AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18397, 2 June 1925, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

PICTURE houses. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A PROGRAMME WHICH PLEASES. SPLENDID PICTURES—DELIGHTFUL MUSIC. Once again the two out-standing features at Everybody's Theatre arc splendid pictures and delightful music. The largo and appreciative audience which witnessed the initial night cession yesterday expressed itsell, by its spontaneous applause, as being highly delighted with the new bill. "Unguirded "Women," billed as being "Paramount'* big super special," is headliner cn tho current programme. It is well known hew patrons wero captivated by "Sinners in Heaven," which was screened nt Everybody a Theatre a lew weeks ago, but it is safe to predict that- "Unguarded Women' will be witnessed by even larger crowds. Richard DL\, Bebo ' Daniels, and Mary Astor aro the featured players. The tale is a fascinating ono of tho Orient. All tho glamour of the East has been caught and held in this story, which is full of the loves and intrigues of ancient China. The setting? and tho quaint costuming aro all that could bo desired. The tale tells of life in Peking, and deals with the white population there. It shows a man's great struggle to redeem a woman's soul. One Eces a soldier cf tho war return and' go to distant Poking. There he finds a certain Mrs Banning, whoso gallant husband had died in tho war, and, holding himself responsible for the death of Captain Banning, the young hero ondeavours to make a.mcnds by introducing her into his circle of friends. But Mrs Banning had lost tho rcfp&ct of tho foreign population because of her disregard for convention. She lilted to be free to do ma she pleased, and thus her friends deserted her and she drifted. Tho young soldier set himself the task of bringing her back to her original social standing. He smashes his engagement with a beautiful girl and announces his intention to wed the widow, but- then death claims Mrs Banning with a, result that tho ending is unusual.

Mystery, excitement, dash, find speed are all thrown together in "Red Lights," a thrilling First National picture, which rivals "Unguarded Women" for pride of placo on the Dill. "Rod Lights" proved last night to be one of tho fastest things of its kind yet eeen at Everybody's. Right from the first flash to tho final fado out it holds the audience in a firm embrace. Any audience that has become tired of jazz parties and flappers aa thev aro presented on current celluloid, should react to this oul-and-cut melodrama, with its villains, "cut-ups," aweot girl heroines, and dauntless heroea. It is filled with melodramatic sparks and strikes a good climax. Nearly all the action takes place in a private and mysterious car on a transcontinental railway, where men appea,r through the floor and tho body of a murdered man vanishes into thin air. "Rod Lights" is dashingly played by Alice Lake, Johnny Walker, Marie Prevost, and Raymond Unffitn. There is also the usual supporting programme. Everybody's "Select" Orchestra provided a delightful programme. The overture, was "Folie Bergere" (Fletcher). "Mystery" (Baynes) was suitable to "Red Lights," a myatery picture. A selection from the review "Puppets" by Nollo was also played. "Danse Maccabre" (St. Saens) was splendidly interpreted, the strings being particularly brilliant. The entr'acte was "Everything is K. 0.," a cleverly orchestrated piece by Whiting. As an accompaniment to "Unguarded Women" a selection, "Schorubin" (Massenet) was also plfi-yed, and "The C Sharp Minor Waltz" (Chopin) followed it. Brahms' suite of waltzes "Uermania" and "Prelude" (Rachmaninoff) were also played during tho screening of the big picture. The most popular item was the string solo, "Kol |Nidrei" (Max Buroh), arranged alternately for violin and 'cello. Misses D. and N. Middleton obtained an excellent tone in this number.

QUEEN'S THEATRE,

HARRY CAREY IN "CANYON OF THE FOOLS." "DAUGHTERS OF THE NIGHT." "A collection of soul-stirring pictures" is the way the advance notices described the programme screened at the Queen'a Theatre for the first time yesterday. It certainly contains more thrills and sensational "stunts" than half a dozen ordinary bills. Both of the main attractions aro startling dramas, guaranteed to hold the interest irorii start, to finish. The first is a rugged story of tho Western States, entitlod "Canyon of the Foote," and featuring Harry Carey. The Fox Corporation is represented by an unusual dmma, "Daughters of tho Night,'" and tho Bupports are all worth seeing. Delightful xnuaio* is played by the Queen'a Superb Orchestra.

