ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 299, 18 September 1928, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE THEATRE. “Good Morning, Judge,” popular Reginald Denny’s latest comedy for the Universal concern, is the feature now screening at the De Luxe Theatre. Harry O. Hoyt wrote the original screen story, and Earle Snell the adaptation, and Beatrice, Van tlie continuity. The story concerns a young society blade, Freddie Grey, who is arrested In a brawl following a prize light. He spends the night in gaol, loses his wallet, and has his line paid the next day by a beautiful heiress whose hobby Is reforming criminals. He conceals his identity and goes in for being reformed at her mission for homeless tramps. She is singularly attracted by him, but her interest is complicated by a series of events which might seem to Indicate he is far from re; forming. To complicate matters further, her sister shows up as a friend of the beautiful mission worker and threatens to expose him. How he evades exposure and defeats some real crooks who are robbing their benefactor makes a picture filled witli interest, romance, and humour. Mary Nolan and Dorothy Gulliver play opposite the star. Good supports are also screened, and the usual excellent musical programme is supplied. “THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH.” For something out of the ordinary in the way of thrills, the spectacular circus picture, "The Greatest Show on Earth” Is said to take first place. This story of the sawdust ring will commence screening at the De Luxe Theatre on Friuay next at 8 o’clock, at matinee being held on Saturday at 2.30. The story is full of breath-taking incidents that hold the most sophisticated audience enthralled. Never before has such a remarkable circus story reached the screen. Bareback riders, trapezeists, clowns, horses, etc., all help to make up the circus picture. A show within a show, a picture yet a circus, and the atmosphere of the circus flashed on to the screen as the audience sits and enjoys the most entertaining sawdust ring story ever written. The' supporting programme is in keeping and includes big supports. The box plans are now open at the Bristol and at Aitken’s Book Arcade, or ring theatre 23—080. STRAND THEATRE. The arrival at Trentham racecourse and later on at 'the Royal Oak Hotel of the Tasman aviators is a feature support of interest or importance which the Strand Theatre alone is able to screen, for it lias the exclusive screening rights for this week. The Him was taken on Saturday afternoon, and screened at the theatre at the last evening session, which is, perhaps, rather a record. This excellently photographed record is screening at all sessions throughout the day. Audiences going to the Strand Theatre this week see from a hilarious new angle what happens behind tlie scenes in leading American educational institutions. And, incidentally, they are discovering why girl students prefer the athletic boys to the clever ones. Buster Keaton provides the enlightenment in his spectacular comedy, “College.” The frozen-faced star starts out as a bookworm, a university highbrow de luxe, and ho winds up as a bone-breaking, firebreathing 'varsity star. He does not become an athlete because he particularly likes strenuous sport, but because his sweetheart shames him into an ambition for physical prowess. “College” is a real comedy and a picture with a story which holds tho spectators’ interest all the time. Tlie climax of "College” is a boat race in which Keaton, as a coxswain, blunders his crew to victory while thousands of spectators look on. Among the actors and actresses who share laurels in Keaton's supporting cast are Ann Cornwall, the comedian’s loading lady; Grant Withers, and Florence Turner. It is supported by an “Our Gang” comedy, a gazette, a nature study, and an Eve’s Review. The complete programme is screened continuously from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. “College” is available for only one week’s screening at the Strand Theatre, and it will be followed, on Friday next, by what is considered to be the greatest sea picture of tho year, “Tlie Blood Ship.” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has stated that it is, as far as the story is concerned, the finest that lie has ever read, and the picture, in the able hands of Hobart Bosworth, Richard Arlen (of “Wings” fame), and Jacqueline Logan, is described as nothing short of magnificent. SHURA CHERKASSKY. Many of < tlie world’s greatest pianists have appeared in Wellington, but it is a long time since one has been as young as the 10-year-old Russian, Shura Cherkassky, who will give his first concert tonight at the Town Hall, under the direction of E. J. Gravestock, Ltd. In spite of the extraordinary reports which have preceded him, few of those who heard him in Australian cities expected the wonderful talent lie displayed at the keyboard. He is no ordinary child prodigy, for he lias the maturity of an artist three times his own age, it is said. The piano is for him an easy medium for revealing expression and musicianship’, and for establishing a wonderful intimacy, through his temperamental gift, between the composer and the audience. The boy compels his critics to judge him by the highest standards. Watching the stockily-built youth come to the stage with a stiff, short-paced gliding gait, bowing stiffly from the waist, crouching (at times) over Ills instrument, and playing as a finely endowed master of twice Ills years might play, musicians have asked, “Is this another Franz Liszt?” The programme to-night will commence with the majestic, "Organ Fantasy and Fugue in G Minor” (Bach-Liszt), Cherkassky’s interpretation of which entranced the Sydney critics, who declared that he "showed a reasoning far beyond his years, especially in disdaining mere energy, and adopting a serenely-controlled power in the dynamic contrasts of the fantasia, and a delightful' fluency and clarity of the fugue, tlie entrancing little theme or which was defined with subtle shades of meaning, and with true rhythmical beauty.” Tlie “Appassionato Sonata’ (Beethoven), "Barcarolle” (Chopin), Etudes Op. 10, No. 3. and Op. 25, No. 12 (Chopin), Scherzo in B Minor (Chopin), Prelude in G Minor (Rachmaninoff). “Reverie” (Debussv). “Kaleidoscope” (Hofmann), and the “Blue Danube Waltz” (Strauss-Schulz Elver) arc in Ills repertoire. The second concert will be given on Thursday night, and the third on Saturday. The box plans are at the Bristol and the day sales at the Grand Confectionery.

