ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 79, 27 December 1928, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE THEATRE. “Red Hot Speed,” the star attraction at the De Luxe Theatre, shows the popular Reginald Denny in one of the funniest and best roles of his career. Playing opposite him in this amusing picture, which abounds with fun and folly from start to finish, is Alice Day, also a popular favourite. .She takes the part of a gay young flapper who spends most of her time in pretending to be an oldfashioned girl to her father, who has implicit trust in her. The real fun starts when Denny makes out his case for the prosecution against a pretty young lady who had unwittingly slipped on the accelerator of the high-powered car with the result that she did 38 miles per hour on al5 mile per hour area. On the way to court the young lady collides with Denny, and when he later sees her charged with speeding he takes a fiendish delight in cruelly cross-examining her. He tells the judge she is about the worst woman in the world, with the result that she is placed on parole for 90 days under his care. With such a spirited subject the task is not easy, particularly when she accents his stern tehchings with silent resignation. It does not take Dennv long, however, to find out that the girl is not so bad ns he had painted her, and it becomes a burning question as to how he can persuade the judge who made the order for the guardianship that the girl is really above that sort of thing. Matters eventually turn out hanpv for the couple, but more by good luck than design, even when they sneak into n room for safety from the nol'ce to discover they are in the office of the marriage license clerk. Also on the same programme is “Babes in the Wood, a most entertaining “tabloid pantomime. The dancing in this production is ot a very high standard indeed, the singing also being excellent. The supports are well up to the usual De Luxe standard. There will be a matinee this afternoon. “UNCLE TOM’S CABIN."

Next Friday at the De Luxe Theatre picturegoers will view what is described as one of the greatest productions in the industry's history, namely, Uncle Ipm s Cabin.” Universal’s £lOO,OOO film achievement, which has. broken all records in many of the world’s most noteworthy theatres. Matinees will take place daily for the one-week season. In all tne history of literature no work has the sensational universal populauty as that attributed to “Unclei Tom s Cabin, save the Bible. From 1852, when the novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe first startled an entire world, it has run into literally thousands of editions. it nas been translated into every known language and dialect on the face of the earth, as well as copied into the Braille, the printed language of the blind. Eten to-dav 75 years after publication, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” enjoys a supremacy in the literary world envied by noth budding and established authors. I rom the quantity-production, rough-paper, store editions, to the de luxe. bound gift copies, fortunes are still being made from the sale of the book. On the stage, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin has appeared in every known variety ot pie sentation. Tent show, wagon show, stock company, repertoire, tabloid, drama comedy—all have played 'lorn shows. Back in 1901. in Des Moines, lowa, “Uncle Turn’s Cabin” was presented in operatic form, just for one performance. It was not a success, due to unforeseen financial difficulties, but it quite rounded out the gamut of varieties

of stage production. Recently, radio station WGBS, in New York, broadcast “Uncle Tom’s Cabin ’ as a radio play. It brought thousands of appreciative responses from fans thousands of miles distant. ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin” took almost two years to film, and is expected to make screen history, being the most stupendous motion picture ever to have reached Wallington. Harry Pollard, responsible for the success of some noteworthy pictures, is the directorial genius responsible for “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Box plans are available at the Bristol, Begg’s, and Aitkens. “THE TRAIL OF ’98.”

