ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 117, 9 February 1924, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

EMPRESS. THEATRE. Recollection, sometimes friendly, sometimes treacherous, has buried in some far-away creviso of our memories the romance of our juvenile years—the joys, tho adventures, the disappointments, the pains. Last evening, at tho Empress Theatre, the veil was gently drawn aside, and thero was revealed a thrilling ami absorbing story of that very daily life which to most of us now is but a cherished memory. “Penrod and Sam,” Booth Tarkington’s popular novel, in its transference to the screen has lost none of tho characteristics that made it famous. Penrod and Sam are real boys, the typo met with every day; the mischicvious type who rattle one’s nerves at times, but always' captivate the heart. Penrod and his gang cavort from one mirthful and mischievous adventure to another. First they marshal forces ■ to try conclusions in a mimic war, after which the remnant, minus eye, tooth, and toe, proceed to initiate tho neighbourhood “sissy” into the, dark and foreboding secrets of their brotherhood, a powerful organisation designed to overcome all parental authority, and secure the triumph of youth over age., Then there is tho “mammoth circus,” with the price of admission fixed at a pin, and views of tho untamed lions and tigers gratis. Pathos enters the picture at intermittent stages—a boy has his tribulations as well as anyone elso —but irresistible humour abounds, and tho combination of laughter and tears makes the film a really human portrayal. A da.in.ty (da.ncsa interlude, which introduced Billie Murphy and Freda Macauley, in a scries of modern dances, was an added feature of the entertainment, while the Empress symphony orchestra was, as usual all sufficient. KING’S THEATRE. “Legally Dead,” the “Universal” picture screened at the King’s Theatre last evening, deals with tiro fascinating, if somewhat morbid subject of restoring the dead to life, and is based on the recent discovery in America of a new dru gcalled adrenalin, which acts as a powerful stimulant on the heart. It is the story of a young reporter named Campbell, who witnesses a man being

condemned to death whom ho believes ti be innocent. lie returns home to < wife whose neglectful ways and viciou; disposition bring about a scene, wind terminates in his leaving the house Keen on seeing the inside of prison life—to get that side of life at a new angle—he deliberately breaks a shop window and pretends to steal. . Ho is arrested tried, sentenced, and thrown into prison but wins redemption for good conduct not without having formed a strong attachment for another prisoner —® young girl doing time for shop-lifting. On his release, he leaves the city for a country town, and becomes a trusted bank clerk, when one day he captures a “crook” who tries to hold the bank up. His cetin ection with this act. brings him under tho notice of a detective, who knew of his own false step, and this gentleman warns tho banker about his gaol-bird clerk. That night the detective is shot by an escaped convict, but Campbell is arrested near the spot, and. with strong circumstantial evidence dead against him, he is tried and condemned to death. At the time ho is hanged news comes to prove that he is innocent, but it is too late. The man is dead. But help is at hand in the person qf a scientist who claims that under certain circumstances he can restore life. The body is handed over to him, and ho experiments with success. Restored to life, Campbell seeks his wife, to find that she has divorced him, mailing tho way clear for a. happy ending. Martin Sills is appealing m the leading role, and has the sympathetic support of beautiful Claire Adams. A “Gazette” and a farcical frivolity, with the King’s excellent orchestra, make a most acceptable bilk EVERYBODY’S THEATRE.