REGENT THEATRE. . „ The whirr of wings to a lad in ‘Wings was once a flight of fancy, but is now a stern reality and a duty. The breathless adventure that had filled his thoughts tor years is now the real thing. At last lie is setting out ou the Dawn Patrol, (hat hazardous duty of war pilots. But as the thrill palls with the frequency ot the patrol, there creeps into his heart something else. A thought that he has wronged Ills friend and the girl he loved, then out he goes to do aerial battle with the enemv. He discovers a lone 'plane, and has a lone light, and then he finds his pal was the man whom he has shot down. Filmed against a battleground of the sky, the picture is entwined with the romance of the love of two pals for one girl. There have been many great film productions of recent years, but of them all “Wings.” Paramount’s story of the air, which is now at tlie Regent Theatre, is perhaps the greatest; certainly there has been no greater. The effect of the film is enhanced by tlie realistic synchronised sound effects employed. Briefly this innovation in motion picture presentation is the reproduction for the audience of,tlie exact sound effects of the action of the film, and this is most effectively done, especially the droning of the engines and the rattle of machine-gun fire. In addition to “Wings” a film showing the landing of the Southern Cross at Christchurch, and “Knights of the Air,” which sketches the evolution of aviation,. are screened. A special’ musical score is also supplied by the orchestra, under Mr. Ivan Fosello. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. The Stiff y and Mo Revue Company, still keeps the flag flying at His Majesty’s Theatre. With their peculiar style of humour, that may not entertain everyone, tlie two Australian comedians manage to amuse, if not instruct their audiences with sundry sketches and eoniie cross-talk stunts. 1 Mo was at his best last night as an orderlyin the revuetie, “Oh, Eddie,” which had no particular objective, save to be a medium for his ludicrous sallies. Stiffy, as his fellow orderly, was amusing as the one who would butt into any tctc-a-tete between the oflicers and their lady friends. Miss Amy Rochelle figures as Eddie, and sang several ditties of a tuneful character. Perhaps the best individual number was “Hello, Cutie.” as sung by Sadie Gale, which was accompanied by a charming ensemble dance. Dan Weldon and Dan Dunbar appeared as the two oflicers, and Peter Brooks and Jack Kelleway (the latter a clever eccentric dancer) were responsible for smart songs, with a ballet ( accompaniment. In the first part Sadie Gale sang of her "Antonio.” in dialect, and Amy Rochelle was the soloist in a pretty crinoline and moonlight seena entitled "The Memory of a Song,” the setting being quite picturesque, and Dan Weldon sang “Barbara,” with the assistance of the well-dressed Radio Six. The Charleston Jazz Hand was again a feature of the programme. serving up in good style all manner of saxophone cacophony. They were particularly effective in their treatment of “The Birth of tlie Blues” (solo by Miss Gale), and “My Blue Heaven.” The comic interludes included “Let’s Divide,” "Photographs” (witli Mo as the camera man). “Suicide.” “Watch the Fulls.” and “Mv Boat.” The orchestra, under Les. Clements, did good service, one small diversion revealing the conductor as a pleasing singer. KING'S THEATRE. “Telling the World,” a Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr production starring William Haines, is the current feature at the King’s The-

atre. The story concerns a youthful ne'er-do-well who gets a job on a newspaper and as his first assignment is told to interview the father who turned him out of the home. The boy, however, responds with an article on “Why Sons Leave Home.” Then a practical joke is played on him. He is sent to report a fictitious murder, but a murder does actually take place and he is on the spot. After that the thrills and the comedy develop into the outstanding picture of the year. Anita Page makes her debut to the screen opposite William Haines. Included in the supporting cast are Polly Moran, Bert Roach, Frank Currier and Eileen Percy. Heading the well-varied supporting programme is a film showing the landing of the Southern Cross at Christchurch, while delightful musical numbers are supplied by the orchestra. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Starring Victor McLaglen, “A Girl in Every Port” is the current feature at the Paramount Theatre. The story, based on an original by Howard Hawks, tells of the romantic adventures of a burly first mate on a ship, “Spike Madden.” His notebook records the names of eligible girls in Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Panama, Marseilles, and other ports of call, and his amorous adventures in each port .provide the plot. In addition to affairs of the heart, “Spike” provides thrills through his ability as a fighter, especially when he pulls his pal, Robert Armstrong, out of the many scrapes he manages to get into while Spike goes a-wooing. Louise Brooks heads the dozen beautiful girls who are the objects of Madden’s affections. In support are a gazette and comedy, witli delightful music by the orchestra, , QUEEN’S THEATRE. Mystery, love, and thrills make “The Lodger,” which heads the double feature programme now screening at the Queen’s Theatre, a gripping production. The story concerns “The Avenger,” a murderer, whose victims are always fair-haired girls. How “The Avenger” is finally brought to book makes a thoroughly interesting pic; ture. Ivor Novcllo is the featured player. The “Horseman of the Plains,” starring Tom Mix, is the second feature. Tom Mix and Tony are at their very best in this story of a champion rodeo rider who aids a destitute rancher and his beautiful daughter by winning a thrilling obstacle race. Capitol music is supplied by the orchestra. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. “Beau Sabreur,” the spectacular sequel to “Beau Geste,” both of which are from the pen of Major P. C. Wreu, will be screened again to-night at the Kilbirnie Kinenia. Wren’s story is laid in the quarters of the Foreign Legion at Algiers,, then switches to the vast Sahara Desert, where treacherous tribal chieftains will do to death anyone who interferes with their plots. Gary Cooper, Evelyn Brent, Noah Beery, and William Powell are the featured players. Good supports are also featured and appropriate music is supplied by the orchestra.