EMPRESS THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume 105, Issue 4, 6 January 1928, Page 12

EMPRESS THEATRE.

Largo crowds assembled at the Empress Theatro to-day to witness the screenings of "Tho Magic Flame," starring Ronald Colman and Vilma. Banky. The opening sequence shows Ronald Colman as Tito, the clown, and Vilma Banky as Bianca, the tight-rope walker. Colman is a real clown; gesture for gesture, trick for trick he might have spent his life on tho sawdust or stepped through a blazing hoop in tho ring of Barnum and Bailey. When he first makes his entrance it is as the clown, and there is no suspicion in the minds of the audience until he doffs his make-up that underneath tho pipe clay exterior is the Romeo or Romeos. As Bianca, the little circus dancer, Vilma Banky is superb. "Tho Magic Flame" is like no other picture. There is humour and pathos, comedy, and stark tragedy all interminsled in a dazzling story which for novelty and intrigue brings something entirely new to the cinema. George Marion, jun., and Nellie Kcvcll have written some of the funniest subtitles ever read. Romance it has in plentltude, and it is tho strong type of romance at that. Never does it degenerate into mo sickly-sweet type. Tho picture will certainly increase the already great reputation that Mr. Colman and Miss Banky have attained as tho greatest lovers on tho screen. "Our Prlnco" is a pictorial review of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales's life from his investiture in 1-911 to tho present day. The remaining pictures are tho latest Path. Gazette, Mabel Normand In "Tho Nicklo Hopper," and a further njjturo of the Cabaret series.