“The Trail ' of ’98,” Metro ; GoldwynMayer’s stupendous screen version of the Klondike gold rush, will be shown at the De Luxe Theatre on Friday, January 4. It is said that the stark realism of this titanic production was largely contributed by advisors in the company who had taken part in the original stampede to Alaska in ’9B. It is certain that movie lovers have never yet experienced thrills of the magnitude of those _ which , are awaiting them in “The Trail of 'JB. There are 15.000 extras in the picture, besides Ralph Forbes, Dolores Del Rio, and a huge cast of 35 well-known players. A veritable “city on wheels,” the first of its kind ever constructed, made possible the filming of “The Trail of ’98,” which is a great epic of the frozen north. In order to cope with the many serious difficulties identified with the filming of the Chilkoot Pass sequence, negotiations were made with a railroad company, whereby the “city on wheels” was especially constructed. More than a mile of ■ side track was constructed near Corona, Colorado, and an enormous number of sleeping cars were sent up to accommodate the housing demanils of over 3000 people. Cars were converted into hospitals, laboratories for the development and projection of film, homes for live stock, a post office, and recreation halls. Special snow ploughs kept the road open day and night, and all cars steam-heated for the comfort of animals and men. The director, Clarence Brown, reigned a veritable monarch in this remarkable “city.” REGENT THEATRE. “Speedy,” the star attraction at the Regent Theatre, features the famous Harold Lloyd, the horn-rimmed spectacles comedian, who is said to be the highestpaid laugh-maker in the world at the present time. In "Speedy,” Harold takes the part of a young man whose only thought in life is the thought of baseball. He has several good opportunities with different employers to get on. but his unfortunate obsession loses him his position every time, because he can talk of nothing else but the American national game. Harold, however, eventually becomes a hero, and in so doing, wins a pretty girl for life. Ann Christy plays opposite the great comedian, and acts her part to perfection. Also on the same programme, is a vaudeville section, which would be very hard to beat for first-class entertainment. The second big stage presentation known as “Fads and Fashions,” which abounds with music, song, and dance, is proving very popular. Stella Lamond, who meets with loud applause every time she appears, sings, and gives some clever impersonations. which inelude, “I Wonder Who’s Her Daddy Now,” “He Said, and I Said,” and “After Laughter Came Tears.” Porter ami Came (from the Palaeo Royal, Sydney), do “The Original Dixie Stop,” the Blnckbottom. and other dances. The scintillating seven do a thrilling acrobatic finale, “Lingerie F.r'let.” while the Regent Syncupators scoia with the latest jazz

tunes. This afternoon, at 2.15, “Little Red Riding Hood,” the children s special Christmas pantomine, will be presented. I eslie Sinclair takes the part of the auras- £ old dame, while little Nat, the clevet child performer, is also m tnc cast. “Speedy” will be shown at the matinee while in the evening there vs ill be “Speedy” ’and a stage presentation, I ads and Fashions.” ,! ROSE MARIE.” Filmed in Canada and in the Yosemite Valiev. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer s lavish screen 'version of “Rose M«>'i® Wll be screened at the Regent Theatre tomorrow (Friday), commencing at the matinee. The film provides a most unusual thrilling screen entertainment. Again Rose Marie is seen lightly regarding all offers of love, until a boat filled with Indians comes with the spring along with 250 other trappers, and she accepts the assurance of one of them that he is an" honest man. Again and again she hides him. Again and again she helps him. Relentlessly the police hunt him. And so the thrilling and dramatic story of their beautiful romance is told against the most magnificent backgrounds ever seen on the screen. Headed by pretty Joan Crawford, the brilliant cast includes James Murray, House Peters, Polly Moran. Lionel Belmore, Creighton Hale, and Harry Gribbon, and supernumeraries numbering over 2000. Patrons will be thrilled again by the lilting melodies that made the play famous, while the romantic story sweeps along with its stirring action from the trading post where Rose Marie meets her man to the trapper’s hut where Jim Kenyon and the outlaw leader settle their feud once and for all. On the stage the third Regal stage presentation is "Oriental Nights.” This will no doubt be a huge attraction, and will serve to introduce for the first time those Continental dancers, Zenda and Mack, who will introduce several new dance creations. In the afternoons ' the pantomime “Red Riding Hood” will be staged in conjunction with “Rose Marie. The plans are open at the theatre and Bristol. STRAND THEATRE. “Two Lovers,” the star attraction now in its second successful week at the Strand Theatre, is a film that is well worth seeing. Those two popular stars, Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky, fill the leading roles and give an excellent portrayal of parts which call for most powerful acting. The story of “Two Lovers” has been taken from “Leatherface,” the well-known book of Baroness Orczy, whose works have enjoyed worldwide popularity for many years past. The story, which is a most fascinating one. is laid about the ever-stirring background of war. “Two Lovers” tells the story of Mark Van Rycke. son of the patrician burgomaster of Ghent, and of his secret adventures at “Leatherface,” mysterious and faithful aid to William Prince of Orange, who seeks to lead the enslaved country of Flanders to freedom from the oppressing hands of the Spaniards, Wild night rides, hair-raising duels (of wit as well as of sword), reveal Ronald Colman, as “Leatherface,’ in a role more colourful and varied than any other he has ever attempted, Vilma Banky is Lenora. Just when she begins to love him, Lenora makes a discovery about Mark that causes her to hate him. There is an excellent orchestra and some good supports.

