"THE PRINCE OF PEP."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19110, 20 September 1927, Page 13

"THE PRINCE OF PEP."

RICHARD TALMADGE'S FEATURE

QUEEN'S THEATRE. The new programme which commenced at the Queen's Theatre last night is one that will delight picturegoers who are fond of stunts, thrills, and laughter. • The headliner is "The Princo of Pep," featuring Richard Tahnadge, and in this film the star has a role which gives him plenty of scope to display his many talents. He has had some big parts in his previous successes, but in "The Prince of Pep" Richard Talmadge eclipses all his other performances. lie simply revels in his part. .As Dr. Jim Leland he is supported by' a strong cast of players, including Jfola Luxford (Marion Nord), ATarcella Daly, and Brindley Shaw. Dr. Leland, a wealthy young* doctor, spends most of his time entertaining the children of hospitals, | believing he can render more service this way than as a physician. Hugh, Powell is his secretary, and, is allied with Buck Landers, leader of a criminal gang -who traffic in drugs. Powell obtains the drugs from his employer, and is assisted by Eleanor Wheeler, who is engaged to Dr. Leland. P(jw.ell is caught stealing the'drugs, by the doctor. Powell hits the doctor on the head, which makes him unconscious. Powell, thinking he is dead, drops him in the river, but the shock of cold water brings the doctor back to consciousness, but when he drags himself out he has lost his memory. Marion Nord and her father, a doctor, work on bohalf of the needy children of the slums, and pick Jim up in a restaurant on the night he> drags himself from the river, and tries in vain to recover his memory. Marion is interested in a mysterious bandit named "The Black Flash," who robs, wealthy gamblers and turns over his spoils to Marion's clinic. Powell has married Eleanor, and learns throngh Sanders of Black Flash, and suspects he is Dr. Jim. Buck Sanders robs Marion of some funds which the Black Flash has left for the' clinic, with 'a note to Marion stating how the money was obtained. Powell bribes Sanders to kidnap Marion. Jim overhears of the scheme, and overtakes the gang and rescues Marion. The police arrive and arrost Powell and Eleanor. Dr. Jim returns to his place in society with Marion at his side.

"The Lightning Rider," featuring Harry Carey, is another "star" "picture, of the Western type, possessing plenty of heroic exploits, and offering an opportunity for some unusual costuming and settings. Al-. though "The Lightning Rider" is laid in California, and .its characters are American, there is a Spanish strain running through the story. It is most in evidence in the bal masque scenes. Nevertheless, around this romantic interlude wage thrilling combats of "Western" . type. The Btory is about The Black Mask.' the terror of the village, and Phil Morgan, deputy sheriff, who rides at night disguised as a bandit, in order to trap him. As Philip Morgan, Harry Carey is given ample scope to prove his ability as a romantic figure on the screen, and some of his escapes are thrilling. Virginia Faire, as Patricia Alvarez, makes a pretty heroine. The supporting- film* include four comedies, a Felix cartoon, and Empire news.