ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 33, 2 November 1928, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE THEATRE. “SUNRISE.” “Sunrise,” hailed as a greater picture than “What Price Glory,” though of an entirely different nature, will be the attraction at the De Luxe Theatre to-night. This will be the first showing here of the first picture made in America by the noted European director, F. W. Murnau, the man who upset all Hollywood traditions and New York standards of excellence during tiie long runs of the picture in both places. No picture has ever been heralded for so great a number of novelties as are said to be shown in “Sunrise.” In the first place it has only twenty-four sub-titles. In the average picture the printed word takes up just about one-fifth of all the film. In other words the ten-reel production consists of eight reels of pictures and two reels of printed matter. But through the genius of Mr. Murnau, the story runs along at such a rapid pace and is so concretely and plainly revealed through the camera that only a minimum of sub-titles are necessary. Another novelty claimed for “Sunrise” is the fact that the story is laid in no particular country. Its rural scenes are reminiscent of Northern Europe, but its urban views are typical of any of the larger American cities, but all the scenery, whether rural or urban, defies identification with any place known to the geographies. All the sets were especially built for the picture while it was being made in the William Fox studies in Hollywood. Tiie cast of “Sunrise” is headed by Janet Gaynor, tiie star of "Seventh He.aven,” and George O’Brien. The scenario was supplied by Carl Mayer, who collaborated witli Mr. Murnau on “The Last Laugh.”. “Sunrise” will be preceded by an elaborate stage prologue. Sir. H. F. Wood, Wellington’s popular tenor, will sing the theme song “Sunrise and Ypti.” REGENT THEATRE. California hills arid canyons, near Hollywood, furnish the background for the new Wallace Beery-Raymond .Hatton melodramatic comedy of mountaineer life, “The Big Killing,” which will show at the Regent Theatre to-day for the first time. In selecting the outdoor exteriors, care was taken to choose scenery similar to that of the mountain locale portrayed. The log cabin homes of the warring families were constructed with great attention to detail, and are said to be perfect reproductions of homes in the section of the mountainous United States in which the picture is laid. The story deals with an inter-family feud in this backwoods section, a love affair whicli is its cause and a pair of circus performers, posing as sharpshooters, who are its cure. Members of the cast, in addition to Beery and Hatton, are Mary Brian, Lane Chandler, Gardner James, and several other well-known players. Miss Brian is cast as the mountain girl who loves a hereditary enemy of her family. Gardner James has the role of the sweetheart and Lane Chandler is his brother. In addition to “Tiie Big Killing,” Esther Ralston appears in what is claimed to be her greatest screen success, ‘“Tiie Sawdust Paradise.” The box plans are open both at the theatre and Bristol this morning.

FULLER-GONSALEZ GRAND OPERA Booking for the return season of the Fuller-Gonsalez Italian Grand Opera Company, which will commence on Tuesday next, is going on apace, and (hose who have not already secured tlielr scats would bfc well advised to make their reservations and so avoid almost certain disappointment. For the first five nights the operas chosen for presentation are the following: —Tuesday. “Lucia di Lammermoor”; Wednesday, “La Traviata”; Thursday, “The Burlier of Seville”; Friday, “Lohengrin”; Saturday, "Un Ballo in Maschera.” With the exception of “Lohengrin,” all of these operas were given here during tiie company’s previous visit, but so large was the number of people who were unable to get seats that the management decided to repeat these favourites. In the first three operas Signorina Olga Poletti will appear, so that Wellington music lovers will have every opportunity of hearing this distinguished prima donna before she leaves New Zealand on November 9 for Italv, where she is to fulfil an important engagement in Milan, tiie home of grand opera. Special orchestral arrangements are being made for the return season, and Signor Giovanni Gonsalez is to direct an orchestra which is reported to have been greatly improved and augmented.