' KING'S THEATRE. How a young man who has started a career of crime, alters his course in life through a chance meeting with the beautiful daughter of the detective who is

hunting him down, is told in “The River Pirate,” the star attraction showing at the King’s Theatre. The picture, which is a most thrilling one, features Victor McLaglen, the famous star of “W’hat Price Glory.” He interprets the role of Sailor Frank, a most notorious criminal, who spends his time serving sentences in prison, and in robbing warehouses on tlie river, and using violence when necessary to gain his own ends. While in gaol, he meets Sandy, a youth who has done very little wrong, and the big sailor helps the younger man to escape. Together, they commence a series of exploits against the law, but the introduction into Sandy’s life of the waterfront detective’s daughter, altars his career, and the youth decides to leave his sailor friend. At the same time, Caxto.n, the detective, lays a net to catch the sailor, learning that a big robbery is planned. Sandy goes to warn his friend, but finds the warehouse already in the possession of the police. There is a most exciting conclusion, which is also a happy one. The supporting programme includes a news and a comedy. The King's Orchestra supplies appropriate music.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. “Oh, Kay,” the star attraction at the Paramount'Theatre, is proving very popular indeed. Colleen Moore, one of the screen’s most capable actresses, plays the leading part to perfection, and she is ably supported by an excellent cast. The story, which is taken from the great stage success of the same name, concerns Lady Kay Sutfield, who is forced into a distasteful marriage, and in a fit of rage goes sailing off to sea in her small yacht. A storm comes on, and she is rescued by the crew of a rum-running schooner on its way to America. Rather than return to England, Kay, who is full of pluck and endurance, escapes from the ship when it anchors off the American coast to transfer part of the cargo to an empty mansion, and is chased by a revenue officer into an empty house where she comes face to face with the young owner. The latter, who is to be married the next day, falls in love with Kay, with the result that some very interesting situations arise. Also on the programme is “The Life Work of Balfe,” one of the new “Music Master” series, a gazette, a scenic, and an excellent comedy.

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. A very tine programme which is well up to the usual high standard set by the “League of Notions” Revue Company is being presented at His Majesty’s Theatre. Mike Connors and QuOenie Paul, a very versatile pair, score with their duets, which include the popular “Mary Ann.” Linn Smith’s jazz band play “Deed I Do,” “The Anvil Chorus.” and “Because My Baby Don't Say Maybe Now.” Syd Beck, the popular comedian, plays in a number of amusing sketches, of which he is the life and soul. He also does good wdrk on his own. Others to entertain are William Beresford, the Paulasto Brothers, and Phyllis Baker and Gerald Connolly, who do a novelty dance. The ballet is excellent.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. There is an excellent double feature programme showing at the Queen’s Theatre, the pictures being “Blood Will Tell,” featuring the popular western star, Buck Jones, and “Why Sailors Go Wrong,” in which those two great favourites, Ted McNamara and Sammy Cohen, have the leading roles. “Blood Will Tell,” which is a most thrilling production, is full of interest from beginning to end. It is the story of life on a western ranch, of which the ownership is in dispute. An Eastern girl comes to claim the ranch, but she is sent off bv a lawless gang with the result that Buck Jones helps her to triumph over a gang of crooks. “Why Sailors Go Wrong,” is a most amusing picture which cannot fail to entertain. Tommy McNamara and Sammy Cohen, two great comedians, cause a hurricane of laughs to the delight of the audience. V hereever they go they fall into all sorts of trouble, but eventually they master the cannibals in the tropical isles and all ends happily. There are some excellent supports.