“The Man With the Two Mothers,” a Goldwyn production shown for the first time last night at Everybody's Theatre, and featuring Cullen Landis, Mary Alden, and .Sylvia Breamer, has in it all the elements of an unusual and remarkable picture. Tho sotting, whether it be in Ireland, where the story first starts, or in Now "York, where it ends in a charming romance, adds considerably to tho general interest. Dennis Bryan, of Ballycoole, takes his mother to New York where ho is to take control of his late uncle’s estate and be as a son to his auntie. Thus it is he and his two mothers. The adopted mother objects to the real mother, but a niece ably seconds the determined Irishman. Happiness for all is secured when an aspirant for the niece’s hand—the manager of the uncle’s estates and a sponger on the aunt —is shown in his true colours. Tho acting is unusually good and the story is worked out to its sabisfacI tory conclusion with naturalness. The supporting pictures include a Bobby Vernon comedy, an interesting and instructive Patho Gazette, and a scenic. Of particular interest are the musical selections played by Harry Avery’s jazz band. A distinct success was scored with “Chicago,” a novelty fox trot. PRINCESS THEATRE. “Java Head,” screened for the first time last night nt tho Princess Theatre, ; is a gripping drama full of thrills and ■ action. The cast, which includes Lea- ; trice Joy and Jacqueline Logan, is an excellent ore. May McAvoy gives of her i best in a pretty romance “A Virginia I Courtship,” which solves tho problem of I “the eternal triangle.” There are other pictures, both amusing and instructive, and the whole programme is an entertaining one. SHORTT’S THEATRE. “The C lurch and the Woman,” whioh was presented for tho first time in Wellington at Shortt’s Theatre yesterday, is a picture that breaks away from the usual type of melodrama to deal in a very wholesome and non-sectarian fashion with tho two great* arms of Christianity,- and if it tended to show bow religion should really make us happy and tolerant, instead of bigoted and narrow-minded, it would noir only fulfil its objective as a picture, but would lay strong claims to popular support. The story deals with the lives of a brother who becomes a Catholic priest and a sister, who eventually marries a Protestant doctor. There is excitement and interest, while the settings are excellent. Incidentally, the picture marks an epoch in the history of Australian film production l . In the supporting pictures the world’s happenings are faithfully chronicled in tho Gazettes, white tho comedy element is well sustained. Bright music completes an entertaining programme. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The combination of vaudeville and pictures is still maintaining great popularity with patrons of the Paramount Theatre. For the weekly change of programme yesterday, two new vaudeville turns under special engagement from Musgrove’s Celebrity Vaudeville, Sydney, were presented, the first being a novel and entertaining act by Harry Avondale and f.alio Whyte, a comedian at tho piano and a soprano. The turn is a first-class one, and provides bright operatic singing and original comedy that haye not been allowed to mature. Danny Dalm.-i and his wonderfully trained dogs, balance the programme delightfully, and the performances of the clever little terriers oih a feature in themselves. The picture programme has been just as carefully selected, and in the William Fox production, “Does It Pay?” there is a problem that is being presented in everyday life. It is a story of > ‘woman’s wiles and a man’s folly, and offers,something unusual in tho way of climax. The b : g picture is supported by a splendid comedy and an interesting gazette. Tho music dispensed by (ho Paramount orchestra under the conductorship of Mr. R. R. Caulton. lends finish to an excellent progr .mine. AMBASSADOR CABARET. Last night there was a festive scene af tho Ambassador Cabaret, tho occasion being the entertainment of the New South Wales cricketers, who proved that they had ability nt other games besides outside ones. To-day’s sessions will bo equally gay and tho band, assisted by Sammy Cope, and under the direction of Chas. Parnell, will render some of tho latest music.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. All the vagaries, customs, and superstitions of the colourful life of southeastern Rumania, the homo of the Tartar and gipsy, are faithfully reproduced ‘ in “The Law of the Lawless," Dorothy 3 Dalton’s latest picture, which was screen--3 ed for the first time at tho Queen’s The- > atre last evening. Splendid scenes depict ’ the tragic history of a sweet Tartar ’ ’maid, the daughter of an impoverished • householder, who is sold on the auction block in an endeavour to clear her ’ father’s monetary obligations. The high- ! est bidder is a gipsy chief, and a realistic glimpse of the native custom is pro--1 vided when thq marriage ceremony takes 1 place. Romance, drama, and stirring acton are packed into every scene of the story, which ends in a somewhat unexpected manner. Dorothy Dalton is supported by Theodore Kosloff, as the Tartar lover, and Charles de Roche as the chieftain. Supplementing , the big picture are a comedy, gazette, and a new Burton Holmes travelogue. A delightful selection of incidental music, contributed by Mr. A. H. Jerome’s orchestra. added to the success of the entertainment. . ARTCRAFT THEATRE. For first-rate pictorial entertainment, the double-star bill, to be screened at the above popular theatre, would be hard to beat. Twofeaturesare included in the programme, the first being the big Paramount production, “The Face in the Fog,’.' starring Lionel Barrymore and Scena Owen. This is a crook story with the moral that “it takes a crook to catch a crook.” Harold Lloyd is seen in the 4-reel comedy "A Sailor-made Man,” one of the biggest laughter-makers ever seen on the screen. The Gazette is interesting, and the oorhestml accompaniment pleasing. Seats may be reservd at th Bristol till) 12; thereafter at the theatre. ORGAN RECITAL. Mr. Bernard F. Page (city organist) will give an organ recital at the Town Hall to-morrow evening, and he has arranged his programme as under:—Overture “Coriolan" (Op. 62) by Beethoven; Andante and Variations, by Mozart; Second Movement from Symphony in D Minor, Cesar Franck (by request); Fountain music and duet from Act 11.. Scene I, “Pel Ims and Molisande,” by Debussy; Toccata, from Suite Op. 14, by P. de Maleingrenu. FRANK HUTCHENS RECITAL. Mr. Frank Hutchens is to give a pianoforte recital in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, on Thursday, February 14. Since he last performed in Wellington ho bas been giving concerts in the Old Country, and is now on his way back to Sydney where he is the principal pianist at the Conservatorium. Mr. Hntchens is a New Zealander, and his concert should give an opportunity Of showing local appreciation. He will be assisted by Mr. Len Barnes, tho popular baritone singer. JAPANESE ENTERTAINMENT. ’X crowded audience in tl/ft Town Hall witnessed the final filming of scenes of the Japanese disaster last evening. After the picture a party of Japanese gave a ju-jitou display, and the entertainment closeiT with a rendering of the British and Japanese National Anthems. Tho Radium Fund should benefit materially as tho result of the pictures being shown.