. A deafening roar, then tons of rock and earth rent asunder by a charge of dynamite, rose in the air. • There followed the rumble of huge fragments falling to the ground, and than silence. This is the dramatic finish of the Fox production, "Boss of Camp 4," starring Charles Jones, which will he shown •t' the Queen's Theatre commencing to-day. Jones is gagged and bound within one hundred yards of a tunnel containing blasting powder used in ro'id construction. Inside tlie excavation id a, man who has gone -to examine the explosives. Although he sees all these things, Jones, in the character of Panning, seems helpiesa. The man auper-\-ising the blasting orders the hole dosed; preparatory to igniting the powder. The story is filled with interest and action, and there is a delightful love thorue. To anyone that ■ cares for thrilling tales of the out-doors, this is a narrative that should satisfy, all. The other feature is "Lights oT the Desert," with dainty Shirley Mason in the leading part. The story, by Gladys E. Johnson, is well filled with-tense moments ond dramatic situations of powerful appeal, as well as touches in the lighter vein. In other words, it would appear to be an ideal Ehotoplay for Misb Mason, and this is how it as been described. An excellent cast has been chosen to support the star. Her leading man is Allan Forrest, a very capable actor. The supports include "Roaring Lions and Wedding Bolls," a Sunshine comedy, and the latest Fox News.

STRAND THEATRE. MARGARITA FISHER IN "ANN'S FINISH." BEm COMPSON IN "LADIES- MUST LIVE."

Delighted audiences, undaunted by miser, able weather, enjoyed the new programme at the Strand Theatre on Saturday aLZon and evening. Margarita Fisher and Betty Compson combine to make the programme a notable one. Margarita Fisher, who is one of the screens most versatile actresses, undoubtedly gives a fine- performance in the highly exciting romance entitled "Ann's Fnish." The picture is adapted from the particularly successiul stage play of the same nam*, and which has appeared no iewer than four times in New lorfc aioue, Aliss Fisher also playing in the stage rendering. The story deais with the dating then oi a valuable pearl necklace wnicn is stoien :rom Anns neck whust she is asleep an * chair, 'lho appearance of a young man with a flaehligut caught in a uouse at dead of night woula certainly suggest aeaigiiß, but when the occupant of the room is a young and beauiilui laay with her hero in hiding, one begins to wonder what might happen in the circumstances. The scene is a so.ect young ladies' boarding-school, and it may be imagined what comusion is entailed through the burger, the night alarm and a winsome girl who hides the burglar under the bed because "he looked nice." There is nothing lacking in Miss Fisher's interpretation of Ann, end the romance ■proves that it pays to be kind, even though such kindness extends to a burglar. There is plenty of action in every reel.

The second big attraction is the George Loans Tucker production entitled "Ladies Must Live," starring Betty Compson, whose popularity is so world wide. It la a tale of those who play with life, and those who are life's playthings. The story sounds the depthß of the human heart and scales the heights of the human soul. There are two thousand feet of laughter in the Broadway comedy "Rented Troubles." An illustrated Topical Bu3get completes a very fine programme, while the Strand Orchestra gives .•» excellent musical ac°^~ —- ■ment.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE.

"THE COWBOY AND THE LADT," STARRING MARY MILES MINTER AND TOM MOORE. •'ROOM AND BOARD." STARRING CONSTANCE BINNEY. Tom Moore as Teddy North, the "dude" rancher in "The Cowboy and the Lady," in which Mary Miles Minter and he play the leading roles, has some difficult tussles with Cupid before he attains (he prize, according to advance information concerning the picture, which will be shown at Everybody's Theatre this week, commencing at the matinee to-day. Meeting Jessica 'Weston, with whom he is immediately impressed, North goes out and proclaims to his cattle: "I'm in love, gentlemen—madly, desperately in love with the most wonderful girl in tho world." What the cattle replied isn't recorded. Later, feeling that the fact she is married is a bar to honest love, he tries to drive the distracting girl from his thoughts. But the love-sod is not to b.cheated of his legitimate prey, and by menus of an accident, and Inter, a rratredy which frees the girl and brings them closer than ever by the bonds of mutual danger and sympathy, wins his point. Mary Mile.-; Minter is the delightful heroine of "The Cowboy and the Lady."

