AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17939, 6 December 1923, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS.

PICTURE HOUSES.

QUEEN'S THEATRE,

Avrto rttcca -with their attendant thrill* piay a prominent part in "Skid-proof," th« big picture this week at tho Queen's Theatre. Tho scenes sro laid in Now York at the time of a transcontinental auio-raco, and there is always something happening oi intense interest. Tho second attraction is Univorsafs latest feature, '"Trie Love I", rand," starring Roy Stewart. It is * sensational story taken on one of tho largest ranches in America. Tho scones on tnis ranch ore wonderful and show all hand 3 at their usual work. There is a splendid supporting and musical programme. STRAND THEATRE. \ Priacilla Dean maTres an admirable Cigarette in tho film version of ."Under Two Flags," appearing this week at the Strand. Victor, tho exiled Englishman, enlisted in tho French .African forces, is an equally romantic fi<rurc, and the scenes with Cigarette, and the Breach commandant are well enacted. In one of the greatest jcenes ever recorded on the silver screen, comoe the climax thai has made the Btory of Under Two Flags" immortal. Baby Peggy in "Peggy Behave" (comedy), "Oregon Trail (Chapter 3), and an International News,-com-plete the bill. GRAND THEATRE. ~ T The management of the Grand Thoatre has set itself tho taßk of providing its pafc-ons with a novel entertainmont this week, and it has succeeded. The radio ifl becoming * more and more popular hobby and. tho management has introduced music by radio into its current programme. The radio music is used in conjunction with the principal picture, "Thorns and Orange Blossoms," with much effect. For sheer pictorial beauty fow motion pictures have ever approached the perfection reached in 'Thorns and Orange Blossoms." Kenneth Harlan, Edith Roberta, and Estello Taylor are aU stairred. Tho story transpires in Madrid and New Orleans, where luxuriant gardens, Bhndowy patios, and tropical sunsets delight the eyes. The big supporting picture is "Two Weeks," featuring Constance Talmadge,' who as the chorus girl who has amusing adventures with three crusty old bachelors, does some of her best work. A short comedy and a travelogue complete a fine programme. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE, The management of Everybody's presents two star picture* this week, added to which the musical programme is quite up 'to the high standard usually set at. this most popular picture house. "The Tiger's Claw," featuring Jack Holt, abounds in thrills and is a first-class production.. As a picture it has a gripping interest which holda throughout but even beyond that it laya claim—and' justly so—to an originality, whioh is all its own. Tho story is unique so far. aa tho theme of screen productions, goes. It tells of an American engineer who is superintending the buildin K oi a huge irrigation dam in the hills country of India. Whilo out on some survey work he saves a naifcaste Hindu girl from a tiger, but m bo doing is Bevorely injured himself, and the girl nurses him through one of those terrible jungle fevers which are so dangerous to the white man. In gratitude ho marries her, but his cup of happiness is rather upset by the appearance of a former sweetheart who hoa set out from England to nnd_ him. How the etory works out to a oonoruaioa which is satisfactory to all forma the basis of the plot of this most interesting picture. Smartness, piquancy, and genuine entertainment are personified in "Enter Madame," the brilliant comedy which is shown in support. Miny are the amusing interludes which relievo the thread of drama which runs throughout the theme, and instead of being heavy, "Enter Madame" i» as diverting and entertaining as a film play could well be. - GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. A first-class film in' "Merry-Go-Round" and music of the quality one erpeots at this theatre, describes this week's programme at the Crystal Palaoe. "Merry-Go-Eouno proves a very apt name, for in the picture one sees scenes of unparalleled splendour as well as those of the seamy side oi life. The central interest of the plot «r volves around a little Viennese waif—a girl who ekes out an existence by playing an organ for the pleasure-seekers of the Prater —the Coney Island of Vienna as she was before the war—the playground of the real cosmopolitan —which is pictured with wonderful accuracy. Every moment of the romance of Agnea, the little working frirl who falla in love with a real prince, is of dramatic interest. Life deals very oruelly with her, ano love does not bring its reward as quickly as it does in the usual love stary of tho day, but the trials to which she is subjected, and the hard blows which fate deals her, are of life as it is lived, not as the usual etory writer and picture director would make it. When Agnes finds tho "Prince Gharming" who has co'm* into her life is not a salesman, but a true "princa of tho blood," her hopes of earthly happiness are shattered. While tho audience sympathises with the girl, it also has sympathy with the prince who is a manly fellow, but so tied by the conventions of the social .sphere to which he has been born that he finds it to avoid a State-made marriage. The fifth chapter of "The Eagle's Talons" (serial), a bright Century comedy, and the latest International News film complete* a programme which does credit to Greater Crystal Palace.

LIBERTY THEATRE. New theineß for motion pictures aro obviously becoming hard to find, but the "Isle of Lost Ships," showing at tho Liberty Theatre this week, strikes an entirely new note. Before- seeing this masterpiece of screen art. one can hardly believe tnat such a- thing as novelty of plot exists, for in recent years, the hundreds •■ and hundreds of rtiovie films seem to .have exhausted every conceivable variety of story. Between the Atlantic Equatorial current and the Gulf Stream, we are told, there is a ijacf of ocean which is not affected by ocean currents, and tho surface of which is covered with dense masses of seaweed. Thaf' weirdj stagnant place is called the Saragoesa, Sea* and strange tales are told by mariners of the derelict ships which drift up there and form the "Isle of Lo3t Ships." It is not difficult to imagine that with skilful direction a really fascinating romance could bo built round that amazing set of circumstances. The supporting programme is a,n entertainment in itself, and is.composed of a good drama, "Children of th*> Dust," a diverting Max Sennet comedy, "When Summer Comes," and two fine gazettes. High-grade music supplied by the Liberty Quality Orchestra makes the last component part of an enjoyable evening.