DE LUXE THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 9

DE LUXE THEATRE.

Much laughter and many thrills convulsed the audience at the De Luxe Theatre last evening as they watched foot after foot of Charlie Chaplin's latest screen story, "The Gold Rush," unwound through a number of reels. The Btory is of'the Klondike, of the rush of seekers after wealth in the days when the word "gold" was in everybody's mouth, and all roads led to Alaska, if .not to the wealth so much desired. A blizzard introduces the star and his companion, a somewhat disreputable pair, who are filled with the prevailing desire, but who find the journey across snowclad wastes a bit more than they had bargained for. Day after day the blizzard continues, and starvation and exhaustion face the heroic little party. ''Big Bill" M'Kay is Charlie's companion, and Ilia hunger is in keeping with bis size. As a last resort the comedian removes one of his .famous boots and solves it up as a stew, but it only alleviates the position for v while, and Big Bill decomes delirious with hunger. During his delirium he imagines that Charlie is a fat pullet, and the laughtermaker is put to many, subterfuges to prevent a tragedy. There is an epic fight in the snow between M'Kay and "lied" Larsenj the latter desiring to take over Bill's abahdoiled claim. Reaching Klondike Chaplin experiences romance in the person of a girl named Georgia, who is only amused at the funny little man's grotesque antics. He arranges a party for his unwilling sweetheart and her companions, but she conveniently forgets all about his invitation, and the candles gutter down and Charlie falls asleep to dream of happiness. Eventually. she decided to visit the little man's hut, and then realises that there is more in his love than she had imagined. As a climax, Charlie and Big Bill make fortunes out of the claim, and. the puir go back to Georgia and civilisation. It is a.weird story, almost impossible, but relieved by excellent actins and comedy vein that Chaplhi, inimitable as usual, has iievei' equalled. The little black hat,.the baggy trousers, and the flat feet—the things that the comedian has made so famous—are all there, and seen amidst the snows of the blizzard give a pathetic toitch to a picture that is full to the brim of laughs. The supporting films are excellent. A matinee will be given each afternoon until further notice.

Noted, screen actors, opera singers, hiul musicians mingled in the cast of "The Phantom of the Opera," UuiverFiil"s spectacular successor to "The jhmchbuek of Notre Dame," when the opera ''Faust" was presented iv the replica of the Paris Opera House, built at University City for the' Gaslon Le-j-oiix mystery spectacle. This gorgeous scene, photographed in colour, is one of tlic big "shots" of this outstanding iilm attraction, which is due for early release in the De Luxe Theatre. The three principal stars in the attraction are Lou Chancy, Mary Philbin, and Norman Kerry. Virginia Pearson was added to the cast to p_lay Carlotta, the diva appearing as Marguerite in the performance, and Edward Cecil Alcorn, the famous dancer, enacted the role of La Sorelli, premiere danseuse, leading a ballet of two hundred dancers under the direction of Ernest Belcher, noted producer of dance spectacles.