ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 122, 21 February 1928, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Bobo Daniels is the star of “She’s a Sheik,” the big feature now at the Regent 'Theatre. Richard Arlen William Powell and Josephine Dunn support the star. Miss Daniels is seen as the grand, daughter of a sheik and is given ample opportunity to display both her charms and her acting abilities. She tights a duel with the man she hates, kidnaps the man she loves, tries to tame him, and change his hate into love, saves the French Foreign Legion troops when surrounded by Arabs, prevents a shooting squad from kliling her iiance, and all against a background of clever comedy. Max, Moritz, and Akka, the three monkey stars, will be seen for the last time today and to-night. Good supports are also shown and excellent incidental music is supplied by the orchestra. KWONG SING WAH. Headed by its giant leader, the Kwong Sing Wah troupe of Chinese athletes, acrobats, and magicians will open its Wellington season at the Regent Theatre to-morrow at the matinee. One of the highost-pajd acts ever engaged by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., their performance is an astounding one. overshadowing the brilliance of Long Tack Sam. The members of the troupe are drawn from Suchow, Peking, Tientsin, and Shanghai, all being of the race of Northern Chinese, men who are giants compared with the average Chinese seen in Wellington streets. Kwong Sing Wah himself is a great specimen of manhood, 6ft. in height, and built like an Atlas. The troupe recently toured America and Europe, returning home when their bonds expired. Their troubles began in their homeland, two of them being shanghaied into the Northern army. They at last reunited and got clear nf the squabbles. The two amazing boys of the troupe, Ah Loong and Sun Shun, had to be smuggled away from China. This was not difti. cult for Sun Shun, who is a marvellous contort!ionist; he stayed quietly in the bottom of a kit-bag until he was safely on board the steamer. Regular and assiduous training keeps the acrobats keyed up to the form which is necessary for the dangerous acts of diving through circles of knives and keeping sensational balances. But heredity has a lot to do with efficiency. * Acrobats are taught their profession from the cradle in China, and the father’s occupation is handed down to the son. The ancestors of the troupe have been acrobats for generations and generations. The performance is extraordinarily wide, embracing exhibitions of magic, juggling, contortionism, plate, spinning, magical acrobatics and balancing, and diving through rings of knives and fire. The box plans are filling rapidly at the theatre, ’phone 44—144, and Bristol.

JJE LUXE THEATRE. Starring George O'Brien, supported by Virginia Valli J. Fa.rrell McDonald and William “Paid to Love” is the feature now at the De Luxe Theatre. Tho story of ‘‘Paid to Love” tells of a young prince who was more interested in machinery than girls. His father, the king, desired an heir, and was ’displeased. Then, with the aid of an American. lie finds the Parisian dancing girl, hoping that she will arouse the prince’s belated fancy for the fair. She does. But the king had expected it to be merely a temporary affair, after which a lady of royal blood would attract his youthful highness. It doesn't work out that way, but everybody is happy and tho prince does finally marry. Good supports are also shown, and the usual excellent musical programme is supplied. “VERY CONFIDENTIAL.”

Considered the most hilarious comedy ever recorded by the camera, and showing: beautiful Madge Bellamy at her best, “Very Confidential,” whim commences screening at the De Luxe Theatre on Friday next, is an extra special attraction. .. Not since the days of Mabel Normand has the screen developed a. more sympathetic actress than Madge Bellamy. In this uicture JSLisa Bellamy sets her heart upon winning the love of iv stalwart football hero, and she is kept busy inventing new excuses to keep in bis good graces. She starts by posing as a courageous big-game hunter, and finishes by doing an amazing stunt that would be a credit to the world’s champion automobile racer. A big supporting programme will be presented, including a scenic, comedy and latest Gazette. The box plans are now open at the Bristol Piano Company, Aitken’s Book Arcade, or ring theatre, ’phone 23—080. KING’S THEATRE. Starring Raymond Keane and Barbara Kent, “The Lone Eagle,” a Universal production, is the feature now screening at the King's 'Theatre. It. is the story of an American youth who joins the British Flying Corps. The boy is at first afraid of fighting in the air, then he falls in love with Mimi, a beautiful French girl, and boasts of his imaginary victories in the clouds. Then, in shame, he confesses to his cowardice, and, finding she still loves him. he forgets whar fear is. and after many sliiriiig adventues brings down a famous Hun “ace.” Included in the supports arc a gazette and laghable comedy, while excellent incidental music ia supplied by the orchestra. “BEN HUR.” Tho box plans for the second extended season at Wellington of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s remarkable picture success, “Ben Hur,” indicp.te that keen public interest is evinced in the coming of the picture to the King’s Theatre on Friday next at 2.30. Applications for seats are coming in briskly. To relieve the evening sessions, daily matinees will be given at 2.30. “Ben Hur’s” success throughout the Dominion is in the nature of a triumphal march, for the management asserts that new records in picture attendances have been established in every town the film has visited, without exception. Its wide appeal attracts patrons of all ereeds and classes for the revenertial and artistic manner in which the notable story of the Man of Sorrows has been treated by the producers. The exciting chariot race is admitted to be the greatest spectacle of its kind ever recorded by a camera. Then there ia the reproduction of the fight at sea between the Roman ships and the Pirates of the Mediterranean. These latter scenes are thrilling in their realism. The colour scenes reproducing the works of the old Masters are very beautiful, and strike a note never before associated with motion pictures. Taken altogether, “Ben LLur” is a picture of art that should, in the words of the Reverend Gordon Bell. M.A.. “be seen by every man, woman and child in the community.” An introductory prologue of atmospheric character, entitled “The Star of Bethlehem,” with Mr. William Goudie aa baritone soloist, will precede th® screening each evening. Special music by the King's Orchestra will be an additional attraction. Box plans for the season are now at the Bristol, and are available one week ahead. “Ben Hur will be screened at popular prices. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. "Keep Smiling” is the name of the collection of songs, dances and sketches which Joe Brennan and his company are presenting at His Majesty’s Theatre this week. Joe Brennan is to the fore at all times, and keeps the house in right good humour by his clever fooling. Bell Barnes and Peggy Sharpe, two pretty girls, again provide a clever dance and song turn, and are recalled again and again. George Cotelli, possessor of a beautiful tenor voice, sings “Because” and “When Autumn Leaves are Falling.” Gus Dawson provides a clever singing and novelty dancing turn, in which he is assisted by Dell Barnes and G. W. Desmond introduces another of hit? clever eccentric dances. Maisie and Keith Sommerville do a sailors’ hornpipe, and Muriel Wilton, the clever Wellington dancing girl, again scores heavily, “The Inaudible Actors.” “The Woman Over the Road.” “The Huggins Give a Musical Evening," and "Joe’s Marriage” are the best of the clever sketches, while the pretty ballet of sii

