GRAND THEATRE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18266, 27 December 1924, Page 14

GRAND THEATRE.

"THE ILL* OF TUB FOREST" AND '•THE SHRIEK OP ABABY."

At tho Grand Theatre to-day Carl Gaatyourt, big, clean, manly and virile, makes one of the screen's finest romantic heroes aa he is seen in "The Man or the Forest," from the novel by Zinc Grey, in which he plays "Milt Dale," tho title role. A trained lion ta-ke.? a bLg- part in. the picture. It is eeen as the pct> of tho hero, who has tne task of nonchalantly petting the animal in certain scenes. In otilers it is seen slink.1 in fy through. tlx© forest softer it 3 owner, iLkc a dog that has been told to stav at home j and is dtaobeying. It ehows its distaste for 1 3, certain friend of the hero 1)\ growling and spitting at him, and finally springs upon one of the villains. There is a love story running' through, the picture, which is played by & Terv strong oast, which in addition to Carl Gantvoort, includes Claire Adams, Robert McKnn, Jean Hersholt, Harry Lorjvnie Eugenia Gilbert, 1 rank Huyes, Charlotte Pierce, Charles Murphy, Frederick Starr and Tote du Crow. The second attraction will be " Shriek of Araby," a Mack Sennett comedy feature, wUh Ben Turpin, the cross-eyed comedian, in tho leading role. In the iirst place, the story is extremely funny. and affords much opportunity lor a \ariety of action. The atmosphere throughout naturally lends itself to the romance called for in the plot, while the interior and exterior sets are not only bea,utirul, but convincing. Sennett carries the spectator's interest in his players from somewhere in America out into the broad expanse of tho ocean where they see Turpin thrown overboard Tliev follow him and sympathise with' him in "ins struggles against the waves in a frail canoe, and are happy when ho i* washed up on shore, even if it is tho cdsre of an arid desert. It takes five reels I to iell the ackventures of Turpin, but those five reels aro crammed full or a new brand cf riotous comedy with many thril.s, and with here and there touches of real-drama, to say nothing of the T ! ? las f few feet of "The Shnek of Araby will send everybody who sees it on their homeward way with a "smilo that won't come off. Ben Turpin is ably supported by McGuiro in tho leading feminine role, while Geor"o Cooper, Dick Sutherland, Kay Grc> and Ws Fronde, among them, work no msuiv humorous situfl-tions. \n attractive musical programme will be vd-'iveJ bv the Grand) .Orchestra-, under tho Sion'of Miss A. Sliear&by, A.1.C.L., L.A.B. greater crystal palace. JOHNNY HINES IN "LL'CK." RICHARD TALMADGE IN "ON TIML. "The Unknown," "Quincy Adams Sawyer, ' and current fine programme of motion pictures will be shown at Greater Crystal Palaco for the last timo this afternoon and to-night, and the world-famous Svmpliony Orchestra, ucder the distinguished conductorship of Mr Alfred J. Bum, will play at both sessions. The manager of Greater Crystal Palace, Mr V. M. Beebe, has arranged a big holiday pioramrae for next week, commencing Mondav° It is headed' by a picture which has been heralded as the biggest laugh-getter of the season. This picture, "Luck,' is a belznick attraction, and has Johnny Hines and Violet Mersereau in tho leading rolos. I his is the first time these two young and equally famous screen stars have worked together in a picture. The event is particularly auspicious, as it marks the reappearance on the screen of Miss Mersereau, who has been in i-etiremin-t for the last year devoted to the study of the screen art. Mr Hines, who is as well-known on the stage as on the screen, is said to ho devoting himself to pictures exclusively now, and will continue the policy of making feature comedy productions. "Luck" is the third full-length screen cliaractevisation which, this versatile young man has attempted following tho amazing popularity ho gained upon the release of the now famous "Torcliy" series of two-reel comedies. The first two were called "Burn 'l'-m Up Barnes," and "Sure Fire Flint," both of which scored instant success all over the world. New York critio3 have compared Johnny Hines'o work to that of Lloyd, but Hines'a work cannot bo compared to that of any other. He is as individual as Lloyd or Chaplin. That's as far as any comparison can bo made. Hines has developed & comedy technique all his own, andi it 'is bearing fruit, as his growing popularity attests. "On Time," at once a supremely thrilling and boisterously, funny photoplay, with Eichard Talmadge, the dare-devil performer of death-defying etunts, in the leading role, is the second big picture on tho new programme. "On Time" is an exceptionally vivid melodrama of startling motives and decidedly weird action, which verges at times into uproarious fajce. It deals with tho -uncertain and much-crossed road to success oi Harry "Willis, a young man of pluck and ambition, aa played by Richard Talmadge. Naturally there is a girl, the same one, at the beginning and at the end of the young man's adventures. In the unfolding of thrilling events there is a capture of the girl by Chinamen, and a sensational rescue in their den, wliere the hero fights. singlehanded against the entire tong. Richard Talmadgo performs the full quota of startling stunts, such as a jump from the top of a telegraph pole, seven storeys in the air, to tho roof of an adjoining house. Supporting the stunt king in "On Time" are such well and favourably known players as Billio Dove, playing the leading female role, George Sieginan, Stuart Holmes, Tom Wilson, Charles Clary, and Douglas Gerard. Besides the two maiiji pictures, there is a very funny Century comedy and the latest, International News film. Following the established custom, particulars of next week's magnificent musical programme will be announced in Monday's newspapers. The boxi plan is at The Bristol, or seats may be reserved by telephoning Greater Crystal Palace, number 3758. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "TIGER LOVE" AND "KISSES." Tho new programme to bo presented at the Quean's Theatre next week, beginning Monday, should bo an exceptionally goou one. Two splendid features will bo ehown, one a Paramount production, and the other a Metro attraction. A popular light opera, "The AVild Cat," by ilanuel Pencils, dealj ing with the winning of a proud daughter oi tho Spanish artistocracy by a dashing I bandit of the Robin Hood type, who steals ' from tho rich and gives to the pour, has i been used by George Melford as the basis I for hia Paramount production "Tiger Love." ! An attractive feature of this picture is its j picturesque settings and the manner iu ; which Mr Melford has duplicated tho colourj ful atmosphere, of Spain. This furnishes an ideal background lor the exceedingly romantic story, and the effect is heightened by the presence of Antonio Moreno and Estelle Taylor. Moreno's personality fits nicely into the character of the gentlemanly bandit, whilo Miss Taylor's dark-eyed beauty suits the role of tho Spanish heroine. Among the delightful and artistic scenes in this picture are attractive shops, representing the Spanish hills, the mountain renchzvous of the bandits, the picturesque village street with the quaint old Spanish houses and the big mob scenes in front of tho cathedral. This latter introduces a thrill in which a dozen or more men on horseback ride madly dov.-n the steps. The action is rapid and combined with the picturesque of the production, the glamour of tho story, and the colourful atmosphere and the excellent work of the cast, makes this picture one of the best productions seen for some considerable timeThe second attraction will be a Metro production, entitled "Kisses," in which Alice Lake is featured. It is a delightful story, highlv romantic, and instead of dealing with the romantic anjile. which the title suggests, is of commercial life, in fact, a- large factory, wlxvre sweeps avc munufactured and one of tho leading lines being "Kisses." A supporting programme that will be found to be well varied and highly interesting contains a sparkling comedy, the latest P*r.imount Gazette and a Burton Holmes Travelogue A delightful programme of incidental music Will be played l?y the_ Queen's Orchestra, under tie direction of Mr H. Ellwood.