ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 93, 14 January 1929, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE THEATRE. “The Trail of ’98," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s story of the Kloudyke, continues to draw crowded houses at tlie De Luxe Theatre, where it is now in its second week’s screening. Never has the, screen portrayed with such intense feeling the hope, the spirit of adventure, the goodfellowship, tlie hatred and the greed of humanity as in "The Trail of ’98.” Even the Californian clergyman who leads the stampede to the Klondyke must rush off helter-skelter for San Francisco, and the City of Topeka which In one voyage alone carries five hundred frenzied gold-seekers from all the corners of the world to the frozen North—and starvation for the multitude. Thrill follows thrill with amazing realism. The devastating snow avalanche, tlie furious swirling waters of the dreaded White Horse Rapids, aud the never-to-be-forgotten finale, when the hero, spent, hurls a kerosene lamp at the villain and makes of him a human torch, to rush here and there in the madness of ills agony until he sets the whole camp afire are scenes, the realism of which has rarely before been matched on the screen. Heading the east in this truly remarkable production are Dolores Del Rio, Ralph Forbes, Karl Dane, Polly Moran, Tenen Holtz, Harry Carey and George Cooper. The special New York musical score is admirably played by the orchestra and the new song theme which runs through the scene, ".My Honeymoon Waltz," is a very effective number. “FOUR SONS.” Many Americans who are now affluent aud reputable citizens were able to see their first resting place in the United States when "Four Sons" was shown. At the De Luxe Theatre next Friday, this picture will be screened. One of the most important sequences in the film, directed by John Ford, deals witii Ellis Island, the initial stopping-place of so many thousands yliu go hopefully to America. The housing of immigrants at this eut.-auce station has brought forth much discussion of ate years, and the Fox’ picture throws considerable sidelight on that, it is stated. The quota system Is also the subject of Intense controversy, aud this film, taken from the story by Miss A. R. Wylie, makes an unusual contribution to that debate. The romance, the hopes and longings of thousands, have been impressed upon the picture. In fact, al! the early processes ■of sending the raw material out into the United States of America have been set forth with much striking detail. Experts were called in, and all the Inner wordings of Ellis Island were reproduced with faithfulness. REGENT THEATRE. “Beau Broadway,” Lew Cody's and Eileen Pringle's latest comedy-drama for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, heads the splendid programme now being screened at the Regent Theatre. The story concerns Jim Lambert, a tight promoter, who is asked by Gunner O’Brien, an old-time pugilist, to take care of his daughter, and is surprised to find, not a baby, but a beautiful girl of eighteen, left on his hands. He changes his worldly life to rear her. In a desirable atmosphere, but Yvonne, an eld sweetheart, engineers complications. Finally, Lambert prepares to leave his ward to one of his proteges, when she surprises him by declaring her preference for him, and all ends well. Supporting the stars are Sue Carol, Heinie Conklin, Kit Guard and Jack Herrick. William Boyd, Allan Hale and Sue Carol are the featured players in "The Skyscraper,” the second big feature. An amusing .comedy, with some tense dramatic moments, "The Skyscraper" deals with “Blondy” and "Swede’ Hansen, two steelworkers, who are close friends of a girl whom they save from being crushed by a girder, and with whom they both fall in love. A gazette, and "London After Dark” are also screened, and delightful music is supplied by the orchestra. Au added feature, which 13 also an extremely popular one, is the stage band entertainment, “Round the World.”

"THE CROWD” AND “DICK WHITTINGTON.” Another attractive entertainment is promised patrons of the Regent Theatre for Friday next. Ou the screen will be shown what is claimed to be the screen’s greatest drama of life, “The Crowd," while on the stage the London pantomime in condensed form, "Dick Whittington and His Cat,” will be played by a special cast with Ed. Warrington in his original Drury Lane character, “Bridget, the cook.” Over 5000 extras appear in King Vidor's "The Crowd,” while the evolution of modern dress, both for men and women, from 1912 to the present day, Is depicted. King Vidor carved a niche for himself In motion picture fame when lie directed “The Big Parade.” Now that lie lias given the world "Tlie Crowd,” picture-goers the world over will, It is declared, ask themselves "What next!” This photoplay comes very near to telling the real history of the life of tlie great middle class everywhere and it is a genuine "big parade of peace times.” The principal characters may be any one of the hundreds of thousands struggling for ' a living. Eleanor Boardman and Janies Murray have the leading roles, supported by a large cast of popular players. Box plans will open this morning at both the theatre and the Bristol.

