"TELL IT TO THE MARINES."

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19376, 31 July 1928, Page 12

"TELL IT TO THE MARINES."

LON CHANEY AT HIS BEST. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The well-known phrase, "Tell it to the Marines," usually has to do with jokcß and laughter. This was amply proved at Everybody's Theatre last night when a packed house laughed itself hoarse at the extremely comic picture, "Tell It To The Marines," featuring Lon CHaney, William Haines, and Eleanor Boardman. It has a naval setting, with an atmosphere of aiama, comedy, and romance. Lon Chaney is a man of many faces, who has given to tho picture world many wonderful characterisations, and in "Tell It To The Marineshe portrays the character of a eergJant of the marines, a hard and blunt man, who knows how to make marines out rough recruits. His acting is certainly high-class. William Haines a3 the row recruit is responsible for the comedy element in the picture, and succeeds admirably. Eleanor Boardman has the role of a nurse, and her finished performance makes her a popular star. "Skat" B.urns (William Haines) wanted to join the marines. He had plenty of con- • fidence in himself, and when he became a marine Sergeant O'Hara (Lon Chaney) was the man to shake this confidence. Howover, when on leave, Burns meets a naval nurse, Norma Dalo (Eleanor Boardman), and he falls in love with her, but his affection is not returned. The detachment is ordered away for foreign service, and BurnS sees Norma Dale before he goes, and his hope 3 rise. When on service Burns loses his head over a Pacific belle, and the trouble begins, Scrgfc. O'Hfta coming to his rescue. The fleet is ordered to China, and in a wild melee with bandits tho marines j cover themselves with glory. Burns rescues Ncrma Dale from them, and the pair settle down to a happy ma-Tried iife. An interesting New Zealand publicity film, entitled "The Milford Walk," gives a good idea of "the grandest walk in the world," and two enjoyable gazettes, and "Your Husband's Past" are also on the programme.

Mr Ernest Powell, an English society entertainer, was heard in some musical monologues, stories, and a pianoforte solo. His items were much appreciated. Mr Bidgood's "Select" orchestra rendered an excellent programme of instrumental numbers including:—Overture, "Lohengrin" (Wagner); suites, "Maid of Orleans" (Rawlinson), "Albanian" (Kostel). "Sapho" (SaintSaens), "Un Ballo in Maschora" (Donizetti), "Barber of Seville" (Rossini), ,and entr'acte, "Kinkj'ou" (McCartney).