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. “For the Love of Mike,” a delightful comedy-drama, is the big feature now at the Paramount Theatre. The story is abount a foundling who is discovered bv three men living in a notorious dis. trict of New York. The men are an Irishman, a German, and a Jew. All claim the the little youngster, but compromise at last by agreeing to bring him up co-operatively, so to speak. As the boy grows up and becomes captain of the Yale crew, the interest of the story increases. The crew race is authentically that between Yale and Harvard, and is unusually exciting. Ben Lyon plays thu boy and George Sidney, Ford Sterling, and Hugh Cameron are seen in excellent characterisation as the “fathers.” Both Claudette Colbert, who is seen as Ben’s childhood sweetheart, and Mabel Swor, who portrays the Fifth Avenue blonde who strives to make Ben forget his old pals and join her set, give a splendid performance. A stage prologue. with beautiful scenic is presented by Colin Crane and Miss Kimbell. Good supports are also shown, and delightful music is supplied by the orchestra, under Mr. L. D. Austin. “BRIGADIER GERARD.” The screen version of “Brigadier Gerard,” adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, “The Adventures of Gor_ ard,” comes to the Paramount Theatre on Friday next. Etienne Gerard, grandson of a Basque innkeeper, is ambitious to serve Napoleon. He gets his chance when Countess de Launay, one of Napoleon’s spies, arrives at the inn with papers which Talleyrand has agreed to steal from her. Etienne and the countess fall in love and he helps her to escape with the papers, after Talleyrand has had him locked up. As a reward, Gerard is made a captain in a crack regiment. He innocently boasts of his exploits to his brother officers, and. when they laugh at him, he challenges all of them. AH accept for the next morning. That night the countess arrives with Napoleon’s orders that Gerard escort her secretly to Talleyrand's house to recover a certain treaty that Talleyrand has obtained dishonestly. When Gerard hesitates, the countess tells him that Napoleon’s commands come before affairs of honour and they leave. “Brigadier Gerard” will be preceded by a suitable atmospheric prelude by Colin Crane, and Mr. L. D. Austin has compiled a special musical score for his Orchestra Paramount. EMPRESS THEATRE. Starring George Jessel. who is supported by Patsy Ruth Miller, “Private Izzy Murphy” heads the current programme at the Empress Theatre. “Private Izzy Murphy” is the story of Izzy Goldberg, a young delicatessen Keeper of New Yui'K, and of his dealings with the Irish. For business reasons lie decides to change his name to “Murphy.” and goes overseas wit'i an Irish regiment under that name. Tho story docs not burlesque racial traits, but is <a play with that “louch of nature.” which “makes the whole world kin.” The second big feature is “White Flannels,” featuring Louise Dresser, Jason Robands and Virginia Brown Fa ire. It is tlie story of a poor mother io win education for her son, and is a poignant drama of mother love. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Aside from a thrilling romance, filled with action and vivid colour, “■Spoilers of the West,” now at the Queen’s Theatre, permits Tim McCoy. Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer star, to bring to the screen his best acting since he. began starring in historical films more than a. year ago. “Spoilers of the West” is a tale of the attempted enforcement of the treaty with Red Cloud, famous Sioux warrior. Most of the scenes were taken in Wyoming on histurical IToutier spots which give the picture splendid backgrounds from a scenic and photographic angle. Marjorie Daw does convincing work as the heroine of the film, and William Fairbanks makes a splendid heavy.” In support are a. gazette, comedy and New Zealand scenic, with capital ii cidcutal musJ j.