STRAND THEATRE. “Tiie Butter and Egg Man,” the screen version of the famous stage play hit, with tiie title role and tiie part of stage actress enacted by Jack Mulhall and Greta Nissen respectively, will head the big double-fea-ture programme to cpinmence screening at the Strand Theatre to-day. Leading lady and heroine are combined in the screen version of “The Butter and Egg Man, with even more Intriguing romance, drama and comedy than the stage play, it is stated The blond beauty and Scandinavian fire of Miss Nissen makes her an ideal actress for the feminine leading role. Mulhall portrays trie small town boy who spends his last cent on a wild investment in play production on Broadway. Prominent in the supporting cast of the picture are Gertrude Astor, Sam Hardy and YVilliam Demarest. Richard Wallace directed the picture. Willliam Bovd. star of “Dress Parade,” his first stelihr vehicle under tiie De Mille banner, is recognised as one of the most popular male stars of the screen. Boyd has, within two years, risen from obscurity to nation-wide prominence on his merits as an actor and ills engaging personality. Starting with “The Road to Yesterday,” “Steel Preferred,” “Jim Tiie ..Conqueror,” and rising to a pinnacle of fanie in “The Volga Boatman,” his advance has never faltered. “Dross Parade” is a story of West Point, and deals with the life of a military cadet. For four weeks at West Point, Boyd was an active picture star. This picture is the second big' feature of tiie programme. Appropriate musical items will be played. MARGARET BANNERMAN SEASON. “Other Men’s Wives,” starring the famous English actress, Miss Margaret Bannerman. concluded a successful season at (lie Grand Opera House last night. The wonderful acting of the star was outstanding. The supporting cast, which was specially chosen for (lie tour, was worthy of the standard set by the loading lady. “Our Betters,” which will commence a short season to-night, is said to present Somerset Maugham at his best. In the play the leading characters are all Americans. “One feels that Maugham Intends to contrast the go-get-there ruthlessness of pioneer peoples In the ‘West,’ with the settled philosophy of life which has been worked out over many centuries in Europe.” Lady George Grayson and her associates have been described ns pursuing the even tenors of their mirky way witli a wealth of biting satire. Lady George pursues a Cabinet Minister, mid spends two fortunes, sells her own soul, her dignity, and even her father’s memory, to make her house a centre or worldly gaiety and heartless brilliance. Maugham is, said to draw real flesh and Mood women, who pay day by day and inch by inch for the absurd ambitions they have set themselves. Lady George makes a loveless marriage with ,an English aristocrat, and in his absence the one amusement she permits herself is filching other people’s lovers, and right well does she succeed. Miss Bannerman acts the part of Lady George Grayson with, it is said, wonderful skill. Maugham himself has expressed the greatest approbation of her acting In this part. Iler versatility has been described as amazing, and she wears throughout some beautiful frocks. Sho receives tremendous help from a distinctive cast. “Sexes and Sevens” and. “Diplomacy” will follow. Box plans at the Bristol. PARAMOUNT~THEATRE. Reported to be one of the best and most unusual comedy dramas produced for a long time, “The Big Noise,” a First National film, will open to-night at the Paramount Theatre. A full orchestral matinee will be given to-morrow at 2.30. It is based on a story written directly for the screen by Ben Hecht, the prominent short story writer and novelist. Hecht has drawn from his vast experiences as a reporter and feature writer in Chicago dailies for his plot for “The Big Noise,” which Involves a political campaign in which a nonentity is made famous through publicity for a short space of time, then is dropped back into oblivion when the purpose lias been served. Chester Conklin lias the best role of his career as the “headliner” who rises to fame with breathtaking rapidity and sinks into obscurity at the same bewildering speed. Alice White and Jack Egan have the Ingenue and juvenile leads respectively, and Sain Hardy and Ned Sparks, both veteran troupers, play important comedy roles. David Torrance, Bodil Rosing, Fred O Beck and other prominent players are supporting roles. An excellent supporting programme is promised, and the Para-

mount Orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. 11. R. Caulton, will play the music. Box plans are available. at the Bristol and the Utility (next the theatre).

