AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18456, 10 August 1925, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

PICTURE HOUSES.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE.

SPECIAL CARNIVAL ATTRACTIONS. ■mE MAN WHO FIGHTS ALONE," AND ■ "ONE WAY STREET." Man Who Fights Alone," the star attraction at Everybody's Theatre all this commencing at the matinee tois William Farnum's first starring production for Paramount. It is a big picture in awry sense of the word—story, cast, etar ,11 top-notchers. There's not a doubt but William Farnum is the most popular Vmtein star in motion pictures to-day. In ' production he is supported by Lois WiUon and Edward Horton and a big cast, includes, among other big najnes,. Vjjnei Beftnore, Dawn O'Day, and Georgs ' Trrimf. etory has to do with a civil Mineer and his band of empire builders— J*!ort of advance guard of civilisation which ta oreparing the great Western vastness teihe endless tide of humaoity which is to fellow. It's a story of a strong man's Mrt wainst great obstacles—both physical Ud mental, the' kind of Btory with which fvrnum'fl name has become associated—a Jvj* „{ the great outdoors, a real man's ■JJL with a delightful love theme running thSaghout—a romantic 6tory cf love and that will restore your faith, in pictures as a medium of loth inaction and entertainment. Comedy ? £■£ of it to relieve the strain of vho heavier scenes. Actions! Thrills! This is greatest Farnum picture, of them all, ml you know what that means! is th© latest, word to be liftMi ont of mythology and inscribed by science on tbe scroll# of certified reality. A new sbue of this scientific accomplishment has Len caoelit and turned to dramatic use to "One Way . Street," the latest First National production, which ie the supporting attraction on the programme. This ingenious dramatic offering i g an adaption of Beale Davis's novel, "One Way Street," which is one of tbe best selling novels of the current period. It is built around the rejuvenation of an English opera singer,: once a world-famed beauty, who returns with her youth restored by (cience .gain to lay siege w the supremacy of a scriety which threw her aside when ■he grew old. Ben. Lyon and Anna Q. VilMon have the stellar roles, with a. supporting cast including Marjorie Daw, Lumst 'den Hare. Thomas Holding. Dorothy Cumnin* Jed Prouty, and Mona Kingsley. John Francis Dillon directed the produc- - tioo. The climax of the startling etory involves the effect of a violent on the beautiful woman, at the moment she finda her great ambitions, 'her most brilliant sue- | oew, crashing'to destruction because o! < jealousy over a young man. A splendid musical programme will be given by Everybody's "Select Orchestra; under the conductorship of Mr W. J. Bellineham F.S.M. Chief am<mg the itema are th? foUowii!g:-Overtnre, "Hands Across the 'Sea" (Smwa); swtes, - Woodland Sketches . (MacDowell), "Peer Gynt' (Grieg); ballet music, "La Farandole (Dubois); onera, "LaKabanera" (Cambon);, symphony Military" (Havdn); entr'acte. Spirit of America" .Zamechik): selection, "Lilac Time" (Cluston); fox-trot, The One I " Love" (West). . . , , , Reserved eeate as usual may be booked ■either at Tha Bristol <ff hy telephomng - <925.

GRAND THEATRE.

