EMPRESS THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 146, 21 June 1923, Page 5

EMPRESS THEATRE.

"The Bond Boy," a fascinating screen drama featuring Richard Barthelmess, is being screened at the Empress Theatre for the last time to-d-.iy. It is» a stirring, wholesome story, dealing with tho "bonding" of lads as labourers until they attain majority. Jue Newbolt, son of a widow, is oppressed by Isom Cliaso, the tyrannical husband of a charming wife. The boy is bound over to the master, and in the household of tiie tyrant ho meets witTi many adventures.- A mermaid cornedv, "Step This Way," topical and educational pictures, and selections by tho 'Empress Orchestra completo an admirable bill. "THE-HOTTENTOT." Thomas IT. Inco has produced ' a thriller in "The Iloltentqt," which will bo screened at the Empress Theatre tomorrow. It is auapfed from the stage j play of the same nainp in which Willie Collier scored his greatest success, the picture is a novnl combination of hillari ious comedy and tense drama. The witty lines of the play which won. such endless laughter from audiences throughout the country have been retained in sparkling sub-titles. The absurd situations in which a horse-fearing yachtsman finds himself when he becomes the accidental hero of a runaway and is mistaken for a famous steeplechase rider of the same name have been developed oh the screen with the expertness of the master showman. Macige Bellamy, the winsome litle star, is at her best in the film, and Douglas M'Lean as a yachtsman who is not a horseman, provides a great deal of the humour. Raymond, Hatton gives a clever characterisation of a butler, imtl the rest of the cast is of a high order. The supports are in keeping with tho starred 1 attraction, and the music has received special attention. ■'..