STRAND THEATRE. A holiday to workers in a free country of brilliant sunshine like New Zealand is taken more or less calmly in the ordinary course of events, but to Hie millworkers In the drab factories of Lancashire "wakes” week, their annual holiday, seemed the realisation of a dream. Fanny Hawthorne nnd her chum. Mary Hollins, two characters in "Kindle Wakes,” were among these workers and at this particular "wakes” week Blackpool was their goal. Once there they hade fair to spend all the savings on the many side-shows and amusements, but Mary happily caught the eye ot Allan Jeffcote, flie mill-owner’s son, and his friend George and thereupon both girls entered into a whirl of “Big Dippers" and “Rocking Boats.” Blackpool at night, is guaranteed to overcome any stern mood and Fanny, dancing with Allan In the Tower Ballroom, felt herself swept along on tlie road to pleasure. She and Allan arranged Io go on to Llandudno for the remainder of the week. Then came the time for return to the dally round of work. Fanny came home to tragedy. Her pal Marv had been drowned. How Fanny's vindictive mother made the most of the fact that, her daughter had been away with Allan Jeffcote and how Fanny defied both families and decided to live her own life independently, supplies excellent entertainment in this British-Gaumont picture, a Klnema Art Films release, which heads the double feature programme now screening at the Strand Theatre. Lili Damita is the star of “The Golden Butterfly." the second feature, which is a screen version of the F. G. Wodehouse story. Appropriate music is supplied by the orchestra.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. There is nothing of the traditional war film in “Roses of Picardy,” the current feature at the Paramount Theatre. It is based on tlie two novels, “The Spanish Farm” ami “Sixty-Four, Ninety-Four.” and is a study of the effects of the war on a woman and two men. A young Englishman. Skene, touring the liattlctields, finds himself where his war life was spent. His memories take shape before him. Ills duties as billeting officer brought him in contact with Madeleine, mistress of the farm. She seeks information of a lover whom the war has taken from her and she consoles herself with Skene. Faithful in her heart to her faithless lover, she accepts the situation philosophically. She does not deceive herself either about her feelings for Skene, to whom she yields out of pity for his condition of war panic, knowing that it is only a temporarv affair. Skene meets .Madeleine ngain and 'the climax shows her with her two "children.” the Frenchman, now blind, and her father, driven half crazy by his treatment at the hands of the Germans. A gazette, cartoon and comedy are also screened, and appropriate music is supplied by the orchestra.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. "Plastered in Paris,” which heads the current programme nt the Queen’s Theatre. starts with n “flash” sequence of world war trenches and thereafter leaves the great conflict. The trencli scenes show Sammy Cohen as a little Jewish comedian, where he gets a dose of poison gas, and hospital surgeons decree that thereafter he will be a kleptomaniac. Ten years later tliev are delegates to the American Legion convention In Paris, and Pennick seeks a cure by a famous French specialist for his friend Sammy. In a series of hilarious "shots” they are shown being “shanghaied” into membership in the French Foreign Legion and a subsequent campaign against a band of Riffs, during which the funsters rescue two fair maidens and incidentally "kidnap’’ the desert sheik’s entire harem. Marjorie Beebe is the star of “The Farmer's Daughter,” the hilarious comedy which is the second big feature. Appropriate music is also supplied. KING'S THEATRE. Charlie Murray is undoubtedly one of tlie most amusing comedians the screen possesses, and in “Do Your Duty,” his latest comedy, which is now screening at the King's Theatre, lie is seen at his best. Sergeant Tim Maloney, of the New York police. Is trapped hy crooks and doped to facilitate the thieves carrying out a “Job.” He is disrated, therefore, just as lie was about to lie promoted to a lieutenancy. Fortune comes his way. however, when Andy Macintosh, a Scotch tailor friend, overhears another crime being planned, and passes on his Information to Maloney. Doris Dawson. Charles Maloney and Lucien Littlefield give good support to Murray. A well-varied supporting programme is also screened, and dHtghiful music is supplied by the orchestra.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Mike Connors aud Queenle Paul, with

their “League of Notions" revue company continue to entertain patrons of His Majesty's Theatre, and their current programme is as good as any they have yet presented. Syd. Beck is a whole show in himself, and makes a great hit as "The Lad From Tory Street,” besides doing guotl work in the many amusing sketches, some of the best of which are “The Street Singers,” “The Burglar and the Lady," "Moulin Rouge Cate," and “The Four O'clock Train." As usual, Queenie 'Paul and Mike Connors score heavily with their clever duets, which Include, “I Hate to Lose You” and “Ob, Johnnie Callaghan,” while Queenie Paul also sings "Jeannie" and “Chiquita.” Bright music is supplied by the “League of Notions" symphonlsts, and the remainder of the company give good support to their principals. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. David Wark Griffith's newest picture, “Drums of Love," is to be shown at the Kilbirule Theatre to-night. The story opens in the South America of a hundred years ago, when the nobility of Europe tried to set up a new aristocracy in the new world as the old fell at the close of the French Revolution. Lionel Barrymore, Don Alvardo and Mary Philbtn have created characters of great realism. Buster Keaton, the frozen-faced comedian, has the lending role In “The General," an hilarious adventure of an old-time wood burner locomotive and a frozen-faced engineer. The orchestra will supply appropriate inusia