AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18185, 23 September 1924, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

PrCTUKE HOUSES. GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. "ALL THE .BROTHERS WERE VALIANT." A GREAT SEA STORY. A story of the sea which rings true in every scene is contained in the headliner on the new bill at Greater Crystal Palace. Tnis picture has the original title, "All the Brothers Were Valiant," and telb a story of fear and. courage, laughter and tragedy,

which is refreshing in its originality and stirring in its realism. - The scenario is taken from the novel of the same name by Ben Ames Williams, a fiction writer who is

'said to have eome standing in the United States, no is not so well known in this country, but if this picture gives any indication of his worth as a novelist, he is

worth reading. The author- has built up a gripping story on the suVect of courage, taking for his text the motto, "All tho Brothers Were Valiant." The last survavins eon of a family of seafaring men,. Joel Shore, is conscious of the fact that ail ni3 brothers were courageous and met danger and ydeath fearlessly. He has not yet been called uoon to prove h : 3 own courage, and he fears'the test, His greatest fear is. 01 fear—in other words, he is afrnd of provm: cowardly, rather lhan of any unknown danger. The time of testing eventually amvrfl, and he proves his courage to his own satisfaction. With the knowledge comes confidence and he faces the rest of h:s lit: undaunted, knowing thr.t now it can b? wr tten that indeed all tho brothers were valiant. The theme of the play is very powerfully handled and the production prove s that both the a-dthor and Irvin Willat. the director, had a real insight into human nature The storv docs not. by any means, deal solely with the abstract. ■ There is thrilling action in plentv, the scenes aboard the whainc' schooner being full of life and interest. The hunt for whales and the eventual captpre of one of the monster, o£ the deep is in itself an interesting feature, and throughout the play the producer t~s caugbt the real atmosphere of the sea and the men whose lives are spent upon it. An excellent cast interprets" tho story, inc uding B ucn favourite actors as Lon Chaney. Bilhe Love, and Malcolm McGregor. Laura La, Plante is the star of the second big feature, "Young Ideas." This is a brilliant comedy, full of situations which arouse- spontaneous laughter. The popular actress is excellently cast m. the principal 10'e of the girl who discards the yoke 01 family ties to have .just one good time. In b-r homo life she' is surrounded by a family of pessimists-parents, uncle, brother and sister, who each looks at the blue. Bids of things .and imagines' the worst. lne grandmother, " who is ' a ' genuine invalid, with some excuse for. being ead, ies tnj one true optimist in the famil?, and she alone makes the girl's life bearable. By a ruse, the family is deprived of the girl who keeos them going, and left to their own resources. They do ,not die as they «lwavs felt they'should "if she left but on the contrary, learn to. live less.selfishly and uncomplainingly. It is a clever story full of laughs,'and-with much satirical trutn in

'"''There is an excellent supporting pro- ' mmise, including the newest Century coni- .. e-'v the. second chapter of the serial. The : Fiwt Express,".': and . tha ' latefit Internarional' News. • , - ' . ■ As usual, tho Symplon? Orchestra do'lighted all with its programme. The overlure, "William Tell, n waa played from tho sndantina,. and' was given by the, oboe with ' flute obligato in' a masterful manner. ino oboe and flute combination has not been heard locally in tbie .movement for many years. The allegro vivace— the _ battle movement"—was delicately played" in the opening, and finished brilliantly. The Fourth Symphony of the last symphony "the famous composer wrote under the influence of former composers, was another fine; nnmber.f-'The.adagio- was played with breadth, and the brilliant vivace waa splendidly executed. The third movement ia a very indicate number which the orchestra- played well, the trio, which is written in a quieter manner, contrasting strongly with the first subject. The fourth movement, reminiscent of Mozart, waa lightly and appealing? played.: The andante from the symphony •Espagnol (Lalo) was played by Mies Gladys Vincent as a violin solo in an impressive and feeling manner. The "Lilac Time" music, arranged from the works of Schubert, by ' Clutaam » New Zealand--r, was one of the ...gema of the evening. r Tn the Garden 01 -'" 'To-morrow," "Do It Again," "I Wish I Knew," were a few of the many other items. .-. ■-. .■•••;■.■ •:..:' ■