Excitement and suspense are two attractive elements in "Canyon of the Fools," which, ins a surging, pulsating action that rushes along to one of the greatest climaxes ever thrown on the screen. Harry Carey has long made a specialty of risking liia neck for tho delectation of motion picture devotees, but it is doubtful if he has ever faced death more frequently than in his latest and greatest Western dramn. Always a paragon of speed and daring, he has a role that suits him perfectly in the story of tho Far West from the pen of Richard Mathews H-lllet. A cowboy with a wanderJust in his veins makes hiß way to a mining town called. Madcap. Hye ho becomes entangled in a series of adventures that move as Bwiftly as chain lightning and culminate in a rousing climax. There is considerable mystery in the picture, which concerns a neglected gold mine. Somo of the bigscenes are a'huge dam bursting with thousands of tons of water rushing down a valley and destroying a town, a duel with machine-guns, and a gigantic explosion that wrecks riiany buildings. "Daughters of the Night" is tho latest epooial produced by Fox, and it is an enthralling mystery play. It is a moat thrilling and exciting story of the telephone service in one. of the big cities of America. A •gripping tale has been woven Tound one o: the girl operators, which is right off the beaten track of pictures. One of the bi? sequences of the story, which it based-upon fact and thrillinglv enacted, is the pursuit and capture of a band of bank robbers, fleein" in a high-power motor-car, all accomplished through the telephone by a pretty and courageous girl. The supporting programme includes a clever comedy, an educational, and the. latest Gazette. Incidental music is p'.ayed by the Queen's Orchestra, under the direction, of Mr H. Ellwocd.

STRAND THEATRE. An unusually interesting bill at the Strand Theatre is headed by Shirley Mason in "Loyo Letters." It is a romance "of vouthfu'. folly, with a strong vein of mystery. Shadowy fi<*ures glide about a darkened house, looking for a hidden bos which holds precious secrets in the shape of love letters. Suddenly there is a crash of shaitored glass, a moan, the bumping struggle of bodies, several shrieks echoing and re-echoing, then stillness. But beneath a'.l the mystery is a lovo story, of drcama and songs of happy hours and high romance. Shirley Mason is moat ably supported by Gordon Edwards. Mat)' Philbin in "The Gaiety Girl," "Wolves of the North," a comedy, and u News complete the programme. GRAND THEATRE. "Bigger and befcer TTian 'The Covered Waggon'," is how "North of 3G" has been described by competent critics. Everyone who remembers the epic success or "The Covered Waggon - ' will appreciate the boldness o: that claim, but it is fairly sa/e to say that after they have seen its successor, they will hold it justified. Emerson Hough wrote both atoriee and Paramount has converted them into wonder Sims. ".North of :!(j" i 3 a stirring picture of pioneer days in Texas, and it i 3 interpreted by a wonderful cast, including Jack Holt, Lois Wilson, Ernest Tonence, and Noah Beery. Johnny Mines, one of the merriest comedians on the screen, has n role, that was evidently made for him in a bubbling comedy entitled "Liltle Johnny Jones."

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. A FIXE DOUBLE BILL. PICTURES AND MUSIC DE LUXE. One o: the most remarkable features in connexion with the motion picture industry is its infinite variety. After two decades o: plot production—and ndaptation—one would naturally assume that thoso responsible lor the screen stories would have reached a "saturation point"—that nothing fresh would bo left for their studios and clicking cameras. Those who make a week'.;.- visit to Greater Crystal Palace, however, know thai this L 3 fir from being the known, of course, that the* management of this fine theatre has ar. almost uncanny "flair" for securing something out of tho ordinary—hence the large attendance which invariably patronises tho first night, and subsequent nights, c: each week's programme.

