GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18571, 22 December 1925, Page 17

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE.

JAM-; NOVAK IS ••DIVORCE. 1 ' The entertainment provided (his week at I hi) Greater Crystal Palace is up to (lie usual high standard. "Divorce," tho principal attraction, is a problem play, starring .7an>: Novak, the patient and faithful wife whose devotion to, and deep lovo for, her husband is tested by fire. The picture opens with a divorce court scone —Kdith Heed, mother of .Imic Parker (Jane, Novak), is given her freedom by the. judge. The cafe creates an impression on June. "It's wrong," .--he said. "It. happens every day," -.aid her mother. .Tim Farkcr assures .Tune that, his love for ber is a love of yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Jim achieves succors. )lc is appointed general manager of a big industrial concern, the Iteed Ironworks, of which Juno's father is the proprietor. Success and prosperity have their effects on Jim, who falls under the influence uf two clubmen. He becomes entangled with a woman of their set who aims to persuade Parker to give orders to lier friends. More and more it becomes an event for June and Jim to have a meal together, lie deceives her one evening witli the tale that, he has to attend a directors' meeting, and June learns the falsity of the story from her father 1 , now a lonely man glad of her visits. "Give mo back my husband," she begs of bim, and shows the way. She induces her father to bring about her hnsband's dismissal. She is unresponsive, to the suggestions of acquaintance* and the arguments of her mother that she should give him up as a bad job. Jim's new friends show in what regard they hold him when he tells them that he has lost his position. Ho realises that tho finding of a new job is a wearying and rcsultless quest. Ho sees his father-in-law, who gives him the advice which brings understanding, and returns to June. In the concluding' scenes he at. last realises hi 3 wife's devotion and true happiness. John Bowers acts the part of the husband, and others in the cast, include James Cnrrigan, Kdythe Chapman, Margaret Livingston, Freeman Wood, and George. Fisher.

The evil career of a man who shows vicious traits, even in childhood, is shown in "Unrestrained Youth," a picture in which Brandon Tynan has the principal role, as John Powers, the trusted employee of the International Silk Company, He is undermined by Whitney, a fellow-employep, who ultimately is responsible for his going to gaol for a long term on a rharge of embezzlement. This is only the beginning of his tribulations. How he suffers his unjust, sentence and, on his release, sees retribution overtake his enemy, makes au exciting drama, full of action. Many of the scenes are intensely pathetic. The supports are a comedy and a news film in which aviators perform hair-raising stunts at a great altitude.

The Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr Alfred ,1. Buiu, contributes not a little to the entertainment. A select musical programme includes the overture from "Patience" (Sullivan), containing a fine clarinet solo and moat of the principal .themes from the opera. Other items are tho fantasy "JEtionne Marcel" (Saint-Saeiis), in which the violin solo in tho andante, is played beautifully by Miss G. \ inccnt, "fcapho" (Massenet), played for the hrst tune, "Valse Triste" (Sibelius), and "Pilgrim Kong of Hope" (Hatisie), a selection in harmony with the Christmas spirit. In tho entr'acte, Mr W. Debcnhani delights the audience by hi s work with the auvil, with limelight and flare effects.

STRAND THEATRE. The feature of the bill at the Strand is "The Wizard of Oz," starring tho famous comedian, harry Setnon. This famous story has been familiar to "the world for tho past, twenty years. Adults have been fascinated and charmed with its • whimsical humour, which is worthy of tho pen of Barrie; children have been delighted wcith it, reading it again and again. In tho second attraction, Jack Hoxie appears in a rattling good Western picture, "Kiding Thunder." »