LIBERTY THEATRE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18676, 27 April 1926, Page 12

LIBERTY THEATRE.

RUDOLPH VALENTINO. "THE EAGLE." Picture fans who admire Rudolph Valentino will welcome the opportunity of seeing him in a characteristic role again at the Liberty, Theatre, where ho i« featured this week in "The Eagle." "Valentino's principal Maim to success as, an actor was undoubtedly his wort in "The Sheik," a-picture that achieved success wherever it was shown. It ig unlikely that he will ever make a greater appeal to the public, especially the feminine portion of it, than ho' did in that romance of the .desert, but he is by no means_ a onepart actor, and in "The Eagle" lie lives up to his reputation. The picture has its setting in Russia,. and concerns Vladimir Doubrovski, a young lieutenant of the Imperial Guard. He came under the notice of the Czarina when, regardless of the danger to which his action exposes him, he dashes up on horseback to stop the mad career of three other horses whioh have bolted with a coach in which are Mascha Kyrilla and her mother. Doubrovski is Bummoned ipto the presence of the Czarina, who shows him pretty plainly that if he will give her the attention she wants from him she will make him one of her generals. He scorns her advances, and leaves the Imperial castle hurriedly, whereupon the Czarina regards him as a deserter, and a reward is offered for him, dead or alive. He becomes an outlaw, and some time later meets Mascha Kyrilla again, when he is the means of saving her from being imprisoned by his own bandits, he being now known all over the countryside as the Blaclc Eagle.; Kyrilla, the girl's father, who, by the way, has defrauded Doubrovski's father of his estato, has only one fear—that Doubrovski will kill him for the crime he haß committed, and a few notes delivered to him at unexpected intervals do not assist him to sleep any more soundly. -By taking the place of a French tutor, Doubrovski is able to gain access to Kyrilla's house. Kyrilla endeavours to dispose of him by. sending him down Into his cellar, ostensibly ftp select a bottle of choice lfquor, but in Teality to be eaten by a ferocious bear which is kept there. Doubrovski, however, draws a revolver and Bhoots the animal. Doubrovski's identity eventually becomes known to Kyrilla, who orders' his Cosßacks to, arrest him, but the. "Black Eagle" eludes him and takes Mascha with him, she having discovered that she cannot live aWay from him. The couple are' delivered into the hands of the Czarina once more, but although Doubrovski is ordered to be shot, the unexpected happens and ho is given a passport to leave Russia with his young wife.-

Valentino is given numerous opportunities to act in tender love scenes, and is supported by a beautiful young actress in the person of Vilma Banky. There are some splendid settings in the picture, especially of the Imperial Palace, the film as a whole being a-triumph both for -the artists concerned and -also the. producers. > - - Among the minor pictures is a Government -Publicity -Department film depicting a visit in the Ta'mahine to tho Sounds district. A ,comedy- and a Felix picture are also on the programme.

UndfirMr. Ernest Jamieson,. the Liberty Orchestra plays an appropriate programme of. music, which includes the following numbers: Overture, "El Capitan" (Sousa); entr'acte, "Menuet" (Paderewski); "Ballet Russe" (Luiglni); "Chanson Trjste" (Tschaikowsky); VChanson .Sans Paroles" (Tschaikowsky); "Algeria" (Victor Herbert); "Serenade" (Rachmaninoff): "I Want You to Want Me," fox-trot; "Why Leave Me Now}" -fox-trot.