ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 71, 17 December 1928, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Amazing contrast incorporated in a logical story that grips, with outstanding performances by a great aggregation of plovers, makes Paramount's “Forgotten Faces” which is now screening at the Regent Theatre, an exceptional motion picture. Clive Brook, Mary Brian, Badlanova, William Powell, Fred Kohler, and Jack Ludcn bead the imposing list of talent in the cast The story Interest, unusual seis, vivid contrasts and dramatic value of the production entitle it to the rating of a special in the most complimentary sense of that term. Imagine a picture"that starts out with a night holdup of a fashionable gambling house perpetrated by two crooks in evening clothes, carries on to the grim interior of a penitentiary. shows an attempted prison break, gives intimate glimpses of social life in a home of wealth and culture and then depicts the terrified reaction of a woman being slowly driven mad by fear. A gazette, cartoon and comedy are also screened and bright music is supplied by the orchestra under Mr. Arthur Frost. An other big feature on this excellent pro■Titminc is the unique vaudeville production “Dancing Days.” The company Includes a Jazz band of twelve nerformers, two continental dancers, a bright ballet of seven and a singer of dainty songs. The whole turn is full of colour and brightness and should prove very popular. It is the very essence of jazz and the whole company, band, ballet and soloists enter intn the colourful performances with heart and soul. The master of ceremonies, Lester Sinclair, is not only an aide conductor but also a vocalist of merit aud his sin’e-lng of “Laugh. Clown. Laugh.” is one of the best things on the programme. “SPEEDY.” Harold Lloyd’s newest comedy. “Speedy.” will be the ’ Christmas attraction nt the Regent Theatre commencing on Friday next in conjunction with the second unique stage presentation entitled "Fads ami Fashions.” The children are being specially entered for during the afternoon sessions with a festival pantomime, "Little Red Riding Hood.” with a special cast of characters including the distinguished English dame, Lester Sinclair, and the four-year-old boy wonder, Little Nat. “Speedy" is said to be one of Lloyd’s most, enjoyable works, diverting, hilarloiis. and novel And nothing more could be asked of any comedian. Harold’s got a ear load of new gags, and a ton of laughs in this one ' Harold Lloyd shows the crowd a few tricks In a scrap, gives the audience the time of its life at Coney Island. America’s famed amusement park, and shows bow to make love between laughs. Anne Christie is the demure and pretty leading iadv that Harold lias with him this time. The plans will open for ‘‘Speedy” to-mor-row at the theatre and Bristol. DE LUXE THEATRE. “Home Janies” is the current feature at the De Luxe Theatre. Miss La Plante has an unusually good part in "Home’James, better even than most of her past successes. The blonde star is able to show her genius for comedy throughout the picture There arc many scenes that are outstanding, notably that in which she pantomimes her boss behind t lie trosteil glass door of the office. Another is that in the rain, when Charles Delaney, as the supposed chauffeur, saves her from a "masher.” "Home James" is the story of a department store clerk, played- by Miss La Plante, who comes to a big city to be an artist. Instead she sells art goods behind the counter of a large establishment in which she is merely a cog in the wheel. She becomes the main eog. however, when she meets the boss’s son while his father is awav. Thinking him a chauffeur, she permits herself to fall in love with him. The truth comes out after about five reels of fun. The boss permits the marriage, however, when he loarns that the cirl made his son work harder than ever before, Charles Delaney has an opportunity for a clever performance ns the sou. George Pearce is the father. Others in the capable east are Aileen Manning. Joan Standing. Arthur Hoyt, and Sidney Bracy. The direction of William Beaudiue was responsible for much of the success of the scenes. A gazette, cartoon, anil eomeil.v are also shown, and the usual excellent musical programme is supplied. “UNCLE TOM’S CABIN."

