ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 83, 6 January 1928, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Few so-caiieu star attractions have received the unanimous praise of the world's greatest critics us the U.F.A. masterpiece, "Faust," which is distributed in this country by tho Cinema Art Films, Ltd., and will be presented at the Paramount Theatre, commencing to-day. At first glance it appears strange that a theme of such forcefulness, human interest. and appeal should not have inspired the followers of the youngest of all the arts, the silent drama; but probably the gigantic element of forcel'ulness, tho Gos-pel-like appeal with a moral, has so far kept the moder-i producers for the film from attempting to film the legend of Dr Faust. It remained for the U.F.A. anil their director, Mr. F. W. Murman, to recognise the wonderful possibilities of "Faust" as a story for screen production. In the screen version. Dr. Faust does not sign away to the powers of damnation his immortal soul, because of an indomitable greed for power, or because of a scientist’s burning desire to arrive at the end of all things in the universe. He is tempted by the powers of darkness, just at tho moment when he is in despair over the sufferings of his plague-ridden fellow-men. and his own impotence as a physician, to put an end to the black terror that is around him. Gosta Ektnann. Sweden's greatest actor, plays Faust. Miss Camilla Horne plays her first -nart as Marguerite. Recognising that Faust reonires something different in the wav of stage nresentnHon Coli” Craop fin a nut forth hi’ best efforts and produced a prologue which is promised as a revelation to picture natrons. He win bo assisted bv Mrs. Harris, nnd F. W. Robbins. IT. Gladstone Hill has spent r-eeks compiling a musical ecore to fittingly accompany the screening, which ■"• ill he interpro+oj by th" orchestra of 19 musicians. The box plan is at the theatre daily from 10 a.m. REGENT THEATRE. A ceremonious opening will be given the British film masterpiece “The . Flag Lieutenant" at the Regent Theatre tonight. Although Ake initial performance will be held this afternoon, the season will be officially opened to-night with a gala performance. Many well known men and women will be present, representing the Government, civic authorities, the Naval Department, and the executive of the Wellington branch of the Navy League. His Excellency the GovernorGeneral has given his patronage, and will attend the performance on Monday night. “The Flag Lieutenant” will be presented in an elaborate fashion. A special atmospheric prologue will feature Mr. Ray Kemp and Miss Kathleen O’Brien’s hornpipe ballet. The music will be a special feature, and this has been arranged by Mr. M. T Dixon, musical director of the Regent Theatre. It was for the production of "The Flo.g Lieutenant" that the British Admiralty placed at the disSosal of the producers the battleship YM.S. Tiger, together with two destroyers and four seaplanes, with full complements, together with their full cooperation. The film is a romance of the British Navy, and tells of the sacrifice a young officer makes for his frioed. It portrays the courage and the manhood that is the backbone of the British Navy. The leading roles are played by Henry Edwards, the well known English actor, and Dorothy Seacombe, the Australian girl, who will be remembered by New Zealand theatregoers as having visited this country a few years ago. The box plan is now open at the theatre and the Bristol. DE LUXE THEATRE. For the first time in the history of the De Luxe Theatre since the opening season a motion picture has won the distinction of being retained for a second week. The honour belongs to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s "Ben Hur.” The final six days will commence this afternoon. "Ben Hur” will be shown twice daily, at 2.30 and at 8 p in. Incidentally. the fourth week of the Auckland season will commence to-night. The picture quite evidently attracts people from every walk in life. The Rev. Jasper Calder, the widely-known Auckland clergyman, lias written as follows:—"I had an experience to-day that I shall not forget for years. Mrs. Calder nnd I went to see Ben Hur. As to the picture—well. I've just come m from seeing it. and I am still overcome. It is the most inspiring drama I ve ever r.een It is singed on a most lavish scale. The sacred scenes are handled with becoming reverence. One never secs a closeup picture of -Our Lord. His presence is suggested rather than portrayed, by ths brief glimpse of His hands upraised in healing or blessing. 'IT* chariot . race cannot be described. See it. my friende. even if you live on two meals a day for a week to make up for it. lojill not regret it. believe me. The introductory prologue. The Star of Bethlehem,"’with Mr. William Goudie as soloist, continues to win warm approval, ana the musical offerings by the orchestra and special numbers on the organ by Mr. Aarons are additional, attractions. Box plans for the second week are open at the Bristol and at Aitken’s, while reservations may also bo made by telephone No. 23—080 at the theatre.