. V " V THE BWAN" AND "IN" SEARCH OF:, ■ , " A THRILL." Paramount is responsible for "The Swan," ( featuring Ad<?lphe Menjou, which opened at! . : the' Grand Theatre;on Saturday. In this - '.'jMnre Menjou' plays the part of a suave. • prince, 'With his usual ', perfection. As r Prince Albert, heir-apparent to one of the '•Bloat powerful thrones in Europe, he gives a characterisation. The role is that of - son of royalty whosp mother to arrange a match for' him with the! Princess Alexandra of a neighbourftjU principality. Frances Howard, plays the |fpnnceas, and it is interesting to note that ' it Is'her first appeftTande as' a screen star. ' " Rlcardo Certez has the role of the tutor to the 'princess and Alexandra's, brothers. He ■'f is in love with the princess, but realises the f:'. great gulf that separates them, and does ' not speak his mind.. Albert shows no interest at all in Alexandra, and' is >ledi away > --{a disgiat'by hia-mother.when he is Jcrand < , •parrying' xm. A fliitation with j one of . the ' of '.This lady's played by Helen Lee Wortfiing, of „ jthe. jZiegfeld, Follies. Carrying out the bell*£ [that no one can impersanate royalty to " tettto effect than royalty itsef, Dimitri • ' "BWjEowetsJri secured tho services of several (titled personages for the court ball and other IPUOtiona of State in "The Swan." The prin- - i« shown aa a reserved, cold, unemowoman, hiding her heart under a ,sfiSuc of conventionality. The dramatic simax to thfc' story is one that will be long „ S&Wimberid. %'ip ß second attraction on the bill is "In , .JBtWoh a Thrill" (Metro), in which the Viola Dana is featured. The pic- " <s»s-contain* in its action all the colonr, *|ffv»city, and exciting romance of the gay Paris. In concerns the adventures girl whose thirst for thrills is so xjgjftgaenchable that she gets into all sorts of scrapes. The action principally • her efforts to get out of them, and is j r|fnlh of genuine laughs. itjTJia topical is en unusually interesting showing as it does the arrival of the jgamjrioan ftaet in Sydney and the landing of jwSilttiral Robison, also the salute taken by jJfflWjGovernor-General during the inarch past jCgHjSetis, marines, and; sailors. The comgazette aje on an equally high plane . {he. star attraction, new Grand Orchestra, under Mr 'ii««lhur Gordon's direction, was attain responfor some very fine work. Tho musical Jajoingfor the big picture was chosen with - and played with refinement. i Wnong the most interesting numbers were: .Swan" (S,aint Saens),,i "Henry VIII. gSmm**'.. (Saint' Saens), "L'arlesienne" (Bizet), g.ME«)cessional" (Wagner), "Marche Militaire" The entr'acte, 'Turned Up," popular and had to be repeated.

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACIS. HOOT GIBSON IN "LET 'ER BUCK." MARGUERITE CLAYTON AND GEO. CHESBRO IN "WOLF BLOOD." Moat every motion picture theatre patron has been tantalised by news of things that happened at some ono of the ■various annual rodeos and round-ups, participated in by the beat the country produces in the way of cowboys, "bad" horses u er elenaent » that go to make tk>™ CV t v! 4 most ,. drilling of exhibi- , • , such tantalised persons it will p .fj** 1 . new ® to hear that Greater Crystal Palaca is showing, this week, a motion picture replete with all the excitement of a t a^Li° Und " UP '- beßideß telhn B an /entertaining convincing etory of the "West. The picture 13 'Let 'Er Buck," a Universal special, V ith Hoot Gibson as star, anda f", company, who do much to aid in placing a severe tax on the emotions. 1 . r ?? phase of the picture is exp "Jf d by fact that it was filmed in Pendleton, Oregon, while that city's famous annual carnival of cattle range sports was pTogzeßß - These round-up contests are £nm riF ar i w ?,- Btory which waa adapted C %Y lea Wellington Furlong's famous • Alle combination was a very happy one, for some years ago Hoot Gibson waa 1 j ol ?P e titor of the Western sports circuit and in 1912 .he won, at PendMon, the all around championship. In "Let 'Er »ucit ( - Hoot plays the part of Bob Carson. When the story opens he is a cowboy on a big cattle ranch in Texas. A romance has sprung ujf between Hoot and the ranch owners daughter, played admirably by Thiß earn 9 {or Hoot the enmity of the foreman. Through a, scheme of the latter, Hoot is made to believe he * " val - He flees and beats his y as far as Pendleton, where most of the action of the picture takes place. From then n the story blends into the real round-up contests. There is an engaging plot, and a love. interest augmented by the arrival at r'endJeton of Hoot'a former employer, daueher and all. Besides Miss Nixon and Miss J osie Sedgwick, Hoot is supported by a cast that includes G. Raymond Nye, Charles o e ° ch ' Fred Humes aid William Steele, under Edward Sedgwick's direction. As an interlude to the pictures Signor Preboni Hansen, the celebrated Danish our t singer, will present a selection from grand opera. at each night session do luxe. Signor Hansen is one of the finest flexible tenor singers who has ever graced a Christchurch platform, and it 13 expected that large crowds will avail themselves of the opportunity of hearing this artist of worldwide fame.