KING’S THEATRE. It has been almost a tradition in pictures that once any actor established himself in a certain type of lole he must continue playing’ it if he is to'ren.au popular with the rule' varro has never capitulated to that rule. The simple fact is that “ S rcat can handle any human roe, that is, a role that is true to life. If ho cannot, he is only a “type.” not an actor. In A Certain Young Man.” Ills newest starring vehicle for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which is commence screening to-night at the Kin,, s Theatre, for instance, Ramon forgets such splendid characterisations aS “Ben Hur,” “The Student Prince. • and the starring roles he played in Across to Singapore,” and “The Road to Romance, anti portrays an ultra-modern youm? E 1 15” lish nobleman with, it is said, the artist’s talent. The story is a sP arl ” lin » romance with Novarro the centre of a swirl of fashionable admirers, and when ho meets the right girl complications ensue which provide a touch of real drama, thrills without end, and an unexpected ending. Marceline Day appears a PP osi f e the star as leading lady, and usually acquits herself with the highest honours. Senee Adoree and Carmel Myers are two more favourites who appear in thet same cast. The supporting programme Jn eludes Metro News Film, comedy, and New Zealand E hic 'j Hure S The of Kingsford Smith s King’s Orchestra will play the incidental music. . QUEEN’S THEATRE. Fox’s great dramatic attraction, “Oxer the Hill, will commence a return season in Wellington to-night at the Queen s Theatre following on its sensational successes ln r Ch?ls?chui-ch and Auckland recently Tiie re-issue of this superb production is enjoying return seasons universalis on a scale comparable to its 411111(11 triumphs when presented a few years a„o. Over the Hill” is an unusual picture. It does not depend upon the eternal triangle for its sustained interest, nor require mob scenes to bolster up shortcomings in plot. There is something so sweet and wholesome and interesting in tlm story that the blase New Yorker has seen fit to giie it his patronage and enthusiasm ever sla^„ 5t J^ as , first shown there in September, 19-0. Paul H. Sloane adapted Hie story from Mbl Carleton’s “Farm Ballads and Harry 3111“ larde directed it. William Fox, its producer, has supplied a corps of singularly competent players. The Queen’s orchestra will plnv a specially arranged programme or incidental music. The box plan is available at the Bristol. Application may be made at theatre (phone 22—334) also for rcseriatlons.

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE George Ward and liis “Wheel of Mirth revue company continue to hold sway at His Majesty’s Theatre, where they have become deservedly popular. Hermie Schultz is the chief mirth-maker, and he appears very much to advantage in the uianv clever sketches with which the programme is studded. Some oL the l> est of these aro "Matrimonial Bliss, Listening In,” “Villainy Vanquished, and Keep Cool." The last-named is a story without words—a restaurant, a man, and an “dvo"turess, doped wine, a stolen wad, little Hermie as tho antidote. Dell Barnes and Peggy Sharpe are two prettj girls witli a fascinating way who in Bcailtl ful” provide one of the most P op ' llar , tu j on the programme. Dave Meredith and his Melodv Five provide the jazz music, uffiich seems so necessary In mid the ballet of six form, an attract!!e background to many of the numbers. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Another well-chosen gramme will be screened at Kinema commencing to-night, The Mag nlfleent Flirt,” featuring 1< iorence Vidor, is a story of modern, f.ay-’aasMng Paris, set In tho homes of the wealthy and in the famous safes and cabarets, jjj® feature, “Steel Preferred,” is a strong dra matic • storv liberally punctuated vitli laughs, it is stated. Notable screen players, Including Vera Reynolds, William Boyd, Hobart Bosworth, and Charlie Mur ray are featured. Reservations may .be made at the confectioners in the theatre building or by telephoning the theatre, 14—202. .