"THE MAGIC FLAME." Samuel Goldwym producer of many distinguished aims, oners tue new Ronald Colman-Vilma Bauky film, “Tho Magic A’lULue, - ' wuicu is IQ wGiuuieiiCd bcretixuiia at tne Empress I’ueaire to-miy. ‘ine Magic Fiame’’ is a friory 01 ciowus aua ciouuts, circus and court, love and laugnter. Ronald Colman plays two roles ah tne film. U is Vlima uanliy, an aerial artist, whom tne two characters that Colman taKes love and struggle lor. into tne warp avd wool' of znat coniiiot there is declared to have been injected ro mance, surprising situations, numour, satire, physical atuggie, a balloon ascension, and parachute jump, and a whole circus. The action of the story occurs in a Mediteranean rcountry. Baretti’s circus furnishes the background against which Vilma Banky and Ronald Colman make love It is when Colman, the clown, has triumphed over Colman, the count>, that the locale is switched to the royal court, with the clown accepted on all hands as King of Illyria. When Vilma Banky arrives at the court to avenge the murder of her lover, the clown, she doe? not suspect the true identity of the monarch It is with the disentanglementof this tense situation that the plot thereafter is concerned. “Oar Prince”' shows the Prince of Wales in many roles from his investiture in 1911 to the present day. There will alo be a Pa the Gazette. Mabel Norman comedy, and another of the Parisian eaharct series.

KING’S THEATRE. Reported to be one of the strongest two-star programmes yet i resented at the King’s Theatre, is that which will commence to-night at 8 p.ni. It is headed by W. 0. Fields’ latest Paramount farce. “Running Wild.” an original story, written and directed by Gregory La Cava, in which the famous coineaian is cast as a timid soul, wno becomes a “roaring lien" through a_ scries of ainusing situations, none of them funnier than those in which a vaudeville hyp* notist tells Fields that lie can go out and lick the world. He does—with ludicrous results. Mary Brian is featured as the star’s daughter. The other attraction is the Paramount novelty special. “Moana.” Robert Flaherty, the director, was producer of “Nauook of the North.” Flaherty lived for twenty months in Savail and British Samoa, and produced this picture at? he hved. It is said that the main high light surrounding this producton is the <act that it has been hailed by critics as the greatest contribution to the screen in the last ten years. Laurence Stallings, author oi The Big Parade” and “Old Ironsides.” says: ‘lt had no titles when I saw it, yet it must be the best motion picture ever made. The King’s orchestra has a special programme of incidental music m store, lhe box plan is nt the Bristol.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. Blanche Sweet has with her a notable cast in ‘Singed,” based on the story ot the same name by Adda Kogers bi. Johns, which will open at the Queens Theatre to-night at 8 p m. arncr Baxter plays opposite her, and in important roles are Alfred Allen, Edgar Alorton. Claude King, Clarke Comstock, and Ida Darling. ‘ Singed” is the story ol a woman who could not undo her past, it is told against a picturesque background. Miss Sweet plays the part ol a hall girl who becomes wealthy tplough an oil gusher. There is a tragic ana powerful climax. The production completed but recently nt Fox I I | IU A % Coast studios, and it as said that Blanche Sweet and Warner Baxter give the best performances of their brilliant careeis in their respective roles there are Jhnny situations that bring about one ol the most tragic and powerlul climaxes tint has been written into a script in many seatons, according to advance reviews from Hollywood and New York. An excellent supporting programme is a notable feature ol the tvemng s present-a.-iioii. as is also the musical side ol the entertainment. Tne box plan is avm.abie at the Bristol.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Gale Wyer and his Band Box hevue Company are staging a » exc farce at Ilis Majesty s Theatre this week. It it entitled ‘ vVhat About lianuahr” and tells of the bachelor day diversion of a young man who finds that actresses .and his bride-to-be are better kept apart. Mr. Ward Lear, J un -« 13 the prospective bridegroom, and Charles Norman his friend. The work of Miss Heather Jones, Miss Vera Benson, and Miss Ena Gordon deserves special praise. Tho six ballot girls are one of the hits of the show. Billy Bovis, Sam Ward, and Gale Wyer are also well cast. The humorous patter and the eccentric dancing of Mr. Charles Norman, the company’s elongated comedian, keeps the audience in shrieks of laughter through all the performance. Mr. Frank Crowther and his orchestra play the music.