| A great surgeon saved the life of Dick Bannister by blood transfusion with a wolf. Taunted by stories told that he is now halfman, half-beast, Bannister suffers halucinationa, and jn a delirium dashes off to join an imaginary phantom wolf-pack.' How the love of a girl wins him back to sanity is the basis of a particularly clever picture, "Wolf Blood," in which Marguerite Clayton and George Chesbro are starred. "Wolf Blood" -is the second big picture on the new programme. Besides the two main pictures there is a very funny Century comedy and the latjat International News film.

Incidental to and in conjunction with the screening of tho various motion pictures, the world-fa-mous Symphony Orchestra, under tjio distinguished conductorsfoip of Mr Alfred J. Bun',, will present a magnificent musical programme, which includes the following classical and popular numbers:—Overture, "Zampa" (Herald)" Symphony in G" (Haydn); "Hunor&rian Dance" rßrahms); "Peer Gynt Suite" (Grieg); "Norwegian Dances" (Grieg); "Suite" (Guirind'l; "Carnival" (Bing); "Smiles" .(Somerville); "A New Kind of Man" (Clare); "Where The La*v Daisies Grow" (Priend). The box plan is at The Bristol or seats may be reserved by telephoning' Greater Crystal Palace, number 3758.

QUEEN'S THEATRE.

"THE MARRIAGE MARKET," A SUPERSPECIAL. BUCK JONES IN "WINNER TAKE ALL." The new programme to be presented at the QQueen's Theatre to-day is one of exceptional entertainment merit and contains two attractions, either being worthy, to head any bill. In addition there will be a good supporting. programme, while incidental music will bo played by the Queen's Orchestra. First and foremost in this programme is "The Marriage Market," which has created a sensatipn wherever it has been screened. It is claimed to contain every element that makes a picture worth seeing. The Btory is a popular one, while there are pretty women, thrilling episodes, comedy, and a love romance that has been treated in a different manner to the usual photoplay. "The Marriage Market," written by Evelyn Campbell, is a superb treatise on modern 'marriage. The author contends that , marriage is-, a .market in which the prettiest face and form, and the most charming'personality gets the highest price. The story centres around' ah 'attractive young girl who is sent to a fashionable "finishing school" to be prepared for marriage, but because, of her impulsive nature is hurled into « series of entanglements and barely escapes in time to prevent burning her fingers. Pauline Oaron, as the iriesponsible young daughter, is adorable. Miss Oaron ?>ossesses a wardrobe which will delight the eminine portion of the audience. Alice Lake, the popular-young star, has an important part in the picture. The second attraction is a dynamic drama of western manhood and eastern temptations, entitled "Winner Take All,' 'in which Buck Jones is featured. . This'- picture is claimed to be the 1 - star's - best effort to date, and is full of action from beginning to end. He does superbly., his old western stuff that has gained him mitlions of friends, and at the same lime introduces something quite new as a cowboy in that he. battles his way to heavy-weight honours. He is then beaten by the fast pace set by the big cities. He loses the girl he is madly in love with. After roaming the country and meeting with plenty of adventure he again fights to the top of the tree and wins the girl of his heart. The supports include "Blue Blood," a comedy, "Dancing Girls of India," an educational subject, and the latest Fox News.

LIBERTY THEATRE.

