AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18547, 24 November 1925, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

PICTURE HOUSES. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. AX.VA Q. XILSSOX AXD LEWIS STOKE IN "THE TALKER." "NELLIE THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL." Nowadays many women elsiai for their ttx teats in Parliament and more freedom in women'-; lives just as years ago they demanded votes. And mostly they aro women fairly advanced in years and seldom married. In comparatively few occasions is the advocate for a <modified social system a young, beautiful, and happily married wife. This, however, happens in "The Talker," First National's latest offering, which drew a large audience to Everybody's Theatre .last evening. As may be gathered from the preceding paragraph, "The Talker" deals with an unusual theme, and it deals with it in a remarkably attractive manner. This play had a • great run in the U.S.A. a few seasons ago, when Marion Fairfax wrote it for the • stage. Beautiful Anna Q. Nilsson and that sncc'cssful' actor, Lewis Stone, play the principal roles, and of the supporting players particular mention should bo made of the splendid comedy work of Tully Marshall. This elderly actor has been seen in many and diverse roles, and in each one he act 3 naturally and easily, with full play upon the emotions yet •with, the restraint which marks the artist. His sketch of the "henpecked" husband is one of the features of this photoplay. The story is of a young and beautiful . wife who considers that woman should be. erven full rights in the world, indeed ehould be allowed scope to -lead the universe into better and wiser ways. One of her theories is that " a woman should have three husbands, one to keep her, ono to amuse her, and one to manage* her home." As the young and docile sister of "the talker," Mas Shirley Mason gives an excellent portrayal and the story yields breathless excitement when she follows her elders' doctrines and slopes with a young man who turns out to be a rcgue. However, after many upheavals, the ster yworks out to a happy fulfilment and "The Talker" becomes a docile and dutiful wife. The second attraction, "JveTlie, the Beautiful Cloak Model," which stars Claire Windsor, Mae Busch, and Lew Cody, is nothing t if not melodramatic, but its mekdrama is not impossible beyond all bounds, so it makes an interesting photoplay. Lew Cody returns to the role that mad© him famous, .that of the polished, unscrupulous "gentleman ' rogue. One's only regret at the happy culmination of the picture is that apparently- he did not meet with his just deserts. The scenes follow one another in- rapid sequence and the audience follows the story with excitement. It should quicken the Bof ? Ten * ho mcat w "« picture-goer. Tne 'Select" Orchestra, under Mr W. J. Belhngham, played an outstanding musical programme which included the following numbers:—Overture, Festival March (Zamechick): entr'acte, "Conchita" (Vessey); operatio selections including "Mignon" (Thomas), "William Tell" (Rossini). 'TWk- ?-?' ,<P ell "bes), "Sweethearts" (Herbert), Gondoucrs" (Sullivan), and a bracketed number of three Hungarian Dance* (Brahms). The outstanding number was Schubert'a Unfinished Symphony." Another interesting number was a collection of Chopin's works, arranged by Knck, which included the sect™ifif B ?L^ M 6 0p - *» Fantasie Impromptu Op. 36. • ' "■ mw.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. 7^l ' HOOT GJBSON IN VTAMING THE WEST." | "THE KISS BARBIER.". j There are few faults to "be found in the ! tig programme screened at the Queen's' Theatre for the first time yesterday. Two fine pictures, "Taming the West,'' with Hoot Gibson, and- "The Kiss Barrier," featuiing Edmund Lowe, are. starred, and in addition there are minor films of interest; The , Queen's Orchestra plays a splendid musical . score. It takes all of Hoot Gibson's ingenuity and daring to do it, but he certainly succeeds in taming the West, accompanied by ' ,1? . and lan e ns >» his latest effort, Taming the West," a Universal production. , i; Gibson, • marvellous horseman, uolilcr for three years of the world's championship, attained in country-wide competition at the . Pendleton Rodeo, demonstrates again that he is-an accomplished actor as well. In "Taming the West" he rides thrillinglv, displaying every trick knpwn to horsemen, and a few he invented himself. He demonstrates his versatility also in driving a racing .automobile at a terrific rate over the 'uncharted" prairie,' taking many dangerous skids .to fill the picture brimming with excitement. The* plot of the story is cleverly handled. It deals with a' wayward son of a former rancher who is a prominent business man. The son is sent to a ranch with orders to become a man. There can be no denying that the son tries valiantly and does succeed, after many trying experiences in attempting to break bronchos, and perform other feats. The son falls in love with the pretty daughter of a. neighbouring rancher, only to find that the rancher is a bitter enemy of his own father as a result of an accident for which each, blames the other. Ordered to keep away from the girl, Gibson retaliates by kidnapping her and making her his wife after a mad dash,across the plains with an entire outfit of cowboys in pursuit. .The fathers, witnessing the elopement, decide that : their own ' quarrel is unimportant. >• The seeond attraction is "The Kiss Barrier," in which JEdmund Lowe is starred. Claire.Adams 'heads the supporting cast. , There is sparkling, humour and gripping drama in this picture. 'lt opens on the battle'front, where' Captain March ' has 'crashed to earth in his 'plane. When beautiful Marion .Weston, comes to his rescue he is-, so overcome by her charm that he forcibly kisses her. This- is the kiss barrier. Returned from the war, he spurns the atten- . tion of women who try to capture him. In spite of numerous obstacles placed in his path, he finally wins Marion. ... '.The supporting subjects include a comedy, ; an educational subject, and the latest news.