This week the programmo is an unusually interesting one, with not a dull moment from the first title til! "finis" flashes across the silvcrshret at tho conclusion of the last spool. Of the two hip features —"The Slanderers,' 1 and "Free Air, 1 ' it would be difficult to say which is the better. Both are particularly brilliant photoplays, with pupping stories, splendidly unfolded, and ch>ir-' acterised throughout by superlative photography. "The Slanderers" is a Universal production, directed by that master of filmcraft, Xat Ross. The story is a comprehensive one, centring round a typical family located on a small farm somewhere in the heart of the U.S.A. Tho threo points of the inevitable human triangle are two brothers and a foster sister. Both, of course, Tovo the girl, and it seems a difficult problem, until the last, reel of the picture, as to who will ultimately win her. One oi the brothers answers the call to arms when America entered tho Great War, and wins glory for himself and his home town. During his absence hia brother is wrongfully fuspected of a £f murder, and is treated almost as a pariah by his fellowtownsfolk. Tho return of tho warrior, however, leads to an unexpected development in affairs all round, and tho knotty problem is soon straightened out and ends with wedding bells for all parties. Johnnie "Walker has the role of tihe older brother, whi!6 tho younger brother is capably acted by Billy Sullivan. Gladys Hulette makes a splendid heroine, and/ tho subsidiary parts are enacted by an all-atar cast of exceptional ability. There is some excellent comedy work running throughout tho story, provided by two clever juveniles—Jackie Morgan and Turner Savago. "Free Air" is a Selznicl: feafuro._ It is an adaptation from the Sinclair Lewis of the. same name, which ran serially in the Saturday "Evening Post." It is an E. H. Griffiths production, and is set in Bomo wonderful North American scenery. Tlv> hero is the proprietor of a ■ "wayback" garage who turns up time after timo the right moment to succ-our a wealthy Wall Street financier and his daughter—ultimately •being received into their family and winning tho hand of tho very charming daughter. Thoso who like thrills will find ylentv of them in "Free Air." There are soma daredevil motoring "stunts," including tho driving of a motor-car over a, sheer precipice hundreds of feet high. ( Tom Douglas, tho hero of tho ftory, plays a splendid part throughout and keeps the audience on edge with excitement every lime he appears with his racing- car. Marjorio Seaman, who is cast as the leading lady, has also an arduous part, which site enacts with . are charm and ability. "Free Air" is a picture not to be missed by thoso who enjoy a tattling good drama of tli-5 open air, with plenty of action, a really good plot, superb settings, and euper-exoellenr. photography. Tho supporting programme i 3 of a high order. Jack Dempsey appears in the seventh of tho famous and Win" pictures, and provides plenty of thrills for thoso who enjov melodrama. There is also a very funny Century comedy and tho latest International News film. As usual, tho musical portion of the programme is of a very high order. Under Air Alfred Bunz, the Symphony Orchestra continues to sot the standard for incidental music for motion picture theatres. The overture tliis week is Ambrose Thomas's overture to "Raymond," a brilliant work, which was brilliantly played, notably the intricate passages for the strings in tho andante movement. A suite by Edouard Lalo was full of interest, tho wood wind in this number being particularly good. A suite from tho ballet "Le Fete Chez Therese" (Reylialdo Hahn) was another interesting number full of cliarming effeots, particularly iu tho sprightly second movement and in the subsequent "valse lentc, where the time is syncopated in a very interesting manner. In the selection from M.ascagni's "Iris," MiFrancis Bate woo heard to advantage in a beautiful 'cello solo. A new number to tho orchestra—Haydn Wood's "Evening Song," gave the oboe an excellent opportunity to display bis undoubted capabilities on this difficult instrument. interesting numbers on tho musical programmo were "Valse des Cloches," with boll effects, and a composition by Gabriele-Marie,. with a charming violin solo, beautifully played by Miss Gladys Vincent.

/ LIBERTY THEATRE.

A delightful farce about a. flying "expert" who has never controlled a "joy-stick" is Going Up," and the picture is so excellently produced that it is a riotous laugh from start to finish. "Going Up" was built solely for laughing purposes, and it hits the bull's-eye squarely. It is funny from beginning to end, without a single lagging scene. The screen story might well serve as n model for comedy producers. It i 3 unusually coherent, filled with suspense and excitement, while the laugh-provoking situations convert a pretty drama into a riotous comedy. Mis.} Phyllis Massey, the popular New Zealand soprano, makes a first appearance in NewZealand since her return from Australia after an absence of three years. here under the advico of Dam© Clara Butt, Miss Massey studied under the guidance of Mr Roland Foster, the celebrated vocal export. The supports are good and the music played by the Liberty Quality Orchestra, excellent.