FOUR FINE ATTRACTIONS. A PLEASING PROGRAMME. Outside—rain, wind, nnd sleet. Inside comfort, warmth, and pleasure. This W3S the contrast noticed and commented upon by the hundreds of patrons vrho fouail their ■way to the Liberty Theatre on Saturday night to witness the initial night screening of the new programme. "Cornered/' a Master picture, is tne headliner on the current hill. It is an exciting mystery story with romance and in* trigue* aplenty. The leading role is a dual characterisation—that of twin sisters. The sisters live in different parts of the world: ono in poverty and the other in wealth, and each does not know of the other's existence. The tale begins to more when the discovery is made by the leading figures of Chinatown that a certain heiress resembles one of their 'crooked" pals, who i 3 in reality sister of the heiress. Complications and excitement arise when the girl of Chinatown is sent to the house of the heiress, who departed on a tour, and established herself in. the mansion as its mistress. And then there comes the real difficulty when the heiress returns, for she taken for a thief and an impostor, while the girl from Chinatown stands by and de* that she-is the mistress. Smashing is the climax which follows when it discovered that the girls are sisters, ending pleases everybody. Marie Provost, who plays the part of both sisters, is seen at her best, for she plays each role with style and finish. Chosen, as it has been, with discretion, the rest of the cast is good. John Roche, Rockliffe Fellowes, Raymond Hatton, Wilfred Lucas, and Cissy Fitzgerald are included in it.

Speed, dash, action, and excitement permeate every scene of "Prehistoric Hayseeds," a Beaumont Smith (Australian) production, which is second on the programme. In popular parlance, this picture is a scream. It tells how a young, ambitious student discovered the entrance into a bidden and fertile valley, where dwelled the last "remnants" of a prehistoric and Queer, race. And then the student and others had these prehistoric cavemen and women transported to the modern city of Sydney, whew they beheld many strange and weird things. Saturday night's audience literally "brought the house down" with roars of laughter. Third on the programme is a fine film of the arrival of the American Fleet in Sydney. This depicts the Ships being led into the harbour under aerial escort, the landing of Admiral Robison, ; who is in command of the Fleet, the salute taken by the Governor-General, and the march past of the visiting officers, marines, and sailors. Supporting these three features is the much heralded and long-looked-for film of Christchurch screen tests. The results (or rather the best of the results) made at the Liberty Theatre by Beaumont Smith, the Australian producer,, have arrived, and those who saw them on Saturday night were highly delighted. The Liberty Quality Orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr Howard Moody, supplies a magniflcen.t programme of music. The entr'acte this week is the popular medley which introduces many well-known American tunes. The Sw'annee Whistle was introduced effectively in' "Swanee River." A fine selection pf Sullivan's most popular songs proved a great favourite; it introduced numbers from .the "Gondoliers" and "Mikado," "lolanthe," and "Pirates of Penzance." Two new foxtrots introduced this week are "Counting the Days" (Onslow) and "Not Yet Suzette" (Burnett). A charming French suite, "Les Beaux" (Dimanches), was played for the first time here. It is of a dainty light character, and its four movements received a charming interpretation. A selection of Mendelssohn songs without words was another popular number. Other numbers include:—Musical comedy, "Oh, oh, liolphine"; overture, "Libella" (Reisseger); violin .solo, "Andante'- (Grieg); suite, "Scheherazade" (Rimsky-Korsakoff); grand opeTa. "Le Cid" (Massenet); fantasie, "Idyll au Moulin" (Popy).

STRAND THEATRE.

"THE MAD WHIRL" AND "THIS FAST STEPPERS." Opening at the Strand Theatre on Saturday to good audiences were "The Mad Whirl"and "The Fast Steppers." The former stars May • MacAvoy and Jack Mulhall. The magnificent summer residence district not far , from New .York was the home of the Herrington ' family, father, mother," and' son.' But to their friends it waß known : as "The Herrington Road House," for its doors were ever open, and they knew exactly what to do with the contents of the well supplied cellar. In this jazz-mad age the Herrington parents had conceived the idea that by opening their home to the friends of their children they could forestall certain evil influences, ° but the parents found themselves swept into riotous living. The clean love of the daughter of a former saloon keeper for the Herrington's son, and the scathing condemnation of the girl's father, brought an awakening that effectively closed '"The Herrington Road House '' and brought back to sanity this family that is so representative of innumerable families throughout the .United States in this day and generation. "The Fast Steppers," based, on "The Information Kid" series of racing stories by Gerald Beaumont, ' is ' continued, the title of this week's offering being "Tho Empty Stall." "Baby Doll,", starring Wands Wiley, "The. Riddle Rider," and International News, complete the programme.