?•'•'*'. LIBERTY THEATRE. Fascinating Pola Negri, famed throughout flimdom as an actress, is seen in. a ■trildng Sydney Oldcroft production entitled "The Charmer." Artistically and in every other -way this is the finest picture yet to be screened'in this City in which Pola Negri has been cast, in tho principal role, and it •will be accepted as one of.the season's most elaborate and' thrilling., productions. No more ideal- choice' could be imagined for ' .PolaNegri's personality and talent. .Thrills abound in the second attraction. entitled, "Into the Net," which features Jack Mulhall and Edna Murphy. "Written by the • Commissioner of Now York's, police, tho story in this picture shows how criminals ■with: master minds, -work in the underworld and diTes of that great city. It reveals how-young men and Women are led astray by these criminals. ' I ■ - . - . "? . STRAND THEATRE. "Playing with Souls," at the Strand . Theatre, tells of the utter loneliness the boy feels from the' timo his mother (when she separates from tho father) puts him iu . a, boys* school, in France• until he is old enough to fall in love—and the effects of these empty years not only upon the youth coming into man's estate, but the father and mother as well. Mary As tor is, very sweet and charming as the little girl with wham young Collier falls in love, whUe Jacqueline Logan, as a fascinating and' vivacious cabaret daneer in a Paris cafe, gives perhaps the finest portrayal of her career. "The Burning Trail," featuring Wra. Desmond, "The Fighting Ranger" (Ep. 5), and a comedy, are also shown. - GRAND THEATRE. _ 2 •'The White is an epic of ihe screen. Directed- by the . master-director, Henry King, "The White Sister" has been Adapted to the screen from the widely-read and famous novel of tho same name by F. Marion Crawford, and it glorifies and magnifies', the unquestionable charm and art qf the demure Lillian Gish. She is the only one who could have carried the noble traditions of the greatest personalities of the speaking, stage to the silver'sheet as she does iu ',' The White Sister." Very delightful is ",. r -«gft-prologue to "The White Sister." Miss '' 2ft*., "W«keA» aeompanied by little Joan •'*. »ud< other..talented pupils of Miss Cowan, enaeta it with skill and charm.

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. "DAYTIME WIVES - ' AND "DON DAREDEVIL." The new programme at the Greater Crystal Palace this week is headed by ''Daytime Wives," a photoplay which is presented by an all-star cast. It shows two types of women—the unselfish wife who gives her hnsband inspiration, and is the silent partner who is mainly responsible for his achievements; and the selfifh, pleastire-lovin;r wife, with very little loyalty to her husband, who dclijhts in vamping the husbands of other women. In "Daytime Wives" the sacrifices and loyalty of the belter type of woman are contrasted with the moods and vices of the other. The moral pointed by the picture is that tocicty, and even civilisation, is preserved from the rapid decline which the butterfly type of woman would soon produce, by the quiet devotion and indriMrv of the loyal, industrious type. Ruth Holt is one of these, and she works as secretary to Elwood Ad.ims. a contractor who buildi skyscrapers. Fraiirinr, Adams's wife. i» a .-elfish, thrill-seekin; spendthrift. Tiuth is reailv the power behind the success of her employer, while his wife fritters nw»v his moiiev in follies. >'illed with suspicions. I'rancine demands Adams to dismiss his secretary, and in driving away from the skyscraper upon which Adams'-; workmen are engaged, she knocks a mudguard oft" the foreman's car. He complains to* Adams, and the two men come to blows. In they collide with .1 winchman, whose hand is wrenched from n lever, allowing a gigantic steel girder to carry awav a large 7>ortinn of the building. The crash causes damage amounting to a million dollars and injures scores of people. Adams sees ruin staring him in the face. His wife refuses to accompany him to an evening at the Sav.irin Club, on the invitation of Martin, his banker, and Jvutn goes with him. .U the moment Adams is congratulating himself on having restored the confidence of .Martin, Francine creates a scene, and accuses Kuth of trving to steal her husband J'rancine h tormented bv boalsearmg thoughts, and U fall of remorse". The closing scenes depict her in the process of revising Adams's need of a daviime wife w™V DF "? rts in " le n;ct,lV » include:' "jndham SUndiug. (irnc Durmnnd, Derelys SrtHr'i-V'"'" r-' onk,ir - Kdwar " "'»£ Jona" Mo U e a(i CW ' S ' KCC " alh Gibs ° D ' and is " .In "Don Daredevil," Jir . k j lf>xic ; s „,,„ r- ?! n ' Bsloß With °» , "'a«-s, and Lathlocn Calhoun, as a. beautiful South American Letter, adds romance to the sunplay. The Symphony Orchestra of ten instrumcnt<>, -under the conductoiship of Mr Alfred J. Bunz, presents a new c< selections which appeal to the most varied tastfs. The overture is a, inarch specially written for the Dunedin Inhibition by ZainecniJ,-. The first strain is verv bright, with a true martial spirit, and 'the "trio is syncopated and flowing. "Le<»ende" (Dvorak) is played for the first time, and is characterised by brilliant work by the clarinet. The ballet music from the opera "Ititter Pasman" (Johann Strauss) is delightful. It opens with a trumpet call and the string work is very intricate, while the polka following simply sparkles. The- flute wqrk in this number is particularly good. "Andante Grazioso," which has a very impressive and beautiful theme, takes ons Sack to the old world opera housjs. The orchestra played also a gavotte by Schutt, which has a fine lead for the 'cello, but the whole number is written very much in the modern style. The well-known "Toreador' song blended very well in the first picture, "Stop It," the entr-acte, is •by Kaufman. The work of Mr Debenham in this selection was very good, and the orchestra, was accorded an encore.