Apart from the two featured players, Mary Miles Minter and Tom Moore, the cast is one of exceptional strength. Viora Daniel, who was seen in "The Young Mrs Wintrop." and Patricio Palmer. also a Paramount player, have the two prominent feminine roles." Robert .Sellable. Guy Oliver, both of whom are familiar to Paramount audiences, Leonard Clapham and Willard Mack complete the cast. In the Western scenes there arc the real, honest to goodness cowboys, and not the movie brand. This tends to make the Western scenes moro characteristic and real.

Constance Binney has never been seen in a more appealing role than as Lady Noreen Kildoran, the young Irish noblewoman, in "Room and Board," the second attraction on the programme. As the fuuloving, but impoverished heiress of a Bplendid old castle, well covered with moss anl debts, who is forced to lease her ancestral estate to a wealthy American to help lift the mortgage, she has a role well suited to her piquant personality. Tom Carrigan is leading man. Arthur Housman, who plays the most unpleasant role of nn Irish bully in Constance Binney's latest picture, "Room and Board," has had similar roles in numerous iilm successes, in casts with Tom Moore, Madge Kennedy, Mabel Normand, Mae Marsh, Olive Thomas, Elaine Hammerstein, Conway Teorle, Eugene O'Brien, and Owen Moore. The only time he ever had a role in which the audience did not hare him was in vaudeville, says Housman, and he hopes some day to get an assignment m which the villain triumphs instead of being kicked out or led away to prison.

The third attraction is one of the famous Torch}- comedies, entitled "Torchy'a Ghost," featuring Johnny Hines. It is said to be a scream from start to finish. As usual at this popular theatre, the musical conductor, Mr W. J. Bellingham, F.S.M., has selected, a magnificent musical programme for Everybody's "Select" orchestra, chief among the items being the following:—Overture, "Irish Comedy" (Ansell) ; danse suites, "Bartered Brides" (Smetana), "Three Irish Danses" (Ansell) ; song suite, "Irish Songs" (De Witt); opera, "Aida" (Verdi); entr'acte, "If Winter Comes" (Grey); suite, "La Parandole" (Dubois), "From the Countryside" (Coates); light selections, "My Nieces" (Talbot), "Pirateß of Penzance" (Sullivan). Reserved seats may be obtained either at The Bristpl or by telephoning 4925.

GRAND THEATRE. A WESLEY BABRY FBM. DERWENT CAINE IN "THE CHRISTIAN." The Grand Theatre's popularity continues to increase, as was shown by the fact that Saturday's miserable weather did not pre? vent • & very large audience from going 1 to see the new programme, 'i'he pictures and music were well up to the high standard set et the Grand, and the audience seemed to be thoroughly pleased with the fine entertainment offered.

Wesley JUajry has achieved many fine characterisations, but his work in 'Uinty'' is a shade above anything this woncienul boy ban nitnerto pieseuted. The picture gives an insight into Uie struggles ot a certain type ot youth in the Dig cities, and in its breuuili of' uudeiatanuiiig and general sympathy with what is best in life, it deserves to be ranked as one of the finest fiims seen here for some time.

With a bundle of newspapers under his arm, and a voice twice as loud as any other kid in Chinatown, "Dinly" fights the world for a living, and makes himself newsboy king to provide a home for his old Irish mother. When - his mother dies, "Dinty" has to fight down the feeling that life '"isn't much a much" after all, and he battles to get back into the game and make himself the success his mother always longed to see him. "Dinty" is the King of the Newsboys' Trust, and his two lieutenants are a little Chinese half-breed and a jolly little coon, both selling members of the trust, and for them '"Dinty" puts up many a fight. An up-to-date band of opium, smugglers operating via aeroplane' and cutter route between Mexico and ton Francisco provide a series of thrills in the picture. There is a compelling love interest in the 'story, and in this, of course, '"Dinty" has a hand, while running a little romance of his own on the side.

Hall Caine's novel, "The Christian," contributed in no small measure to the fame achieved by the author, and the picture version has naturally created a good deal of interest. Anticipations are more 'than realised by the film which is being presented at the Grand Theatre this week. Additional interest is lent to the production by the fact that Hall Caine's son, Derwent, takes the principal role in the story. The lending lady is Mary Bibley, i>nd the two sturs do really excellent work. The scenes in London are powerfully presented, and a good insight into theatrical life is given. The supporting pictures and the musical programme are excellent. The big programme will be screened daily till Friday.