, LIBERTY THE4.TRB*.-. HAROLD LLOYD IN "SAFETY LAST." / '.'A thrill in eveiy foot" describes "Safety Last," starring the bespectacled comedian, Harold Lloyd, now showing to big houses at tie-Liberty Theatre. "Safety Last" is the story of «■ young man who gets a. position in a.drapery establishment (a dry goods ■' eraporiiim.'aß it is called in America), which is situated in. the sky-scraper area of a big cit>\. .Lloyd has numerous opportunities . to show, bu penchant for comedy work in the establishment, which is run ° n strict lines by a harsh management., When ■the shop-assistant is told that a'substantial reward awaits'the man who can attract •huge crowds td: the establishment the fun starts in earnest. Lloyd informs the management that he is- prepared to stage a stunt involving climbing up the side of a tweivc-storeyed building. Tho news, of course, spreading all over the city, is the means of drawing to the scene an enormous concourse of people, including a policeman, who is -determined that the stunt shall not. take place. . Lloyd starts on his climb, the idea being that a substitute will complete it after , Lloyd has clambered up as far as the first floor. But ths policeman, wild at being unable to turn Lloyd from' his purpose, goes inside the building and has a merry time chasing the substitute, who. manages to shout .a word of encouragement to Lloyd, telling him that at the next floor he (tho: substitute) will be able to relieve him. . Such, however, is not to be, and poor Lloyd has to continue his climb until he gets at la3t to the top of the building. Numerous </(3tacles come in hi 3 way, and every few moments it appears that fall,' but he always manages to recover his balance at the psychological moment, and although those watching the film are convulsed with laughter at the comedian's antics, it is with a sigh of relief that' they see him safely on the flat roof of the" building. .* The big" supporting film is "My Old Kentucky Home," which contains » great horse raco as one of its leading features. - The Liberty Quality Orchestra, under Mr Howard Moody, renders a fine programme of overtures and incidental music.

STRAND THEATRE. ■'■ Herbert Kawlinson heads tho present programme at the ' Strand Theatre, in "The Victor." Tho story,. briefly, is as follows: The finaacee of Lord Waring were at a low ebb, and ho suggested that his son, the Hon, Cecil Fitzhugh Waring, go to America wad establish a matrimonial alliance with the daughter of a rich American. Cecil did not like the idea, but went to America with tho idea of seeking a job. One hungry morning ho met Teddy Walters, of a late theatrical job, now broke, but with a couple of doughnuts left, which he gladly shared with Cecil. Then Cecil reached a point where he accepted n: job as waiter. Here, in an impromptu argument, he knocked out n prominent prizefighter. His fistic ability was noticed by an ex-fight promoter, and Cecil became his protege. Tho Britisher finally won the middle-weight crown and paved the family estate just about the time that the 6!d man had' it fixed for the eon to marry ■ the daughter of a chewing gum magnate, but- the son' preferred another title. Hoot Gibson, in "Out of Luck," is the c-ococd feature. The play-ia 'a comedydvama that carries a shipload of laughs. ••Daniel Boone" (final episode), "The Rookies' (Brownie and International Mews complete the bill.

. QUEEN'S THEATRE.. AX ATTRACTIVE BILL. BIG TRAVEL PICTURE. . The usual high standard is more than maintained in the new bill which was presented to crowded houses fit the Queen's Theatre for the first time yesterday, and will continue screening for the remainder of the current week. The programme departs from the usual, in that it includee as the star item a picture of things that are as against the usual type of picture which depicts in some shape or form tho imaginings of one particular person, i.e., the "comedy drama, tho problem play, etc.,

The title of the chief attraction w "Around the World in the Speejaoks." On closer acqaintacce, The Speejacka prove to be a commodious motor yacht,, tho round the world journey of which in 1921 caused such a sensation in the shipping world. The vessel 13 a 98ft trim looking craft, which, although frail, in appearance did the 'l£.°?° mile journey circumnavigating the globe in a manner which more than proved her exceptional stability. The journey itself proved the honeymoon trip of Commodore Albert Y. Gowan of the Cleveland Yacht Club and Mrs and Mr Gowan, of Chicago It was indeed fortunate for the world at large that a cinematograph account of the actual journey should be taken and provided in the nhape of "Around the World m the Sp?ejacks." It is a fi'.m which has a distinct educational value, but it possesses even more than that, because it also includes in it no small amount of good entertainment. The journey commenced from New York harbour on August 21st. 1921, and proceeded down the coast of tno States to Norfo"k. Thence it struck out for Miami, Kingston, Jamaica, and Colon. It sailed through the canal to Panama, and than was started tho 4300 milo trip across the Pacific, visiting en route Tahiti, Samoa, and Kew Cnledoria. Towards the end of January, 1922, the SpeeI'acks arrived in Sydney, and thence proceeded up the coast to Kew Guinea. I Here, in an cut of the way place, the voyagers made the acquaintance of the Bird of Paradise hunters, as do those who are fortunate enough to see the film. They are not prepossessing in appearance, but appear to have been placated somewhat by generous gifts of tobacco, etc. From the Bismark Archipelago the little vessel proceeded to the Admiralty and Hermit Islands, Dutch New Guinea, and the Celebes. Tbert u-j the coast to Java and Sumatra, and 'other ports to Singapore. From hem the return journey was bogun. and the party journeyed to Aden, Suez, Port Said, Alex- , audria, Crete, and Grew, thence up the Mediterranean to Marseilles, Barcelona and Gibraltar. On entering the Atlantic the Soecjacks worked her way to the Canaries and Cape Verde Islands, Sun Juan, Porto Rico, and finallv back to New York, where she arrived on November 30th, 1922. The whole fi'.m is one of quite exceptional interest. It converts a picture audience into a company of globe trotters who do the complete circuit of the earth comfortably in the space of a comparatively few minutes. In support is shown the United Artists' production, "The Girl I Love," starring Charles Ray. The story of the piece is founded on James Whitcombe Riley's poem of the same name, and has a bright background of life among the rural people of Indiana from 1840 to 1860.