The Universal production, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” is announced by the management of the De Luxe Theatre to commence a season on December 28. with matinees daily. Over two million dollars was spent in the making of the film of Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, taking nineteen months for the actual filming, it is claimed. More than five thousand players appear in the massive production in support of a cast of all-star magnitude. Its showing here is the fruition of the desires of innumerable motion picture enthusiasts. Probably no other picture has had the extensive preparation of this one. the director. Harry Pollard, having spent eleven years in research. It was In 1914 that Pollard knew lie would some day direct his masterpiece and every waking hour since then, when he was not engaged upon other pictures, wits devoted to plans for the making of "Uncle Tom.” Extensive trips by artisans and craftsmen were made throughout the,, entire South for eight, months prior to commencement of filming in order that historical, atmospheric, and details might he authentic. Later, the entire company visited the actual scene of the famous novel, filming sequences In the very surroundings Immortalised by Mrs. Stowe. The Kate Adams, noted Mississippi sidewheeler, was chartered for nine weeks, two weeks having been spent by technicians in its metamorphosis into the La Belie Riviere, of the book. The most pretentious sets ever erected were constructed at Universal City, exact replicas of actual homes in the South being matte for the Shelby. St. Clare, and Legree plantations, as well as the many other interesting and unusual settings. The cast is a

noted one, headed by such famous artists as Margarita Fischer, Arthur Edmund Carew, George Siegmann, Lucien Littlefield, John Roche. Gertrude Astor, Nelson McDowell, and James B. Lowe. DE LUXE THEATRE CHRISTMAS ATTRACTIONS. The De Luxe Theatre management announce special Christmas programmes which will commence next Friday. Matinees will be held for four weeks starting on Friday with two noteworthy attractions, on the first week’s 1,111. the pictorial section being represented by Reginald Denny’s latest comedy, "Red Hot Speed," in addition to an elaborately staged tabloid pantomime, which will be presented at both matinee and night sessions (including Christmas Day and night) for one week only. Burlesque versions of "Babes in the Wood,” “Little Rod Riding Hood,” and ‘other popular juvenile pantomime offerings are to be presented with special music and lighting effects in addition to elaborate dressings and background. Emanuel Aarons is responsible for the writing and production of this and performers (players and ballet members) numbering over forty accomplished children, are from the Eileen Wilson School of Dancing. A series of hilariously disconcerting situations. a thoroughly capable and well chosen cast and bright and witty titling combine to make tlie Universal attraction "Red Hot Speed” a picture of outstanding value, it itt said. It also brings once again to the screen tlie most popular star, Reginald Denny, in what is said to lie one or tlie best comedies lie lias appeared in for some considerable time. Many amusing ingredients form Hie nucleus of th-? comedy-drama. In “Red Hot Spend" Denny is seen in his old inimitable style. He is, supported by Alice Day. while others in the cast include Thomas Ricketts. Charles Byer. Do Witt Jennings. Fritzi Ridgway, arid Hector V. Sarno. Box plans are available at the Bristol. Beggs and Aitken's Book Arcade. STRAND THEATRE. “Two Lovers," now screening nt the Strand Theatre, is good entertainment. Au intorestlug romance interspersed with a dramatic and thrilling mystery angle, the picture is Samuel Goldwyn's best, and also the best of the co-starring films of that successful and popular pair, Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky. Adapted by Alice D. G. Miller, the original source of this film, which was excellently directed bv Fred Niblo. was that beloved thriller. “Leatherface," by Baroness Orezy. Always there has been .interest in the forced marriage of the two “enemies." Lenora de Vargas of Spain, and Mark Van Ryeke, of Flanders—and always a thrill over "I.eatherf.'tce.” that mysterious masked one who stood between the conquering Spaniards and the subject Flemings, 'for the benefit of the latter. Tho vogue of “The Cat and the Canary” and “The Thirteenth Chair” prove the vogue of mystery—but in "Two Lovers.” Mr. Goldwyn and Mr. Niblo have given a delightful combination of both romance and mystery. The cast is excellent. Noah Beery, Nigel de Brulier. Virginia Bradford. Helen Jerome Eddy, Daul Lukas (an interesting new Hungarian discovery). Harry Alien, Fred Esmelton. and Marcella Day. all give excellent performances and are well cast. A word of praise must be said for the sets bv Carl Oscar Borg. They are always beautiful nnd tremendous in size. The 'streets of Ghent stand as one of the best worked-out mass scones of the sort on the screen, and the producer’s claim is that one scene is one of the biggest ever built. Good supports are also screened, and appropriate music Is supplied by the orchestra. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. “Lost in the Arctic," the photographic record of the northern explorations of Sidney Snow and his father, tho late IL A. Snow, heads the double feature programme now screening at the Paramount Theatre. This picture is, without doubt, one of the most fascinating and Interesting pictures ever seen here, for its presentation of Arctie life comes as a distinct noveltv in Instruction through the film. Contributing to the effectiveness of this presentation are the natural sound effects contributed through the medium of Fox Movietone accompaniment. One is shown shots of birds and intrigued by their screams ns they fly off. tjie terrifying winds of a North Pacific gale bowl, seal island on the Bering Sea with its barking seals, and, further inland, startled reindeer. Then a whale is harpooned and after a few more stops, the expedition reaches Nome, t.he outpost of the North. There are numerous shots of Eskimos in their native haunts, and sequences dealing with the home life and capture of walrus nnd polar bears. The second feature. “Win That Girl." stars Sue Carrol : nil David Rollins, while acceptable music is supplied by the orchestra. KING’S THEATRE. Teeming with beauty, laughter and thrills, the latest Fox Films production. “None But the Brave,” which is now screening nt the King’s Theatre, is tlie story of the evolution of an egotistical college vouth into a man of the world. Charles ‘Morton, talented young Fox player, has the leading male role with Sally Phipps playing opposite him. Some of the most interesting scenes in the picture are given in technicolor. The supporting cast is exceptionally good and includes Farrell Macdonald, Sharon Lynn, Billy Butts, Alice Adair and Tom Kennedy. James Gruen and Fred Stanley collaborated in the writing of the story which was directed by Albert Ray. A Gazette and comedy are also screened ami delightful music is supplied by the orchestra, under Mr. A. H. Jerome. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. The programme being presented at His Majsty's Theatre this week by Mike Connors and Queenie Paul with their “League of Notions" Revue Company is fully up the high standard set by the company. Syd. Beck, the company's principal comedian. Is in merry vein and scores heavily In the many clever sketches, which include “A New Indoor Sport,” “Short

Stories from Ijife,*’ “Getting- Annie's Garter,” “In the Navy,” “The Invisible Tonic” and “The Mau Who Looks Like Me.” The popular duets of Queenie Paul and Mike Connors include “Back in Your Own Backyard," Linn Smith and his melody boys provide bright jazz music, and the remainder of the company give good support to their principals. QUEEN’S THEATRE. “Metropolis” and "The Adventurer” are tlie two big features now being screened at the Queen's Theatre, "Metropolis." a U.F.A. production, is a marvellous film. It looks into the future, when machinemade men rule the earth. The sets are. astounding; huge buildings rise miles inlo the air; there are streets on all levels, nnd huge aeroplanes circle round the buildings. Tim McCoy and Dorothy Sebastian are the stars of “The Adventurer.” the second feature. The story deals with a South American State in revolution. with McCoy having all kinds of nilventures. Approprinte music is also supplied by the orchestra. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Richard Arlen and Clara Bow head an excellent cast in “Ladies of the Mob." n Paramount film of the great New York underworld. Tlie story concerns the. activities of Yvonne, who is the daughter of a murderer, and who has sworn to avenge her father’s execution by preying on society Red (Richard Arlen), an expert guninan. falls in love with Yvonne, and together they steal, and hold tip wealthy people at the point of the revolver. The picture reaches a thrilling climax when Yvonne, in order to save her lover from the electric chair, has to wound him In the shoulder. Lefty Flynn has the loading role in tliy other attraction. “Smilin at Trouble.” a dramatic story of a great engineering feat. Tlie box plan is available at the confectionery next to tlie theatre, or reservations may be had by telephone (14—-202). “QUEST OF THE CASSOWARY.” Large audiences were thoroughly entertained by the pupils of Chilton St. .Tames School. Lower Hutt, on Friday and Saturday nights with “The Quest of the Cassowary,” the fantastic story of which was written by Miss N. V. Mason and the music of which Miss Ella Benbow was the composer. Obviously the fruit nf much painstaking work. “The Quest of the Cassowary” was a credit to all concerned. The first scena is in the Royal Palace, which is tilled with suitors of the princess. With a royal brainwave, His Majesty solves tlie‘question as.to who should mnrrj’ his daughter, the lucky one being he who answers the riddle. "Why was the Cassowary ?” The trouble is that none of the suitors know quite what a cassowary is. so the quest is long and arduous, leading, amongst other places, through enchanted glades and Eastern bazaars. When in the end the cassowary is run tn earth, the princess has given her heart to another. This is a season of children’s amateur performances and tho production of Chilton St. James School has been one of the best. ADELPHI CABARET. The popular golliwog parties at the Adelphi Cabaret are to be visited by Father Christmas - every afternoon this week. Father Christmas will distribute toys and balloons to every small patron, while the golliwogs will keep the fun going. —