AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17984, 30 January 1924, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

PICTURE HOUSES.

greater crystal palace

A programme which contains more than the mere elements of splendid amusement ib . ~tt.ac.ing capacity houses to Greater Crystal I Palace this week. The bill i 3 a delightful ! h.ending of vauaevilie items and pictures of | first-class merit. In the vaudeville Eection I M:ss Audrey Knight, who contributes a | number of original and p'easing itomi, ia a ! of more than average abi.ity. , From her first appearance as a demure little | maid of the Victorian era, she immediately | captivates her audience. The Big Four, tho ! male_ quartette which has alreadv established : lisc.f firmly in favour with theati epoers, also make a welcomo reappearance. Of : the pictures, the principal item "of interest : |s a Universal-Jewel production, "A Chapter: I Her Life." This is anothc- ot .Loss . Weber's eplen-did pictures. This o'.over j Woman has proved that th? rea'm of picture directing and producing is not exclusive to the opposite sex, for during her career j as the makrir of photoplays she has been : responsible for some outstanding su-cesses. There are also a number of gcol suppo.tin' ; pictures. J EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A feature which is attracting no small amount of attention at the presint time 13 East Lvnne," tho picture version of Sirs Henry "Wood's famous novel, which ho ds the present bill at Everybody's Theatro. The picture is a Ballin production and opens with the marriage of Sir Archibald Carlyla and Isabel Vane, and the home Bcen-a and lappy days of early wedded life are beautifu.ly depicted. In due course the shadow, in the person of tho perfidious Francis Levison, crosses the tranquil home. Leviso i uses _ jealousy ns his weapon to destr-y th) liappinc33 of the young couple. Is bel is made to misunderstand r;ason for th; meetings of Carlyle and Barbara Hare, which 3rc actually connecteel with the securing of help to free Barbara's o other from a c.large of murder, commilt-d, as tho s quel shows, by Lcvison, and Isibel leaves 11.0husband. The pathetic i.iciden's 'leading tj her ultimate return to h_>r o d home, her reunion _ with her child, the. meeting ' with her husband, the reconcilint on, and do th, are graphically illustrated, ani tho ending of th* picture version is In keep'ng with the sadness of the novel, though tho nr delling has been vairied fit in with modern p'.ctuire conceptions. There are good supports. ■ liberty theatre.

The popular and versatile Charlie Chapl'n is to be &sen m '"The Pilgrim,"' which heads the current programme at the Libe.ty Tliqatre. Right from the £r3t fash unt I the final fade out the largo aud encs lasi night was caught and held in one continuous ripple of laughter. The sto.y is a moat amusing and original one, and it tells of tho humorous adventures that bef 1 th.» luckless L?ftv Lombard. The story telis of Lcfiy Lombard's escape from durance vi'e, an occurrence which ne-c€6Bii.at3s hi; . changing clothes with the Kev. R. S muels. His advent as tho leader of ths little floc.'c in the backb!ocks caiises Bomethm.-? of sensation, which, however, is eclipsed after he has delivered his first Chap'in more t&an equals hie old form as an entertainer in the course oc the picture, and those who enjoy an Evening's good fun should certainly not miss seeing it. GRAND THEATRE. Tho latest Paramount Production, "The Covered "Waggon," which has been described 0,3 a maguficcnt epic of tho early "West, is now being shown_at tho Grand Theatre. This is a picturisation of Eonerson Hough's new novel of the same name, and it ia said to be cne of the greatest photoplays ever seen op the screen. Such historical characters as Kit Carson, Jim Bridger, and Bill Jackson, scouts, and typical Western characters, are portrayed in tho Paramount screen version of tho novel, which is conceded to be one of the most notable literary achievements of the present deca.de. The music, *>'. ayc<l by the Grand Orchestra, imdc the conductorship of A. Shearsby, A.T.C.L., L.A.8., has been chosen especially for this picture. STRAND THEATRE. The present week's delightful programmo at the Strand Thcalno is headed by "Drifting," starring Priacilla Dean. The picture tells the story of a girl who gave up selling' opium in Shanghai because she was eicii of the game—and was then forced back into it by tne necessity of gutting a chum out of tne country Dciore sue beeajne addicted to the habit. The heart of China, mysterious, and veiled in fogs in the human past, is stripped bare for a moment to show the secret ~oi the nation's curse, and the scarlet poppy fields whence c me3 the op.um drug. For the roles supporting Aliss Dean, uctois ot un.usu.il nuiit were ab.olule y essential; Wajlace Beery, of "Robin Ho.d" fame, handles the "heavy" roles. Matt Moore is the leading man. Anna Mae Wong, a Chinese actresß of fine emotional abilities, has a very sympathetic lvle. There are a.so a number of excellent ei'^psrls. QUEEN'S THEATRE. A bright programme cf pictures is being submitted at the Queen's Theatre this weeJ*. Two big Paramount pictures headed tho list of features. Madge Kennedy, a charming young actres;, who has lor some time been in retirement, makes a very weloomo return after acting on the stage. Mis 3 Ken-n.-tiy is an engaging young Litist, who creates her own atuiv-spnere oi cnarm by her wineoma" personality. 'lnough her lavourite ro.e is in light comedy, last evening in the Paramount picture, "Ihe Purple Highway," she appeared in scenes wiiich, whi.e having the comedy neeessary to relieve the strain involved in watching pure tragedy, were at the same time dramatic and tense. The second feature ia entitled "The Game Chicken," and features Bebe Daniels, 'lhe theme is a modern one, centring round some rumrunning operations in Cuba. There are-also a number of good supporting pictures.