An exceptionally fine musical programme is offered in support. The numbers, included' are as follows:—Overture, "Pride of tho Regiment" (Burgess); entr'acte, "Irrawady (Thurban); suite, "Carmen" (Bizet); ballet suite, "La Source" (Delibes); "Three Afri-, can Dances"' (Bing); "Oriental Sketches'' (Lungey); "Appassionato" (Chapelier); "Danube Legends" (Fucik); intermezzo, "Salome" <Loraine); "Crad"e Song!' ' (Hauser); "Andante Cantabile" (Schumann); "Flower Suite" (Benyon); selection, "A Life for the Czar" (Glinka); "Extase" (Ganne); "In a Lotus Field" (Bratton); "Kisme.t" (Markey); : "On , the JJoad. to Za.g-a-zig" (Finck);'. "Meditation" (Pares); "La Morena" (Chaminade) f fox trots,, '.'Somebody Else Walked In" (Berlin); and "Morning Will Come" (Jolsen).

GRAND THEATRE. The Grand Theatre is showing "Safety Last" as the star attraction in this week's programme. The second attraction ia "Conductor 1492." Johnny Hines, of x'orchy fame, is tho spirit and essence of "Conductor 1492." He haa with him r a choice selection .of confreres, upon whose .faces is the indelibio stamp of 'Emerald Isle birth, to say nothing of several quite pretty girls. The dranurtic incident is extremely cleverly worked out, and provides not a little excitement in the course of the screening of'the film. Dealing with the comedy, there is a wealth of wit throughout. The story deals with the adventures of an Irish village lad, who seta out to seek his fortune in the States. He duly arrives at his destination, and finds employment as the con-ductor-driver of a one-man electric tramcur. Ho becomoj quite popular on the road—especially with the ladies, and finally succeeds in rescuing tho son of tho president of his company from beneath the wheelo of his car. The president's pretty daughter appears on the 6cene, and the young Irishman ia introduced into society. All goes well, and the young man secures enough ready money to import his father to America. O/Tcolo senior is as amusing as ljio son, and between them the pair manage to help the president to secure a couple of the company's shares, which give him the controlling power in the trust. Marriage with the president's daughter is inevitable, and tho film closes with a honeymoon scene. The Grand Orchestra, under the conductoi-Bhip of Miss Sjiearaby, plays an excellent incidental programme.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A strong doublesstar bill is being presented at Everybody's Theatre, "Bright Lights of Broadway" and "Tho "Woman on the Jury." Webster Campbell, the director of "Bright Lights of Broadway," has been highly successful in combining m story of strong dramatic interest with a convincing representation of the lure of New York's far-famed theatrical centre. Tho CabaTet scenes, in which the Beauty Chorus of the New York Hippodrome and the sixteen Tiller girls from the Ziegfeld "Follies" are featured, are brilliant presentations of scenes of gaiety that are noteworthy for tho pleasing artistic effects obtained. Doris Kenyon is charmingly effective as the heroine. Harrison Ford, who personates the young is highly Buccesstul, ©specially in the prison scenes when awaiting his execution—a happening that is preventsi by the heroine's adroitness in securing a confession of guilt from the villain of the stpry. Lowell J. Sherman, whose work in D. W. Griffith's "Way Down East" will bo recalled, is Kendall Sherrill, the theatrical producer and the villain. To Claire Dolorez falls tho part of Connie King, tho musical comedy star, and she gives a finely balanced rendering of the character. Sylvia Breamer, that charming exponent of emotional characters, and Frank the ideal hero of many a pleasurable drama, are featured in "The Woman on the Jury." The Topical Budget, which rounds off an excellent programme, is noteworthy for its pictures of the English Derby. The popular orchestra, ui'der Mr W. J. Bellingham, F.S.M., support's the pictures with artistic inierpretat.ons of appropriate selections and, as usual, receives an encore for its overture and entr'acte.